See Every Angle of the 2020 Bentley Continental GT Convertible

The 2020 Bentley Continental GT convertible's massive 6.0-liter W-12 engine grunts as we blast past the white hilltop villages of Andalusia in southern Spain, the Iberian sun happily washing over us and allowing for the full sensory experience of the moment. Grand touring cars arguably sit near the pinnacle of motoring greatness, and Bentley's new GT droptop may very well be one of the grandest of them all.

Reinvigorated with a fresh design and loads of technology, the latest Continental GT-both in coupe form (released last year) and this GT convertible that will go on sale later this year as a 2020 model-should significantly bolster Bentley's sales in the hyper-indulgent reaches of the automotive universe.

As with the Continental coupe, which we've already tested, the softtop's wheelbase has been stretched 4.1 inches, and the front axle is positioned such that the engine is mounted a little lower and rearward for a better front-to-rear weight distribution.

The front overhang is shorter while the rear overhang is marginally longer, but the overall proportions are similar to the previous version's.

From behind the wheel, the hood seems to stretch to eternity, and there's ample curb presence from every angle.

Driving the Bentley through the sweeping roads and switchbacks of the Parque Natural de la Sierra de la Grazalema, huge amounts of power are available pretty much everywhere throughout the rev range, especially in the car's Sport driving mode, which sharpens the powertrain's responsiveness and character.

Along with the 12's twin-scroll turbochargers and their integrated exhaust manifolds, other technical highlights include both port and direct fuel injection, cylinder deactivation, and a new dual-mass flywheel that helps keep driveline vibrations from entering the cabin.

Torque is channeled through an eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission-borrowed from Volkswagen Group cousin Porsche-and on to a rear-biased all-wheel-drive system featuring brake-based torque vectoring, helping the GT turn into corners more assuredly.

Despite its many updates, the new Continental still weighs in excess of 5000 pounds. Yet it feels delightfully-and surprisingly-nimble on challenging roads, thanks in part to the Bentley Dynamic Ride system's active anti-roll bars, which are powered by the car's 48-volt electrical system and tamp down on untoward body lean in corners.

Add in well-weighted steering, locomotive-like acceleration, and a tail that is willing to wag a little when pushed, and this Bentley has the makings of a delightful grand touring car.

Huge 22-inch wheels are optional and come in three finishes, but even the standard 21s are substantial.

At the heart of the Continental is a big twin-turbo 6.0-liter W-12, now boasting 626 horsepower and a thumping 664 lb-ft of torque.

A diet has yielded a significant 66-pound reduction in the W-12's weight, while engineering refinements help it generate a broad plateau of peak torque that stretches from 1350 to 4500 rpm.

With the help of the dual-clutch automatic's launch-control system, the droptop Continental should hit 60 mph in a brisk 3.4 seconds, 0.1 second behind the lighter hardtop.

Inside, a slick new 12.3-inch central display, Bentley's largest ever touchscreen, features a configurable home screen that can be split up to show navigation, music, and telephone menus as well as other data.

More impressively, as part of the $6270 Bentley Rotating Display, it also can rotate away into the dash, with a panel of three analog gauges or a lovely wood veneer sliding over its place.

While 20-way power-adjustable seats and all sorts of amenities greet front-seat passengers, the Continental's rear seats are rather cramped for adults, especially in terms of leg and knee room.

The softtop Continental's sleek silhouette means headroom in back also is limited, unless you have the top down, in which case the sky really is the limit.

That attention to luxurious details piles up quickly, though, with optional surface treatments and plush add-ons, among many other extras, raising the GT convertible's roughly $240,000 starting price into the $300K neighborhood.

With the biggest difference from the coupe to convertible obviously being the top itself, Bentley made sure it received special attention.

The company says the new GT convertible is as quiet inside with its insulated top up as the previous GT coupe was, and the roof itself can be lowered or raised in 19 seconds and at speeds up to 30 mph.

Aesthetically, the top benefits from a newly available tweed finish, but there are also seven cloth colors to choose from, as well as eight interior headliner hues.

The cabin really is a serene place, even with the top stowed, as the rake and design of the windshield work to keep direct sunlight out of your face despite flooding the rest of the cabin, and to keep wind turbulence to a pleasing minimum.

It’s absurdly easy to go very fast in the Continental GT and initially not even realize how high a velocity you're traveling at, so refined are the Bentley's comportment and interior trappings.

Should you hold your right foot down long enough, a claimed 207-mph top speed awaits regardless if the car's top is up or down.

Not that you need to travel that quickly to enjoy the GT convertible. But the ease with which it does make its awesome performance available-while allowing you to soak up more of the atmosphere around you-is what makes it such a seriously impressive grand touring car.