Mechanically, the story remains the same. Power comes from a twin turbocharged six-litre W12 engine producing 626bhp and 900 Nm of torque, which is enough to shift the Earth off its axis. It’s just as well it has so much grunt because the GTC weighs almost three tons – not that it feels in any way porky while on the move.
One of Bentley’s greatest talents is making large and heavy cars feel nimble and less bulky than they really are – a boast not all other luxury car makers can make.
Acceleration is startling and so is the woof-woof-woof noise the engine makes as its twin clutch smoothly snaps through all eight forward gears at a blistering pace. Sixty mph arrives in 3.7 seconds and 100mph in 8.1, and if safety and avoiding jail time were not an issue the GTC would top out at 207mph.
The list of options is endless, with three levels of audio performance including a B&O system with 16 speakers and 1,500 watts or a Naim set-up with 18 speakers and 2,200 watts.
As with the GT, the cabin is a delight which can be as blinged-up or as restrained as the customer wishes. Whatever materials, surfaces or finishes the buyer chooses, the end result is immaculate and the quality impeccable.
Bentley GTC 2
(Bentley)
This is just as well because this level of luxury and finish does not come cheap. Prices start at £178,900 - £16,000 more than the GT - but our test car, and probably those of most owners, cost more like quarter of a million pounds.
As pricey as this sounds, if you were to take a tour round Bentley’s factory in Crewe and saw the quantity and quality of what goes into making one of these cars it starts to look like a reasonable deal.
There really is very little to dislike about the GTC. It goes like a rocket, rides superbly and is brilliantly well made. But if I have to don my picky hat, the only criticism I would come up with is there is very little room in the back. If it were my money (I wish!), I would still go for the GT coupe.
