Two very special Bentley Continental GTs heading to NZ

The first two of 15 roll out of the Bentley factory. Photo: Bentley

The first of a limited run of 15 examples of the Pikes Peak Continental GT by Mulliner has been built at Bentley’s factory in Crewe, England with two heading to New Zealand.

At the famous Pikes Peak International Hill Climb in Colorado, USA last year Kiwi Rhys Millen drove a standard W12-powered Bentley Continental GT to beat the production car record by eight seconds with a time of 10min 18.488sec after climbing almost 1524 metres through 156 bends.

Millen was also behind the wheel of the Bentley Bentayga W12 at Pikes Peak in 2018  that took nearly two minutes off the previous SUV record with a time of 10:49.9.

Like the brand did with the Bentayga, Bentley Mulliner has created the Pikes Peak Continental GT as part of the division’s new ‘Collections’ portfolio.

The Pikes Peak model has the exclusive Radium by Mulliner paintwork. Photo: Bentley

With all 15 vehicles allocated, customer deliveries of this special iteration of the Continental GT are due to begin in September, with two heading to New Zealand. 

Bentley New Zealand’s Derek Bennett told AutoMuse that “both GT cars were sold via our post on Instagram”. 

“We have done exceptionally well with Limited Edition Cars, we have three out of 12 Pikes Peak Bentayga’s here and now two out of 15 Pikes Peak Continental GTs,“ said Bennett.

The Limited Edition model features exclusive Radium by Mulliner paintwork, carbon fibre body kit, Acid Green brake disc callipers, and Pirelli P Zero Colour Edition Tyres. 

There is the option of the Pikes Peak decal on the GT. Photo: Bentley

Some of the allocated vehicles also include the optional mountain decal, the same as the record holding vehicle. 

Detailing on the interior consists of an Alcantara interior complemented by distinctive Radium contrast stitching and accents, carbon fibre fascias and waistrails including a Pikes Peak Overlay on the passenger fascia, and exclusive B&O speaker covers in Black Anodised and Radium finish.

An optional ‘100’ grille is a reminder that the Continental GT’s impressive hill climb achievement took place in Bentley’s centenary year.

You could also have 100 on the grille, to celebrate the centenary. Photo: Bentley

Bentley board member for manufacturing, Peter Bosch, said that the brand had “always built cars that are a magical combination of bespoke craftsmanship and everyday usability”.

“With Mulliner, we have increased the boundaries of our production system through bespoke highly personalised products and small series limited editions,” he said.

“With collaborative and seamless integration into our state-of-the art manufacturing operations, we deliver the exclusivity and bespoke customer individualisation expected from a Mulliner product and at the same time adhere to Bentley’s highest quality and reliability standards.

The dash detail includes the Pikes Peak route. Photo: Bentley

“I believe that a significant part of this success is due to the skilled and adaptable workforce based here at Crewe, responding to personal and small series commissions, a great example being the Continental GT Number 9 Edition, which debuted as part of Bentleys Centenary celebrations at Geneva motor show in 2019.”

Like the Continental GT that broke the Pikes Peak record last year, this new model features the petrol twin-turbocharged W12 engine that delivers 467 kW of power and 900Nm of torque, accelerating the Continental GT from 0-100 km/h in 3.7 seconds, with a top speed of 333 km/h.

The head rest also celebrates the Pikes Peak win. Photo: Bentley