First Drive: 2012 Bentley Continental GTC

Movies always seem to get it wrong. In Ian Fleming's original novels about everyone's favorite numerically nomenclatured spy, Bond had a taste for cars from Crewe instead of Aston Martins. If Fleming's Bond were still fighting the Cold War, facing supervillains bent on global destruction, and ordering aerated cocktails, there is a good chance Bentley would still be his motor of choice. Why? Because Bond isn't just a singleminded killing machine. He's a thinking man, a ladies' man, and a gentleman. He's not just a bit of everything -- he's all of everything. The Bentley Continental GTC is a kindred spirit of her majesty's diplomatic fail-safe. Like any double-O, the Bentley is not about excelling at a single task, but accomplishing everything thrown at it with style, grace, and dead-on effectiveness.

The first rule of Bond is to look the part. While the Continental hasn't changed considerably since the initial 2003 launch, it has been subtly refreshed. The 2012 GTC takes all of last year's GT updates and applies them to the convertible body style. Every GTC panel is new for 2012. The front fenders are probably the most significant, as the effort and expense in the ever-so-slight visual change might define the very spirit of Bentley. Like crisply creased tuxedo pants, the character lines sweep across the headlamps and over the fenders to create a feeling of motion. Past Continentals made do with stamped panels similar to what the rest of the industry considers adequate. For 2012, Bentley turned to the aerospace industry to borrow a production process known as superforming, in which sheets of aluminum are heated to nearly 1000 degrees Fahrenheit and then molded around a single tool using air pressure. The cooling time is controlled to eliminate the need for an additional heat-treating process. The previous character lines had radii of 6.5mm, or roughly a quarter of an inch. The now-perfect pleats are 3mm, or less than an eighth of an inch radius. Not only are the sharper lines possible, but the fender is now one uninterrupted piece from the lower front spoiler to the hood and the A-pillar. The previous fender required a cut line that sliced the headlights in half, not incredibly noticeable, but nowhere near as visually perfect as the new pieces. While most manufacturers would struggle to see the value in all this effort and expense, Bentley sees it as a continuation of its heritage.

The customizable interior includes seven standard wood veneers hand-selected and matched by craftsmen in Bentley's woodshop. Drivers can also choose completely custom selections. The thin sheets of wood are formed and adhered to aluminum plates, some machined sheet metal, and others beautiful cast pieces. The entire interior has a bespoke feel to it, with a choice of 17 different standard hides for upholstered surfaces. These can be ordered in two-tone combinations, with umpteen different colors and styles of stitching and embroidery. And if those combinations don't fit your needs, custom hides are of course available. The seats are large and luxurious and offer more adjustments than those on a first-class transatlantic 747 flight. They hold you in place in even the most demanding situations. The driving position is low, and the hand-stitched steering wheel adjusts for both height and reach. The thick rim and contoured spokes fill the palm of your hand, but unlike some other steering wheels, still allow your fingers to wrap around naturally for miles of comfort.

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