Bentley bling

The British premium marque has just lifted the lid -- literally -- on the Continental GTC, a ragtop version of the existing 12-cylinder coupe that's shaping as the ultimate pose-mobile.

It clearly looks the goods, but it's not merely a show pony as it retains the same 411kW/650Nm twin-turbo 6.0lt W12 engine as its coupe counterpart. It adds up to a claimed top speed of 300km/h-plus, and acceleration that's firmly in the spine-compressing league.

The ample grunt is channelled to the tarmac via a ZF six-speed auto and all-wheel-drive system, and these are complemented by a raft of electronic driver aids and sophisticated air suspension.

Befitting the car's Bentley badge, the opulent interior is bedecked in the finest leather and woodgrain trim.

Also in keeping with the Bentley tradition, the new Continental GTC has a soft fabric roof -- rather than a folding steef jobbie -- and a heated glass rear screen. This arrangement is said to provide ample luggage space whether the roof is raised or lowered -– which is hardly the case in most steel-roofed convertibles.

There's no elbow grease involved in raising or lowering the ragtop -- it's all taken care of by an electro-hydraulic motor.

The Continental GTC goes on sale in Europe in the second half of 2006, which means we may see it here later that year, or in early 2007. It will be the second convertible to grace the Bentley range, following in the wheel tracks of the Azure -- an Arnage-derived flagship four-seater convertible.