Arguably the world’s most luxurious soft top, the Bentley Continental GTC has it all. With a 6.0-litre twin-turbo W12 engine, it possesses a blend of trans-continental pace and luxurious comfort that very few other vehicles can match. The evening was a huge success with around 60 invited guests enjoying the genial hospitality provided by Bentley Edinburgh. Attention to detail was the order of the day with guests being served Ruinart champagne in Reidel glasses and canapés by Neil Forbes of Café St Honore in Edinburgh, who has been awarded Scottish Chef of the Year for 2011. The guests were then treated to an exclusive fashion tutorial by Marc Psarolis, chief executive of the exclusive British luxury goods label Duchamp. The ambience of the evening was further enhanced by an elegant light sculpture designed by Bruce Munroe as well as other examples of this artist’s fine work. The dealership was decorated throughout with examples of six artworks that had been commissioned specifically for the new Bentley Continental GTC launch by up and coming artists such as Paul Wearing, Darren Hopes and Jimi Crayon.As for the new Bentley Continental GTC, it is now better looking, roomier and even faster than before. It isn’t too taxing to create a supercar capable of flying around racetracks at outlandish speeds, but to create something that can do almost the same while cosseting you in an atmosphere akin to an exclusive gentleman’s club is a rare feat.Some 70kg lighter than its predecessor, this second generation GTC also plants a larger footprint on the road thanks to a 40mm wider track. Retuned steering and recalibrated suspension settings also contribute to the GTC’s sportier remit. And it really is surprising just how quickly you can hurl this car around twisting country lanes. The notably stiff body structure prevents the kind of open-top body wobbling you feel in cheaper convertibles and, true enough, this car feels as solid and planted at all times as the coupé model on which it’s based. With the top down, there’s neck-level heating for chilly days and very little buffeting, even if you don’t use the standard wind deflector, and what there is only becomes noticeable when you’re seated in the back at speeds well over the legal limit.The cabin has come in for some attention too. Most obvious from the driver’s seat is the all-new larger touch-screen infotainment system, which is much easier to use than the previous item, though still sits a little incongruously in a dash trimmed in wood and leather and styled to echo the wings of the Bentley badge. Although the driver won’t notice any difference in the superb comfort and support offered by the front seats, their backrests are actually slimmer, creating extra legroom for back seat passengers. They also now feature a vent, just below the bottom edge of the head restraint, for blowing warm air at their occupants necks – perfect for those winter morning drives with the top down. Of course, that roof has to go somewhere when not in use and, sure enough, bootspace is reduced to 235 litres, down from the 475 litres you could expect from the coupé model. The rear seats are OK for short journeys but you’d be better leaving them to children or shopping bags.Owning one of these is like having your own private jet, only better – it’s so much more usable and, with the roof down, you can enjoy the journey so much more. It’s a convertible in the best tradition, a true convertible, a Bentley convertible.l Bentley Edinburgh, 8 Whitehill Road, Fort Kinnaird, Edinburgh, EH15 3HR, telephone [phone], or visit {http://www.edinburgh.bentleymotors.com |Edinburgh Bentley Motors|Edinburgh Bentley Motors}Arguably the world’s most luxurious soft top, the Bentley Continental GTC has it all. With a 6.0-litre twin-turbo W12 engine, it possesses a blend of trans-continental pace and luxurious comfort that very few other vehicles can match. The evening was a huge success with around 60 invited guests enjoying the genial hospitality provided by Bentley Edinburgh. Attention to detail was the order of the day with guests being served Ruinart champagne in Reidel glasses and canapés by Neil Forbes of Café St Honore in Edinburgh, who has been awarded Scottish Chef of the Year for 2011. The guests were then treated to an exclusive fashion tutorial by Marc Psarolis, chief executive of the exclusive British luxury goods label Duchamp. The ambience of the evening was further enhanced by an elegant light sculpture designed by Bruce Munroe as well as other examples of this artist’s fine work. The dealership was decorated throughout with examples of six artworks that had been commissioned specifically for the new Bentley Continental GTC launch by up and coming artists such as Paul Wearing, Darren Hopes and Jimi Crayon.As for the new Bentley Continental GTC, it is now better looking, roomier and even faster than before. It isn’t too taxing to create a supercar capable of flying around racetracks at outlandish speeds, but to create something that can do almost the same while cosseting you in an atmosphere akin to an exclusive gentleman’s club is a rare feat.Some 70kg lighter than its predecessor, this second generation GTC also plants a larger footprint on the road thanks to a 40mm wider track. Retuned steering and recalibrated suspension settings also contribute to the GTC’s sportier remit. And it really is surprising just how quickly you can hurl this car around twisting country lanes. The notably stiff body structure prevents the kind of open-top body wobbling you feel in cheaper convertibles and, true enough, this car feels as solid and planted at all times as the coupé model on which it’s based. With the top down, there’s neck-level heating for chilly days and very little buffeting, even if you don’t use the standard wind deflector, and what there is only becomes noticeable when you’re seated in the back at speeds well over the legal limit.The cabin has come in for some attention too. Most obvious from the driver’s seat is the all-new larger touch-screen infotainment system, which is much easier to use than the previous item, though still sits a little incongruously in a dash trimmed in wood and leather and styled to echo the wings of the Bentley badge. Although the driver won’t notice any difference in the superb comfort and support offered by the front seats, their backrests are actually slimmer, creating extra legroom for back seat passengers. They also now feature a vent, just below the bottom edge of the head restraint, for blowing warm air at their occupants necks – perfect for those winter morning drives with the top down. Of course, that roof has to go somewhere when not in use and, sure enough, bootspace is reduced to 235 litres, down from the 475 litres you could expect from the coupé model. The rear seats are OK for short journeys but you’d be better leaving them to children or shopping bags.Owning one of these is like having your own private jet, only better – it’s so much more usable and, with the roof down, you can enjoy the journey so much more. It’s a convertible in the best tradition, a true convertible, a Bentley convertible.l Bentley Edinburgh, 8 Whitehill Road, Fort Kinnaird, Edinburgh, EH15 3HR, telephone [phone], or visit www.edinburgh.bentleymotors.com.

