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New Bentley is sleeker, lighter, more powerful and more regal than ever. Image: Minesh Bhagaloo.

Two clear principles seem to define Bentley’s latest Continental GT coupé – bespoke luxury and tar-scorching performance.

Launched in South Africa last week, the eight-year-old four-seater coupé has been enhanced significantly in most areas.

Despite boasting all-new sheetmetal, the 2011 Continental GT is an evolutionary styling update of the outgoing car.

The classic Bentley front grille is now more upright and the headlight design, with LEDs, is new. The taillights are now horizontal, bootlid design has been tweaked to follow that of the Mulsanne, and tailpipes are bolder. Buyers for the first time also have access to optional 21-inch wheels (20s standard).

Inside the handcrafted cabin the dashboard is new (echoing the flying wings of the Bentley motif), there’s new touch-screen technology (with better satnav imagery, various new infotainment technologies, and a 30GB hard drive), upgraded sound system, and dials get a chrome finish. Powering the Continental GT is the traditional twin-turbo 6-litre W12 (there’s a 4-litre V8 on the cards for the end of the year). Power is up from 412kW/650Nm to 423kW/700Nm with Bentley claiming 4.6 seconds for the 0-100km/h sprint and a 318km/h top end.

The six-speed auto box has also been upgraded and strengthened, with 50 percent quicker changes. The all-wheel drive system now has a 40:60 rear bias (which changes with traction demands); the Electronic Stability Control, spring and damper settings are tweaked for better handling; and the track is 41mm wider at the front and 48mm wider at the back.

Yours for a mere R3.25-million.

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Spending a weekend with this R3.25-million supercar heralds a few go-faster traits you won’t necessarily expect. The first is the unusual engine sound, like a jet engine, when you hit that starter button and the Continental spurts into life. The next is the unique tyre-pressure monitor – which allows for normal, high, and maximum speed (3.7 bar front, 3.2 rear) settings. Damper settings are touch-screen operated, with cool illustrations and four settings between comfort and sport. And the two traction-control settings – dynamic and off – are a simple button away. It really is all quite simple to use, no fancy launch control, simple steering paddles (or gearlever gate) for manual mode, and a gearbox Sport mode for lower gear holding.

In perfect conditions at our test facility we managed a 5.2 second best for the 0-100km/h sprint and 13.5 for the quarter mile. And a general warning, that speedo’s in miles, even though it feels like kilometers per hour.

In everyday Dr Jekyll mode you’re cocooned in Bentley-ness with no noise from the outside world – just get the suspension in extreme comfort mode, let those doors suck closed, lightly prod the dainty accelerator pedal, and waft along. If you’ve driven a Bentley before you’d be familiar with the aviation-like finishes and that Breitling clock, which are quite cool, but the new touch screen – with Lexus-like fonts – is not first prize.

But otherwise it really is bespoke and hand-finished everything – when behind the wheel you can’t help but wonder if you’re on Prince William’s wedding list. -Star Motoring