The 22-inch wheels you see here are part of the Mulliner Driving Specification — and they fit the car perfectly, adding to the road presence without turning it into an ostentatious circus. Finished in Granite paint, this particular unit looked positively regal slicing through the Federal Highway traffic like a hot knife through kaya toast.

Design: Evolution Over Revolution

At first glance, you might mistake this for any other Continental GT — and that’s the point. The design language hasn’t been dramatically altered, and thankfully so. Why mess with one of the most handsome grand tourers of our time?

But look closer, and there are hints. The Hybrid badge on the side fenders. A slightly revised lower front bumper. And of course, that silent glide as it moves off from the lights. It’s as if Bentley deliberately wants you to discover it, rather than broadcast it.

Spec Check: More Than Just Numbers

Underneath the elegantly sculpted bonnet lies a 4.0-litre twin-turbocharged V8 engine mated to an electric motor, making a combined output of 782 PS and a meaty 1,000Nm of torque. You’re not wrong if you just raised an eyebrow — yes, a V8 in a Continental sounds like sacrilege, but bear with me.

Thanks to the electric motor’s instant torque, the 0–100 km/h sprint is dealt with in a very un-grand-tourer-like 3.2 seconds. And because this is a Bentley, it doesn’t shout about it. There’s no shrill scream, no synthetic whines pumped through the cabin — just a wave of thrust that builds in one seamless, uninterrupted crescendo.

Ah, Kuala Lumpur. That familiar mix of chaotic traffic, glassy skyscrapers, and the ever-present haze rolling in from the Klang Valley’s industrial lungs. It’s the kind of city where your car says as much about you as your Rolex, your Instagram followers, or your seating at The St. Regis. And amidst all that carbon-belching daily grind, something decidedly more evolved glided past me on the Duke Highway: the all-new 2025 Bentley Continental GT Speed.

The battery itself is a 25.9 kWh unit, good for about 81km of electric-only range under WLTP, though real-world conditions in KL will probably return something closer to 50–60km depending on your right foot and traffic conditions. And yes, you can actually cruise through Bukit Bintang on full electric mode, turning heads without making a sound. That’s class.

Old World Meets New Drive

Now, we Malaysians have a complicated relationship with hybrids. On one hand, we love our loud V8s, our pop-pop exhausts, and our remaps to 1,000Nm because, well, "more torque, more talk." On the other, we’re also increasingly aware that things need to change — fuel prices, environmental concerns, and traffic conditions are all pointing us in the same direction.

But what if you didn’t have to sacrifice any luxury, presence, or sheer unadulterated class to join the sustainable movement?

Enter the 2025 Bentley Continental GT Speed. Officially making its Malaysian debut this year, it marries everything we love about old-school British motoring — opulence, weight, and an unapologetic air of aristocracy — with the cleverness of modern hybrid technology. And let me tell you, this isn’t some watered-down compromise of a grand tourer. No. This is Bentley doubling down on what they do best and throwing in some electrified wizardry for good measure.

Cabin: A Sanctuary on Wheels

Stepping inside, the Continental GT Speed offers an experience that few cars in the world can rival. The leather is soft like butter on a Ramadhan bazaar roti john. The wood veneer is so polished, you’d think it was handcrafted by elves in Crewe. The rotating display remains one of the coolest party tricks in any car today — three-sided, switching between a touchscreen, classic analogue dials, and a clean veneer panel.

And here’s something I absolutely loved — the cabin remains utterly silent in EV mode. There’s an uncanny serenity to it, almost like driving inside a well-insulated reading room in an English manor. No engine rumble, no vibration. Just smooth, electric progress. It's in these moments that the Continental Hybrid just makes so much sense for Malaysia — KL's notorious stop-go traffic becomes an effortless glide, and your daily commute transforms from chore to charm.

Yes, hybrid. And yes, it’s a Bentley.

Driving Experience: The GT DNA Lives On

Now let’s talk about how it drives. The biggest surprise is how the hybrid system doesn’t rob the Continental of its soul. Despite weighing close to 2.3 tonnes, this GT feels nimble, responsive, and thoroughly planted. The steering is light yet precise, body roll is managed with surprising grace, and there’s a sense of underlying composure that few cars at this size can claim.

Switch into Sport mode and the V8 comes alive, aided by the electric torque fill. You get that deep, creamy Bentley acceleration, and before you know it, you’re doing triple digits in complete comfort.

Cruising down the MEX Highway with the twin towers gleaming in the distance, this car felt perfectly at home. A flagship in a sea of conformity.

The Malaysian Angle: What This Means for Us

Let’s be honest — most Bentleys in Malaysia live pampered lives. Weekend runs to Genting, dinner arrivals at Marini’s, or stately rolls into Bangsar Village valet. This Continental Speed caters perfectly to that lifestyle.

With the ability to do short-distance errands in full electric and long-distance drives with a grand touring heart, it’s a best-of-both-worlds solution. For the first time, a Bentley makes as much sense pulling up silently to your high-rise as it does devouring a stretch of Karak twisties.

And with local taxes gradually favoring hybrid and EV tech (fingers crossed on EEV incentives continuing), the Continental GT Speed might just be the smart-money choice for the well-heeled Malaysian motorist who wants to future-proof their luxury.

Final Thoughts:

So, what do I think of the 2025 Bentley Continental GT Speed?

In short: it’s a Bentley through and through — sumptuous, refined, and devastatingly fast. But it’s also a Bentley for the next chapter. One that embraces the future without abandoning the legacy.

You want luxury without guilt? Presence without noise? Then this, dear readers, is your rolling statement piece.

And as I watched it quietly disappear into the heat-haze of Jalan Duta, I couldn’t help but smile. The future of luxury isn’t loud — it’s smart, sustainable, and utterly stylish.