ON FRIDAY, 30 September, Bentley Edinburgh held a launch evening at its showroom at Fort Kinnaird for the new second-generation Bentley Continental GTC.

Arguably the world’s most luxurious soft top, the Bentley Continental GTC has it all. With a 6.0-litre twin-turbo W12 engine, it possesses a blend of trans-continental pace and luxurious comfort that very few other vehicles can match.

The evening was a huge success with around 60 invited guests enjoying the genial hospitality provided by Bentley Edinburgh. Attention to detail was the order of the day with guests being served Ruinart champagne in Reidel glasses and canapés by Neil Forbes of Café St Honore in Edinburgh, who has been awarded Scottish Chef of the Year for 2011.

The guests were then treated to an exclusive fashion tutorial by Marc Psarolis, chief executive of the exclusive British luxury goods label Duchamp. The ambience of the evening was further enhanced by an elegant light sculpture designed by Bruce Munroe as well as other examples of this artist’s fine work. The dealership was decorated throughout with examples of six artworks that had been commissioned specifically for the new Bentley Continental GTC launch by up and coming artists such as Paul Wearing, Darren Hopes and Jimi Crayon.

As for the new Bentley Continental GTC, it is now better looking, roomier and even faster than before. It isn’t too taxing to create a supercar capable of flying around racetracks at outlandish speeds, but to create something that can do almost the same while cosseting you in an atmosphere akin to an exclusive gentleman’s club is a rare feat.

Some 70kg lighter than its predecessor, this second generation GTC also plants a larger footprint on the road thanks to a 40mm wider track. Retuned steering and recalibrated suspension settings also contribute to the GTC’s sportier remit. And it really is surprising just how quickly you can hurl this car around twisting country lanes.

The notably stiff body structure prevents the kind of open-top body wobbling you feel in cheaper convertibles and, true enough, this car feels as solid and planted at all times as the coupé model on which it’s based. With the top down, there’s neck-level heating for chilly days and very little buffeting, even if you don’t use the standard wind deflector, and what there is only becomes noticeable when you’re seated in the back at speeds well over the legal limit.

The cabin has come in for some attention too. Most obvious from the driver’s seat is the all-new larger touch-screen infotainment system, which is much easier to use than the previous item, though still sits a little incongruously in a dash trimmed in wood and leather and styled to echo the wings of the Bentley badge.

Although the driver won’t notice any difference in the superb comfort and support offered by the front seats, their backrests are actually slimmer, creating extra legroom for back seat passengers. They also now feature a vent, just below the bottom edge of the head restraint, for blowing warm air at their occupants necks – perfect for those winter morning drives with the top down.

Of course, that roof has to go somewhere when not in use and, sure enough, bootspace is reduced to 235 litres, down from the 475 litres you could expect from the coupé model. The rear seats are OK for short journeys but you’d be better leaving them to children or shopping bags.

Owning one of these is like having your own private jet, only better – it’s so much more usable and, with the roof down, you can enjoy the journey so much more. It’s a convertible in the best tradition, a true convertible, a Bentley convertible.

l Bentley Edinburgh, 8 Whitehill Road, Fort Kinnaird, Edinburgh, EH15 3HR, telephone [phone], or visit www.edinburgh.bentleymotors.com.