The 2024 Car of the Year competition showcases the vast diversity of the modern luxury automotive landscape. From the Lotus Emira to the Pininfarina Battista, the contenders represent a spectrum of performance, technology, and design. Among them stands the Bentley Continental GT Speed Hybrid, a powerful testament to the brand's commitment to both performance and luxury.
A striking dichotomy defines the top tier of today’s automotive market. Performance capabilities considered extreme just a few years ago are now common in vehicles ranging from luxury grocery-getters to baronial sedans to grand tourers, all with a similar baseline of amenities. (Shared platforms, it should be noted, play no small part here.
) But when it comes to how that boost in output comes from, the engineering decisions are now as disparate as can be, reflecting the fact that the industry is in a state of flux unlike any other in the history of the motorcar—which, evidenced by the broadest assemblage of contenders presented in the more than two decades of . Not everyone agrees, of course, especially today, when no topic is immune from politicization—even power-train development. In the drive toward total electrification, which has raced at full throttle the past few years, automakers now seem to be lifting their collective foot off the pedal, content to coast into a future made uncertain by ever-changing emissions regulations, relaxed legislative timelines, and a polarized consumer base. The current limbo translated to a COTY field ranging from the four-cylinder, 400 hp Lotus Emira to the 771 hp Bentley Continental GT Speed hybrid to the 1,900 hp all-electric Pininfarina Battista hypercar, the most powerful and exclusive automobile (in both price and rarity) ever entered in the contest. The challenge for our judges was, understandably, greater than ever. Sure, all 10 cars were put through their paces on the same closed circuit of , just outside Miami, where the track was segmented into drills that included acceleration and braking tests, a slalom sequence, and an emergency lane-change maneuver, among others. Yet how do you fairly rate the 3,170-pound V-8-powered McLaren 750S track toy against the 12-cylinder Rolls-Royce Cullinan Series II SUV, a behemoth that tips the scales at about twice the McLaren’s weight? Or the low-slung Aston Martin Vantage, capable of reaching 202 mph, versus the comparatively square Mercedes-Benz G 580 EV that tops out at 112 mph? Easy: You don’t. The directive for our evaluators has always been to consider the marque’s mission statement for each respective model and how close the finished product comes to achieving its proposed raison d’être in both form and function. ’s judges are uniquely qualified to take on , being that this magazine’s readers are those who actually cross-shop, buy, and drive the vehicles that comprise the uppermost echelon of the automotive market. Many have an extended ownership history with multiple model lines represented, enabling them to offer a peer-to-peer review unlike those you’ll see anywhere else. And yet there are times when certain cars are a surprise for even this experienced collective. In 2010, for example, the Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport was viewed by most as a category unto itself, and so was given its own Car of the Decade accolade, even as the Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG won outright; this time around, the Pininfarina Battista, the first stand-alone model from the legendary Italian design firm, was seen in a similar light. In the end, diversity was the strength of this year’s competition, as participants were given an unprecedented opportunity to appreciate the wild scope of what defines the modern luxury automobile. The following pages reveal how our judges responded. Enjoy the ride. The most powerful road car ever made by Bentley is also its first with the Ultra-Performance Hybrid Power Train. The gives a glimpse of Bentley’s future, where V-8 dynamism gets a big boost of torque from an electric motor, delivering astonishing performance to match the inimitable style and hand-stitched luxury for which the cars from Crewe are famous. “The new hybrid system adds terrific low-end torque,” said Ron Gorda, calling the Bentley “one of my favorites for an all- around daily driver.” Sam Herzfeld described the four-seater as “a beast in a tuxedo—acceleration is amazing and handling is surprisingly good.” Prodigious power and torque are not this Bentley’s only parlor tricks. A 48-volt electronic anti-roll system enhances cornering and stability, and all-wheel steering reduces the turning radius for better maneuverability. “The engineers at Crewe must have stolen some alien technology from Area 51 to make a car of this size and weight handle this well,” said Ruben Oliva. “I’m putting in my order!” Connoisseurs of the marque will note that the Continental GT’s single-headlamp design is a first since the 1950s, replacing the instantly recognizable quad-headlamp layout used since 2003, and that our premium First Edition added some exclusive badging, along with unique treadplates and special interior embroidery
AUTOMOTIVE LUXURY CARS HYBRID TECHNOLOGY PERFORMANCE DESIGN BENTLEY CONTINENTAL GT SPEED
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