I’ve always dreamt of driving from Asia to Europe, or coast to coast in Australia, plus of course our very own Philippine Loop. Sadly, life always gets in the way. And in this day and age where instant is the norm, the romance and adventure of a proper road trip by car is becoming lost on a generation that prefers to be in the virtual, rather than the real world.
Driving in Malaysia is for me, perhaps the next best thing. Singapore, where I frequent, is highly regulated, congested and expensive (it is a FINE city) and very very strict. Thailand is like the Philippines, but Bangkok aside, people drive FASTER, and on the wrong side of the road which adds to the confusion. Driving in Malaysia is like taking the good parts of Philippine driving: speed limits that are sometimes more like suggestions, beautiful, winding, undulating and curvaceous back-roads, but most of all, breathtaking scenery. Plus truly amazing food.
So while my dream of driving from Singapore to Thailand may yet still be a distant dream, a drive through Malaysia is something not to be missed.
The car? Bentley’s latest gran turismo for the discerning gentleman, the Continental GT, now in V8 hybrid trim, along with the surety of all-wheel drive, enveloped in exquisite luxury.
I’ve driven the more upscale variant, the Continental GT Speed First Edition, which had more power and better trim, across the border in Singapore, but it was traffic and we never really got to stretch its legs. Driving in Malaysia would be more telling of its true depth of character, its abilities.
The new twin-turbo hybrid V8 powertrain delivers a turbocharged 680hp and 930 Newton-Meters of torque to all the wheels thanks to a new 8-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission.
Being a hybrid, the electric drivetrain provides 80 kilometers of all-electric range, with a 140km/h top speed. Activate the thunderous V8 and the Continental GT accelerates to 100kmh from rest in 3.5 seconds all the way to a 330kmh top speed. Academic in Asia, but very useful in Europe, especially Germany where the Autobahn is the Continental’s natural hunting ground. But while Malaysia’s speed limits isn’t exactly unrestricted, the temptation is always there to open the taps completely and see where we land. Which would probably be in jail, then deported and finally blacklisted. Definitely behaving then.
The Bentley Active Chassis technology is fitted as standard. This includes Dynamic Ride, Rear Wheel Steering and eLSD with a choice of Comfort, Bentley and Sport drive modes. Together, the powertrain and chassis deliver refined, surefooted, progressive and accessible performance in a wide variety of road conditions.
Rolling stock consists of beautiful 21 inch wheels, staggered in width, featuring 9-inch wide fronts and 10.5 inch wide rears with 265/40R21 and 305/35R21 Pirelli P-Zero Tires. Larger 22″ wheels and tires are available. But despite the massive wheels and low-profile tire sizes, the big, bad Bentley rides comfortably.
The interior is exquisite: two-tone dark chocolate leather with elegant Hermes-like orange centers, a machine turned aluminum panel encompassing the dash and the classic organ stop air-vents deliver a mix of sophisticated taste and old-world charm.
The knobs on the center console feel like exquisitely cut jewelry, and the covers for the Bang & Olufsen surround sound system speakers resemble sculptural masterpieces.
Though not fitted on this particular Continental, an optional rotating dash display is available, switching from a 12.3 inch multi-info display, to three old-school analog gauges, to veneer to match the dashboard for a clean and classy look.
Sliding in, the Bentley’s 2+2 seating is quite deceiving. While it isn’t the roomiest, neither is it tight. A regular sized adult has adequate space to fit in the back for up to moderate journeys, if they can live with the claustrophobia. The boot is quite generous, more than enough to pack a few large bags for a week-long road trip exploring the country.
This Bentley is a true continent crusher, with amazing speed and surprising efficiency if you keep it in electric mode as much as possible. Being a plug-in, you can keep the 25.9kwh battery topped-up and keep driving exclusively in EV mode.
The day’s morning drive allowed us to experience the Continental’s immense power. We drove from Bentley Kuala Lumpur through to The Estate, a popular and very beautiful post-colonial heritage home and popular events venue perched atop a hill and overlooking Kuala Lumpur’s cityscape and the mountains beyond. From there, we drove through parts of their elevated highway network, connecting to the MEX Expressway, leading to Putrajaya, Malaysia’s seat of government.
On the MEX, the 680hp came alive, allowing us to experience a glint of the Bentley’s impressing grand touring abilities, its long legs and its effortless, refined yet very much overwhelming power. At anything slower than about 160km/h, in a straight line, the Bentley feels like it’s at walking pace. Some will say it’s boring; but its brief tells you it was designed to deliver maximum comfort over very long journeys, at high speeds. Moscow to Munich? How about Singapore to Selangor? And back to Singapore on the same day? The Bentley is perfect.
We reached 122kmh in purely electric mode but seeing as the entire traffic was still moving faster and we were on the outermost lane being overtaken by tiny Peroduas and Protons, we hustled to keep pace with everyone else, eventually settling into a comfortably fast pace, averaging 140kmh. Due to the MEX’s super wide and undulating thoroughfare, it felt surreal to see the landscape change so briskly, yet it still felt yawn-inducing, thanks to the Continental’s amazing refinement mated with super smooth roads. If Philippine infrastructure was only this well developed.
Doubling back to KL, we headed towards the Merdeka 118, Malaysia’s newest and tallest landmark structure, with 118 floors plus a tower on top. There’s a Regency Hotel located from the 75th floor and where our lunch was to be, with an expansive view of Kuala Lumpur.
The landmark’s design was inspired by the iconic arm gesture of Tunku Abdul Ragman Putra Al-Hai, as he raised his hand in protest towards the British Colonizers and declared independence for Malaysia in 1957 at the Merdeka Stadium, part of the precinct where Merdeka 118 is located. And if you see the Merdeka 118’s silhouette, it truly is eye-catching and unique.
After lunch, our next route saw us sample the Bentley’s dynamic handling capabilities. Despite weighing a hefty 2,459kg, it proved it has the legs to match its impressive lungs.
Our destination was Janda Baik, a popular weekend getaway for the weary Kuala Lumpur resident, particularly for couples looking for some quiet time. To get to Janda Baik, we drove elevated highways, expressways, fast and flowing A & B roads with endless sweepers headed towards the popular Genting Highlands, and once past it, onto curves and elevation changes to finally, very narrow roads which saw the Bentley barely fit.
Despite its hefty dimensions, the Bentley dives into corners with gusto, accelerates with terrifying alacrity further magnified by the tight roads, the steering providing pin-point accuracy that allowed me to place the Bentley in almost millimeter-perfect precision on the very edge of the road.
From as fast as 130-140kmh to as slow as 50kmh on tight winding roads, the Continental GT V8 Hybrid proved its more than just a straight line specialist, but also a very capable handling champ.
Accurate, feelsome steering, progressively powerful brakes that deliver fade-free performance, a very easily modulated throttle to deliver endless power, and the suspension to keep everything on the straight and narrow in absolute comfort, regardless of speed. All in a stylish package with a silhouette as iconic as other timeless automotive classics.
The Bentley appeals to mature but still very keen drivers who have outgrown the usual shouty exotic sports car offerings, leaning towards more comfort than sport, and enveloped in absolute luxury.
Where would you drive the Bentley?
