2023 Bentley Continental vs 2021 Rolls-Royce Ghost

What's the difference?

Bentley has been building cars for more than 100 years, but the famous British brand was re-born 20 years ago when it launched the Continental GT.

The sporty coupe and convertible reinvigorated the brand, returning it to its former glory days when it made cars that were dynamic and not just big and luxurious.

Now onto its third generation, the Continental GT has not only helped Bentley re-establish itself but also become a modern motoring icon.

Which is what the company wanted, an iconic model, like the Porsche 911 that could be a flagbearer for the brand.

Like the 911, this latest iteration is available in multiple forms, and we’re testing the Continental GT S Convertible, a two-door, four-seat grand tourer - with an emphasis on the ‘grand’.

Rolls-Royce says its out-going Ghost is the most successful model in the company’s 116-year history. 

Not bad, when you consider the first ‘Goodwood’ Ghost has ‘only’ been around since 2009. And although the factory isn’t quoting specific numbers, that all-time best-seller claim means it’s surpassed the more than 30,000 Silver Shadows produced from 1965 all the way through to 1980.

Unlike the brand’s Phantom flagship, the Ghost is designed for owners who want to drive, as well as be driven. The aim is a less conspicuous, more engaging experience, and according to Rolls-Royce Motor Cars CEO, Torsten Müller-Ötvös, development of this new generation Ghost involved a lot of listening. 

He says a team of “Luxury Intelligence Specialists” connected with Ghost owners around the globe to gain a clearer understanding of their likes and dislikes. And the result is this car.

While its predecessor’s engineering DNA included more than a few strands of BMW 7 Series (BMW owns Rolls-Royce), this all-new car stands alone on an all-RR alloy platform also underpinning the Cullinan SUV and Phantom flagship.

The factory claims the only parts carried over from the prior model are the ’Spirit of Ecstasy’ ornament on the nose, and the umbrellas slipped into the doors (the holders for them are heated, by the way).

We were offered the opportunity to slip behind the wheel for a day, and the experience was a revelation.