Bentley Celebrates Pikes Peak Record with Limited Edition Continental GT

The Pikes Peak Limited Edition Continental GT is expertly designed to proclaim Bentley’s impressive achievement as the new ruler of the mountain.

Bentley might not be the first manufacturer that comes to mind when picturing Pikes Peak, yet here we are. Driven by the hill climb idol Rhys Millen, a Continental GT rewrote the record books, smashing the existing fastest time for a production car by 8.4 seconds in June of 2019. Quite a feat considering the Continental GT prioritizes luxury over pure performance. Powered by a behemoth W12 shooting 626 horsepower, the car is no slouch and comes equipped with the comfort expected from the marquis luxury brand. If you want to attack road courses while your passenger sips on a glass of fine sherry, this is the car for you.

The limited edition Continental GT embodies some very unique aspects of Pikes Peak, including a stitched mountain detail in the headrests, a layout of the course on the dashboard, and Pikes Peak decals scattered around the car. The nuclear green color scheme extends down to the brake calipers, and really makes the car pop. The optional ‘100’ logo on the front grill celebrates the centennial birthday of Bentley, but I think the car would look naked without it.

It’ll be interesting to see if other manufacturers jump on this opportunity to test their models, perhaps transforming Pikes Peak into an American Nürburgring. But for now, the Bentley Continental GT is king of the hill. 

Below is the press release from Bentley.

(Crewe, 3 December 2019) Bentley has announced details of a striking Continental GT Limited Edition that celebrates a record-breaking automotive achievement from earlier in the British marque’s centenary year. The run of special coupes is restricted to just 15 examples and honours Bentley’s accomplishment at the demanding International Hill Climb event in the USA in June.

The world’s finest Grand Tourer shaved an impressive 8.4 seconds off the existing record for the 12.42-mile course in Colorado, making it the fastest production car ever at Pikes Peak. Driven by three-time champion, former ‘King of the Mountain’ Rhys Millen, the W12-powered Continental GT climbed almost 5,000 ft through 156 bends in just ten minutes, 18.4 seconds.

Chris Craft, Member of the Board for Sales, Marketing and Aftersales at Bentley Motors, said:

“The new Limited Edition Continental GT is distinguished by a number of carefully curated features to honour that outstanding record run. It reflects Bentley’s spirit of endeavour, one that has been a constant throughout the last 100 years and remains at the beating heart of the company.”

The celebratory model is available to order from December 2019.

A Striking Limited Edition

The new Limited Edition is distinguished by a carbon fibre body kit and eye-catching Radium by Mulliner paintwork, mirroring the colour scheme used on the record-breaking car. Gloss black detailing has also been added to the front lower bumper inserts, roof panel, wing mirrors and rear surfaces.

Acid Green brake disc callipers, Pirelli P Zero Colour Edition tyres in Radium Finish and a Pikes Peak decal to the front bumper hint at the Limited Edition’s record-breaking lineage, while 22-inch Mulliner Driving Specification wheels in Gloss Black are standard. An optional ‘100’ grille is a reminder that the Continental GT’s impressive hill climb achievement took place in Bentley’s centenary year.

Inside the cabin, Alcantara with contrasting Radium thread stitching adorns much of the soft trim areas, matched with Beluga secondary hide. The steering wheel features a honeycomb stitching design and a centre stripe both in Radium, as per the Pikes Peak GT race car. Carbon fibre fascias and wasitrails are complemented by a Piano Black centre console, all adding to the sporting theme. The passenger-side fascia features a graphic showing a section of the Pikes Peak track, with five different graphics being used across the 15-car run, along with the record-setting time of 10:18.488.

Pikes Peak embroidery to the seat headrests in Radium stitching, Pikes Peak treadplates and exclusive B&O speaker covers in Black Anodised and Radium finish further enhance the interior appeal. The Continental GT’s luxurious cabin includes the ground-breaking Bentley Rotating Display, deep pile overmats and Front Seat Comfort Specification.

Like the Continental GT that broke the Pikes Peak record earlier this year, this new model features the world’s most advanced 12-cylinder petrol engine in the twin-turbocharged Bentley W12. This mighty engine develops 626 bhp and 900 Nm of torque, effortlessly accelerating the Continental GT from 0-100 km/h in 3.7 seconds (0-60 mph in 3.6 seconds), with a top speed of 333 km/h (207 mph).

Below is the record-setting run up Pikes Peak in the Continental GT.