2025 Bentley Continental GT PHEV: Power and Premium Price
Bentley’s new Continental GT plug-in hybrid arrives out of Crewe with bold styling, bespoke materials and a thoroughly re-engineered powertrain. Gone is the 12-cylinder heart; in its place sits a twin-turbocharged 4.0-liter V8 married to a 140 kW electric motor and a 25.9 kWh lithium-ion battery pack. The result: 771 hp (575 kW), 1,000 Nm (737 lb-ft) of torque, up to 39 miles of pure electric range and a starting price north of $300,000.
Heritage and Platform Engineering
Underneath the elegant body panels lies an aluminium-intensive chassis developed during Volkswagen Group’s Phaeton era, now benefiting from Porsche’s latest plug-in hybrid modules and Audi’s electrical architecture. After Rolls-Royce and Bentley split in 2003, VW kept Crewe and fused Phaeton underpinnings with bespoke suspension, steering and bodywork. Today the Continental GT shares its core hybrid drivetrain with the Panamera Turbo S E-Hybrid, re-calibrated by Bentley’s engineers for grand-touring refinement.
Powertrain Architecture and Hybrid System
The new hybrid system pairs a twin-scroll turbo V8 with a high-torque permanent-magnet synchronous motor mounted between engine and 8-speed dual-clutch transmission. A compact 25.9 kWh battery lives beneath the trunk floor, optimizing weight distribution (48 percent front, 52 percent rear) but reducing cargo capacity from 420 to 235 liters.
- Engine output: 584 hp at 6,000 rpm, 800 Nm from 2,000 to 4,000 rpm
- Electric motor: 188 hp (140 kW), 450 Nm instantaneous torque
- Total system: 771 hp (575 kW), 1,000 Nm (737 lb-ft)
- 0–60 mph in 3.2 seconds, top speed 208 mph (335 km/h)
- Charging: 7.2 kW AC onboard charger (optional 11 kW), 2.7 hours to full via Type 2
- Electric range: WLTP 39 miles (63 km), up to 87 mph in EV mode
- Combined fuel consumption: 70 MPGe (1.2 l/100 km), CO2 emissions 52 g/km
Energy management is handled by a liquid-cooled battery management system that actively regulates cell temperature between 20 and 40 °C. Drivers can select Charge, Hybrid or Sport modes; in Charge mode the system harvests excess braking and engine output to top up the pack but yields no additional fuel economy benefit over mild driving.
Chassis Dynamics and Handling Characteristics
Adaptive air springs and two-valve electronic dampers provide up to 50 mm of ride height adjustment, plus three selectable firmness levels. The Continental GT’s four-wheel steering, active roll control and torque vectoring ensure that its 2.5-ton curb weight feels more composed than cumbersome. In Sport mode the nose tucks and the rear squats on launch, while Comfort and Bentley modes soften responses for long-distance cruising.
Pirelli P Zero tires (285/40 ZR22 front, 315/35 ZR22 rear) clamp onto optional carbon-ceramic discs (420 mm front, 410 mm rear). Steering is a variable-ratio rack-and-pinion system with electric power assistance; it strikes a balance between highway stability and cornering precision, though ultimate feedback remains filtered by grand-touring intent.
Infotainment, Connectivity, and Driver Assistance
The rotating console display houses a 12.3-inch touchscreen running Audi’s latest MIB 3 software with bespoke Bentley graphics. When stowed, three analog dials for compass, clock and outside temperature appear. Standard hardware includes a 5G modem, Wi-Fi hotspot, OTA update capability and a 16-speaker Naim for Bentley audio system.
Advanced driver assists cover adaptive cruise up to 110 mph, lane-keep assist, junction assist and a FLIR-based night vision camera discreetly mounted in the grille. A head-up display projects 90 percent of critical data onto the windshield, while ultrasonic and radar sensors support parking assistance and 360° surround view.
Sustainability and Emissions Impact
As global emissions regulations tighten, Bentley has committed to a full-electric lineup by 2030. The Continental GT PHEV serves as a transitional model, cutting CO2 output by over 40 percent compared with the outgoing W12. In urban cycles its 39-mile WLTP electric range covers most commutes, and regenerative braking recovers up to 70 kW under deceleration.
Despite its size and performance, the hybrid system delivers up to 80 percent of its maximum efficiency after 100,000 km, according to laboratory cycle tests. Expert chassis engineer Dr. Emily Liu from Oxford Brookes University notes that the battery’s low-center placement helps maintain roll stiffness—critical when balancing grand-touring comfort with high-speed stability.
Market Positioning and Pricing Analysis
The 2025 Continental GT PHEV starts at $302,100 in the US, rising to $404,945 for the First Edition. In the UK it begins at £270,000, benefiting from newly negotiated post-Brexit tariff breaks. Key rivals include the Aston Martin DB12, Rolls-Royce Wraith and Ferrari Roma — all offering V8 performance but none with plug-in capability.
Bentley’s Mulliner personalization program adds further cost for bespoke paints, interior veneers and embroidery. Carbon fiber and engine-turned aluminum inlays are popular upgrades, as is the newly introduced Bass performance pack, which drops the 0-60 mph time to 3.1 seconds at an additional €30,000.
Conclusion
The 2025 Bentley Continental GT PHEV represents a technologically ambitious bridge toward electrification, blending 12-cylinder-level performance with daily-drive emissions reductions. While its seven-figure entry keeps it firmly in the ultra-luxury arena, the car’s hybrid hardware, chassis dynamics and digital suite showcase Bentley’s engineering prowess—and hint at the brand’s fully electric future.