After the first two generations of the Continental GT being essentially the same cars underneath the pretty skin, the third generation deserved all the promotion it could get. With an all new platform, a thoroughly redeveloped engine, and new interior and exterior designs, the third generation Continental GT is far ahead of its predecessors. To promote the platform and all its features, Bentley introduced the 2019 Continental GT First Edition. This isn’t the first time Bentley made a First Edition as we have already seen it with the Bentayga. And the recipe is the same as the First Edition got virtually all the major equipment packages as well as some bespoke details to separate it from the rest of the lineup. And of course, it got the new W12 engine which took all third generation Continental GTs to record breaking speeds. Moreover, both the interior and exterior now received some very interesting pioneering features which made the Continental GT stand out from all other cars in its class and in general. But before we go into more details, check out the ones currently for sale at Exotic Car Trader if you are in the market for one.
Even though the first two Continental GT generations were built on the same VW D1 platform, that didn’t stop them from being the best selling models before the Bentayga came out. That’s made even more impressive when we consider just how bad the two door coupe market has been in the past decade in favor of the SUV trend. With that in mind, the 2019 Continental GT First Edition had huge shoes to fill and the market would be even harder on it. Despite that, all its numerous improvements helped it outsell even the Bentayga in 2019 with 6,653 examples sold. So far, the third generation has sold around 20,000 examples between 2019 and 2023 making it somewhat of a wonder in today’s day and age. That said, the third generation does build on what made the previous ones so successful. And that’s supercar performance, luxury rivaled only by Rolls Royce, and very impressive driving dynamics. And so, the 2019 Continental GT First Edition gets even more power, a sophisticated active damping system, a dynamic four wheel drive system, and such bespoke details inside and out that make the previous generations look like expensive Audis.
Even the most sparsely equipped Continentals look generations ahead of the previous model inside. But the 2019 Continental GT First Edition easily stands out with three equipment packages as standard, plus a few options as well as a bespoke detail here and there. The included equipment packages are the Mulliner Driving Specification, Touring Specification, and City Specification. The Mulliner package includes bespoke diamond-in-diamond leather quilting with a unique color split, metal brake and gas pedals with the Bentley B imbedding, and knurled vent bezels, buttons and other metal trim all around the cabin. With the Touring Specification you get a head up display, night vision, traffic assist, adaptive cruise control and lane assist. Lastly, the City Specification includes a top view camera, emergency braking, park assist, pedestrian warning, traffic sign recognition, and traffic warning. The new, highly sought after, rotating infotainment system is also standard where one side is the (standard on the First Edition) two tone trim, another side includes three gauges and the third one is the display. Some bespoke details such a union jack on the glove compartment and the door sills came on all First Editions. All third generation Continentals also have a fully digital gauge cluster which doubles as infotainment, navigation and OBC. With everything said and done, the 2019 Continental GT First Edition interior is as luxurious and well equipped as it gets.
Although the exterior differences between the standard model and the First Edition aren’t so abundant, they really don’t have to be. All third generation Continental GTs have such a stunning exterior that it sometimes takes days to fully appreciate each and every curve, crease and detail. To start at the front, the grille is now bigger than ever but also more streamlined while the bumper is much lower and more aggressive. All around there are a ton of new lines or muscles if you will, making the Continental GT look miles more athletic than before. Even the hood is more complex with several lines blending into the front wings. Then there are the headlights which, for the first time on any car, are filled with huge Swarovski crystals making the unit look like a giant glowing diamond. The side profile features an even more pronounced haunch over the rear wheels with a new flying B wing vent extending across the entire side profile. Rear end is elegant and without much fuss although with the two oval exhausts and Swarovski crystal tail lights, it looks anything but ordinary. The 2019 Continental GT First Edition does get some bespoke details like the five spoke 22 inch wheels not found on any other Bentley. And another union jack with the number one in the middle is found on each wing sitting tall and proud. Overall, the 2019 Continental GT First Edition exterior does feature interesting special details, but with such an amazing design they are easily lost in the larger picture.
Although the 2019 Continental GT First Edition doesn’t get more power over the standard, it really doesn’t need even a single horsepower more. At 626 horsepower and 664 lb-ft of torque, the Continental GT is on a whole new level compared to the old model. Not to mention that the new MSB Panamera platform the 2019 Continental GT First Edition is built on is around 100 lbs lighter and much stiffer. And even though it still weighs just under 5,000 lbs, the Continental GT sprints to 60 in 3.7 seconds claimed although many journalists managed 3.5 seconds consistently. But acceleration was never the highlight of a Continental GT, its top speed was. The 2019 Continental GT First Edition has a top speed of 208 mph which is just one mph shy of the fastest Bentley ever made, the Continental GT Supersports. Not only that, but it’s in the top three fastest GTs currently on the market, outrun only by the Aston Martin DB11 Superleggera and the Ferrari 812 Superfast. Furthermore, giant 440mm front brakes with ten piston calipers ensure that the Continental stops from 208 mph just as efficiently as it got there while the active anti roll bars and a 38 volt damping system improve the handling tremendously over the older models. As a cherry on top, the front wheels only get up to 18% of torque in sport mode giving the Continental GT capacity to become a real hooligan, a hooligan wearing a three piece suit.
When it was unveiled, the standard Continental GT had a starting price of $224,000 while the 2019 Continental GT First Edition cost quite a bit more, after all, you couldn’t expect all that equipment to come at a discount let alone for free. The First Edition package moved the starting price to $270,000 and we say the starting price because there were still many option boxes the customer could tick off. Today, however, the First Edition premium has pretty much completely deflated. You can pick up a 2019 Continental GT First Edition for about the same price as a well optioned V8 which is around $190,000 to $200,000 on average. And that’s with less than 10,000 miles. You essentially get all the equipment for free plus another 15% discount making it quite a bargain today.
In the end, the 2019 Continental GT First Edition will definitely make the owner feel a bit more special with all its interesting details. And with all the valuable optional equipment each First Edition includes, the owner will hardly wish for anything more. Add to that the very impressive discount on the used market for what are essentially brand new examples, and it makes right now the best time to buy one. If you are ready to pull the trigger, doing so through Exotic Car Trader is one of your best options out there. With escrow protection, delivery, and first inspection just to name a few benefits, Exotic Car Trader is not only extremely convenient but also as safe as it gets. Selling a car through Exotic Car Trader gets you the same perks, plus a professional photographer at your door regardless of which state you live in.
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