2011 Bentley Continental GT unveiled

Bentley has today revealed the 2011 Continental GT, marking its first - and likely last - major update since its debut in 2003. The Bentley Continental GT has been a solid seller internationally for the Volkswagen-owned brand, despite the minimal changes in the seven years since its launch.

The 2011 model brings updates to both its exterior and interior styling, along with an updated W12 engine and - for the first time - a 4.0 litre V8 engine.

On the outside, the updated Continental GT gets a new Mulsanne-inspired headlight treatment along with a restyled front-end that includes a new front bumper and a softer top line along the front quarter-panels.

At the rear end, there's a more defined boot lid, slightly-squarer rear fenders and updated taillights that again draw inspiration from the recently-revealed Bentley Mulsanne.

Inside, the big GT gets an updated dash layout with a new touch-screen display - completely with a 30gb hard drive for navigation and entertainment - and new front seats designed to increase rear legroom by 46mm.

Power is provided by an upgraded E85-compatible 6.0 litre W12 engine producing 430kW and 700Nm of torque - up from 412kW and 650Nm. Thanks to its new power figures, the 2011 Continental GT shuffles to 100km/h in a heady 4.4 seconds, shaving .4 seconds of its predecessor's time.

In 2011, the big W12 will be joined by a 'high-output' 4.0 litre V8 engine, and while Bentley has yet to reveal power and performance details, it has confirmed that the V8 will offer emissions figures 40 percent lower than the W12.

The new GT also gains an updated six-speed automatic transmission, with power distribution across the all-wheel-drive system now set to a 40/60 (front/rear) ratio rather than the 50/50 arrangement of the outgoing model.

More details are expected to be revealed at Paris, later this month.