THERE can be little doubt that the biggest stars at the British International Motor Show later this month will be the sensational new Bentley Continental GT Coupe, unveiled last week at the Paris Motor Show as a concept car and which goes on sale next year.

Such have been the expectations for this car which will cost about £120,000 that the first 1,000 have been pre-sold, sight unseen. And they don't even start production until next year!

The Continental name has resonated throughout Crewe ever since it was first ascribed to the fabulous coup version of the R-type, which this year celebrates its 50th anniversary.

It is a name that evokes images of Grand Touring in the finest style, and embodies the supreme level of craftsmanship, luxurious accommodation and supercar dynamics that are the hallmarks of the new car.

Half a century ago, the Bentley R-Type Continental was the fastest four seat production coup in the world, a title the new Continental GT will return to Crewe, courtesy of its Bentley-built twin-turbocharged, six-litre W12 engine offering more than 500 bhp, and a top speed in excess of 180mph.

Bentley says it was both impractical and undesirable to increase the engine's capacity beyond its existing six-litre displacement, so its engineers decided that it should be turbocharged.

Forced induction was first used on standard Bentley road cars as long ago as 1928 with the introduction of the famed "Blower" Bentleys, while turbocharging has been a hallmark of Bentley engine design for 20 years.

So, in line with modern practice and consistent with the Bentley Arnage Series Two introduced earlier this year, the use of twin turbochargers was selected as the preferred means of delivering a dramatic hike in both power and torque.

Using two turbochargers on an engine with two banks of cylinders has many advantages over the old, single turbo method.

For a start, because there are two of them, each turbo is much smaller than a single unit, designed for the same purpose, would be.

This means they can accelerate up to and back down from operating speed much more quickly, minimising turbo-lag.

Two turbochargers also means the car's catalytic converters can be sited next to the exhaust manifold where they heat up extremely quickly, offering greatly reduced exhaust emissions, particularly when the engine is cold.

So equipped, the Continental GT is set to redefine the concept of Grand Tourers for a 21st-century audience.

While many may choose the car for pure enjoyment, it has been engineered and proven in the world's toughest conditions to ensure that it lives up to its GT promise of prolific performance, combined with levels of comfort that enthral its occupants every step of the way.

In every respect, therefore, the Bentley Continental GT will more than honour its exalted name and again be a benchmark for GTs to follow.

Nor will there be any confusion with the existing Continental range of two-door coups this will cease production as the new Continental GT comes on stream in the second half of 2003.