Let’s be honest — the Bentley Continental GT isn’t so much a car as it is a moving monument to upper-class drama. It’s what James Bond would drive if he got tired of being shot at and just wanted to cruise the Côte d’Azur with his Pomeranian named Winston. What you’re looking at here, dear reader, is the 2014 Bentley Continental GT V8 Convertible — a land yacht with leather-lined ambitions and the kind of road presence that makes Range Rovers feel like interns.
Oh, and did I mention it’s used and available for ₹1.51 crore? Yes, you too can own a once-₹4.6 crore British statement piece — now at the price of a Mumbai apartment with only 3.5 leaks and a sea view “from the balcony if you lean right.”
A Little British History — With Horsepower
Launched in 2003 as Bentley’s attempt to make the aristocracy slightly more aerodynamic, this second-generation 2014 variant was the kind of car that arrived at parties where even the champagne was on a first-name basis with everyone.
Under the bonnet (because “hood” would be blasphemy), you’ve got two options — either the V8 engine with 500 horses and 660 Nm of torque or the W12 juggernaut with a whopping 626 HP and 820 Nm. Either way, you’re getting enough power to outrun your insecurities and possibly a thunderstorm.
The top speed? 301 kmph for the V8, 327 for the W12. Because clearly, what a nearly 3-tonne convertible needs is the ability to outrun a Bugatti… in theory.
Design: Where a Grand Piano Meets Grand Theft Auto
Designed by the legendary Dirk van Braeckel — the man who has designed everything from Skodas to spaceships — this Bentley is built on the Volkswagen Group’s D1 platform (shared with the Phaeton and Panamera, because apparently billionaires need options too). It’s made using aerospace-grade superforming technology, which, in English, means the metal has been beaten into shape with the kind of precision usually reserved for fighter jets and your grandmother’s opinion on your career.
You get the iconic Chrome Bentley matrix grille, Bi-Xenon projector headlamps, and wraparound jewellery-effect LED tail lamps — because when you’re worth crores, your car should shine brighter than your future.
And don’t forget the twin figure-of-eight stainless steel tailpipes. They’re not just exhausts. They’re a flex.
Comfort & Features: Buckingham Palace on Wheels
Inside, it’s less “interior” and more “five-star hotel suite with a steering wheel.” Leather everywhere, 8-way power-adjustable seats with neck warmers (for your precious aristocratic vertebrae), and even automatic seat belt presenters — because reaching over would be uncouth.
The dashboard is lined with Bentley’s famous bulls-eye air vents, and the 8-inch infotainment system can probably calculate your family tree while also playing Coldplay in Dolby Surround. USB, DVD, SIM card reader, HDD navigation — basically everything short of making you breakfast.
Climate control? Multi-zone. Audio? 8 speakers of symphonic excellence. Roof? A four-layer fabric hood that folds automatically and can be controlled via remote, in case the weather changes while you’re still fixing your hair.
Practicality: Yes, You Can Be Fancy and Functional
Boot space? 260 litres — which is plenty if your luggage consists of designer handbags and questionable life decisions. Fuel tank? 90 litres, because stopping often is for peasants.
Suspension? Air, of course. Self-levelling, computer-controlled, and more intelligent than your ex. Pair that with permanent all-wheel drive and a 40:60 torque split, and you’ve got something that handles like a ballet dancer on rollerblades.
Safety-wise, you’re cocooned in a digital fortress: 6 airbags, ESP, tyre pressure monitoring, Bentley GPS tracker, park assist, rear camera, and even aquaplane detection — so it knows when you’re pretending to be a yacht.
Verdict: A Moving Mixtape of Madness and Majesty
If you’re the kind of person who thinks “subtle” is a shade of red and believes that rain is simply nature’s confetti — the Bentley Continental GT Convertible is for you.
Yes, it’s expensive. Yes, it drinks fuel like a retired cricketer drinks whisky. And yes, it weighs almost three tonnes — but so does your ego after buying it.
This Bentley isn’t about getting from point A to point B. It’s about making everyone at point A regret not being you, before you even reach point B.
Score: 9.5/10
Reason for Deduction: Not available in “Diamond-Encrusted Goldfish” colour. Yet.
