Bentley's New Continental GT Inspired By Japan's Bullet Train

Incorporating Local Culture

Japan has long been widely believed to be the center of automotive culture. In recent years, people have been flocking to this country to partake in the highly unique and almost mystical car world. Such is the draw of Japanese car culture that now even brands are leveraging the popularity by not only joining these car meets but also hosting their own.

Bentley is launching the newest generation of the Continental models in Japan, and to create the right amount of "buzz," the automaker not only hosted local events but also created special-edition models to commemorate the launch.

Tokyo Takeover

The festivities kicked off with an iconic takeover of the Tokyo tower, which, for one evening this past Saturday, was illuminated in Bentley Green with the company logo, also emblazoned on the viewing deck. While this was happening, at the bottom of the tower, the new Continental GT S, inspired by the Supersports, made its public debut to just 100 VIP guests.

To say that Bentley pulled out all the stops for this launch would be an understatement. Apart from the main launch during the Tokyo Tower takeover, both cars were also displayed at the world-famous car meet site, the Daikoku parking area. To ensure that the Supersports fit the motif of the Japanese tuning culture, it was fitted with underbody illumination for the trip, glowing soft green to match the accent color of the car’s livery and front wheels. 

Shinkansen Theme

The second car, the GT S, was also reskinned to reflect a more local and Japanese flavor. Taking inspiration from the Hayabusa Shinkansen bullet train, the fastest Shinkansen in service in Japan, which runs from Tokyo to Hakodate. This car was displayed during another event in Shinjuku hosted by Bentley in collaboration with Creative Director Mai Ikuzawa. It was open to all and drew car enthusiasts from all over Tokyo to hang out, surrounded by an interesting collection of cars, including other Bentleys.

Bentley’s Regional Director for Asia Pacific, Dave Hayter, pointed out that Japan has always been a strong market for Bentley, and as the brand continues to rediscover its sportier side, exposure to the Japanese car culture helps them on that journey.

View the full article