The Machine That Makes the Journey
There is a category of automobile that exists for one purpose above all others: to make the act of driving across a continent feel not like transport but like a privilege. The grand tourer — long-nosed, beautifully proportioned, powerful but refined — is the car that transforms a summer route from Geneva to the Amalfi Coast, or from Paris to the Algarve, from a logistical exercise into one of life’s great pleasures. In an era when much of the automotive world is preoccupied with electrification, autonomous technology, and urban mobility, the grand tourer remains gloriously analogue in its appeal. It exists because some roads deserve to be driven, and some journeys deserve to be savoured. Summer 2026 offers several exceptional machines for those who share this philosophy.
Bentley Continental GT: The Definitive All-Rounder
The Continental GT has spent two decades defining the modern grand tourer, and the current generation — recently refined with updated styling and a more driver-focused chassis — remains the benchmark against which all competitors are measured. Its ability to cover vast distances in supreme comfort while delivering genuine driving engagement on a mountain pass is a feat of engineering that few rivals can match. The cabin, trimmed in leather, wood, and metal with the obsessive attention to detail that characterises Crewe craftsmanship, creates an environment that makes twelve-hour drives feel like two. For summer touring, the Continental GT Convertible adds the dimension of open-air motoring without compromising the car’s fundamental grand touring capability.
Ferrari Roma: Italian Poetry in Motion
Where the Bentley favours breadth of capability, the Ferrari Roma offers something more emotionally charged. Its design — a long, flowing silhouette that references the great front-engined Ferraris of the 1960s — is arguably the most beautiful shape in the current Maranello lineup. The twin-turbocharged V8 delivers effortless performance, but it is the car’s character rather than its specification that makes it exceptional. The Roma flatters its driver. It rewards smoothness, responds to sensitivity, and makes every journey feel like a collaboration between human and machine. On a sun-drenched coastal road in summer, with the windows lowered and the engine note rising through a series of curves, there are few more compelling automotive experiences available at any cost.
Aston Martin DB12: The British Contender
Aston Martin has described the DB12 as the world’s first super tourer — a claim that positions it between the traditional grand tourer and the supercar. The twin-turbocharged V8, developed with Mercedes-AMG, delivers more than six hundred horsepower, but the car’s true distinction lies in its chassis sophistication and the quality of its interior, which represents a significant step forward for the Gaydon brand. On a European summer tour, the DB12 offers the rare combination of genuine supercar performance and the long-distance refinement necessary for sustained continental driving. It is, in many ways, the most complete car Aston Martin has produced — and its design, as one would expect from the marque that has long defined automotive beauty, is nothing short of stunning.
Porsche 911 Targa: The Purist’s Choice
The 911 Targa has always occupied a unique position in the Porsche range — neither fully open nor fully closed, it offers a driving experience that combines the involvement of a convertible with much of the structural rigidity of a coupé. For summer touring, this compromise is ideal: the distinctive roll hoop and retractable glass roof section allow for open-air motoring when conditions permit, while providing full weather protection when they do not. The 911’s rear-engine layout gives it a dynamic character unlike any other car in this category, and its everyday usability — reliable, compact, and surprisingly practical — makes it arguably the most rational choice for a summer touring car. Rationality, of course, has never been the primary criterion for choosing a grand tourer. But with the 911, it is a welcome bonus.
The Electric Alternative: Porsche Taycan GTS Sport Turismo
For those ready to embrace electric grand touring, the Taycan GTS Sport Turismo represents the most convincing current proposition. Its shooting-brake silhouette provides elegant practicality, while the dual-motor powertrain delivers performance that would have been extraordinary in any era. The Taycan’s charging infrastructure compatibility across Europe has improved substantially, making a continental summer tour in an electric vehicle not merely feasible but genuinely enjoyable. The silence of electric cruising adds an unexpected dimension to the touring experience — heightening awareness of the landscape, the road surface, and the quality of the journey itself.
The Road Calls
A grand tourer is not the fastest way to reach a destination. It is not the most efficient, nor the most practical. It is simply the most pleasurable. And in summer 2026, with the mountain passes clear, the coastal roads shimmering in the heat, and the vineyards heavy with the promise of harvest, there has never been a better time to answer the road’s invitation.
Explore more: bentleymotors.com | ferrari.com | astonmartin.com | porsche.com
Featured photo: © Official Bentley Motors
