The fourth-generation Bentley Continental GT — launched as a 2025 model and now in full 2026 production — represents the most significant reinvention of Bentley’s grand tourer in two decades. The headline change is the end of an era: the iconic W12 engine is gone, replaced by an Ultra Performance Hybrid powertrain that is actually more powerful. For collectors and owners considering a Continental GT as loan collateral, this generational transition has significant implications for both current and future values.
The New Powertrain: Hybrid, But More Power
The Continental GT Speed pairs a twin-turbocharged 4.0-liter V8 with a 140 kW (188 hp) electric motor integrated into an eight-speed dual-clutch transmission. Combined system output is 771 horsepower and 738 lb-ft of torque — exceeding the outgoing W12’s 650 hp by approximately 18% and matching its torque output at a lower engine speed. The result is 0–60 mph in 3.1 seconds and a quoted top speed of 208 mph.
A 25.9 kWh battery mounted behind the rear axle provides up to 50 miles of pure electric range and, critically, achieves near-perfect 50:50 weight distribution — an engineering achievement the W12 configuration was never able to match due to the engine’s mass. The Continental GT Speed starts at $306,250 before options; Mulliner personalization can add $50,000 or more to any configuration.
The 2026 Lineup in Full
Bentley has expanded the Continental GT family significantly around the new hybrid platform:
- Continental GT Speed: Flagship configuration, 771 hp, full Bentley Performance Active Chassis with active anti-roll bars, electronic limited-slip differential, and active all-wheel steering. The benchmark model.
- Continental GT S / GTC S: Launched January 2026 with a High Performance Hybrid producing 680 PS and 930 Nm — 130 PS more than the previous-generation S models. Features GT Speed chassis, sports exhaust, and Blackline exterior specification.
- Continental GT Supersports: Announced late 2025 for production in 2026. The most visceral Continental GT ever produced, ditching the hybrid system entirely for a pure V8, rear-wheel-drive configuration. Positioning directly against Porsche 911 Turbo S and Ferrari Roma performance benchmarks.
- Continental GT Azure / GT Convertible Azure: Comfort-priority configuration with softer suspension tuning, Mulliner cabin detailing, and emphasis on long-distance grand touring.
Design and Technology Changes
The fourth generation is the first mainstream Bentley since the 1950s to feature a single headlamp cluster per side — replacing the signature twin-lamp design that defined the brand’s visual identity for nearly 70 years. This is the most polarizing design decision Bentley has made in a generation, and early reactions among owners are mixed. The interior, however, is universally praised: the Bentley Rotating Display retains its analog-to-digital party trick, while the cabin gains new technical veneers including “Urban Reflections” brushed aluminum, improved air filtration with HEPA-grade filtration, and My Bentley App Studio for in-car application downloads.
Active all-wheel steering, electronic limited-slip differential, and 48-volt active anti-roll bars are standard on Speed and S configurations. The all-wheel steering meaningfully reduces low-speed turning radius for a vehicle that can feel unwieldy in urban environments.
W12 Discontinuation: What It Means for Values
The end of the W12 engine — a Bentley constant since 2003, producing nearly 100,000 cars — creates a defined collector dynamic. Final-edition W12 models are already trading at premiums in the secondary market. Low-mileage 2024 W12 Continental GT Speed and Mulliner W12 examples in exceptional specification are receiving appraisals above their original transaction prices as collectors recognize their significance as the last of a celebrated lineage.
This is not speculative — it follows the established pattern of Bentley collector appreciation. The last Azure (W12 convertible), the final Mulsanne, and the final Continental Supersports have all appreciated meaningfully post-production. The W12’s discontinuation is a cleaner inflection point, making final-edition Continental GT W12 models particularly interesting as long-term collateral assets.
Continental GT Collateral Value in 2026
Two distinct collateral scenarios exist for Continental GT owners in 2026:
New hybrid generation (2025–2026): Current-generation Continental GTs in Speed and Mulliner specifications represent strong collateral due to their high original MSRP ($306,000–$380,000+ depending on specification), Bentley’s historically strong residual values, and strong global demand. The hybrid platform is still establishing its depreciation curve — early examples are holding within 10–15% of MSRP — which supports confident appraisals. Borro’s loan-to-value ratios on current-generation Continental GTs reflect these strong fundamentals.
Final W12 generation (2021–2024): Low-mileage, fully documented W12 Speed and Mulliner examples are assessed as transitional collectibles rather than standard depreciating assets. A 2023 Continental GT Speed W12 with under 5,000 miles and full Bentley service documentation is a fundamentally different collateral asset than a comparable-year standard GT. Borro’s appraisers assess these at the individual vehicle level — specification, mileage, documentation, and condition all materially affect the valuation.
Use Your Continental GT as Collateral
Whether you own a final W12 example or a current hybrid generation Continental GT, Borro offers confidential collateral loans against luxury vehicles with same-day appraisals. Our process requires no credit check — the vehicle’s current market value is the only criteria. Loans are structured for flexibility, with no selling pressure and full retention of your asset throughout the loan term.
Start your confidential Continental GT appraisal — or contact our team directly for a preliminary valuation based on your vehicle’s specification.
