2008 Bentley Continental GTC

Introduced for the 2007 model year to round out the Continental range in Bentley's line-up, the GTC changes little for 2008. A more generous list of standard features, updated ESP, and a longer list of options are the detail changes.

The GTC has a unique look from the GT coupe upon which it's based, if only slightly so. It has a longer rear deck to stow the top, which opens or closes in under 25 seconds.

As with the other Continentals, the standard car is powered by parent company VW's 6.0 liter W12 twin-turbo engine, good for 552 horsepower at 6,100 rpm and 479 lb-ft of torque at 1,600 rpm. Top speed is down slightly when compared to the coupe, and matches that of the sedan, at 195 mph.

This power is transferred to all four wheels via a six-speed automatic transmission and fuel economy, as estimated by the EPA, is 10 mpg in the city and 17 mpg on the highway.

Standard equipment on the GTC includes twin HID headlights with washer jets, 19-inch wheels and tires, a tire pressure monitoring system, cruise control, keyless entry and ignition, rain-sensing windshield wipers and a choice of 16 colors for the body and five colors for the fabric top.

On the inside, one has a choice of 17 colors for the leather-appointed interior and matching carpets and seatbelts, eight color choices for the top's headliner, there are steering-column mounted shift paddles, a chrome wind deflector, a DVD navigation system, Sirius satellite radio, a six-CD changer in the glove compartment and voice dialing through the integrated Bluetooth system. The front seats feature memory and heat settings, as do the two rear seats, which are split with a center console. The trunk is power opening and closing. A ski-pass through in the rear seat.

Lumbar massage in the front seats is optional on both models, as is a rearview camera, a space-saver spare tire instead of the tire inflation and repair kit, five styles of 19-inch wheels and one 20-inch rim option.

A selection of steering wheels, interior trims and leather coverings round out the options.