JOSEPH CAPPARELLA wrote:The new 12-cylinder Bentley Continental Supersports is essentially a rolling superlative. Not only is it the most powerful Bentley ever, with its 700-horsepower W-12 engine, it’s also the quickest and the fastest Bentley ever, with its maker claiming a zero-to-60-mph time of 3.4 seconds and a top speed of 209 mph. Those are the sorts of numbers befitting the Supersports model’s position above the GT Speed at the top of the Continental hierarchy.
Compared with the Speed, the Supersports squeezes another 67 horsepower and 130 lb-ft of torque out of the twin-turbo 6.0-liter W-12, for totals of 700 hp and a whopping 750 lb-ft. It employs larger turbochargers making more boost and revised intercoolers, while its crankshaft and connecting rod bearings are beefed up. An eight-speed automatic is the only transmission choice, using a new torque converter that, Bentley claims, locks up faster and can better withstand the engine’s massive output.
While straight-line speed is surely this Continental’s reason for being, it also benefits from some handling upgrades. The suspension setup is slightly lower and stiffer than that of other Continental models. Perhaps more important, it’s reportedly lighter than every other version of the current Continental GT, thanks to several small changes like lightweight wheels and an optional titanium exhaust system (it still weighs 5027 pounds, according to Bentley, so you won’t mistake it for a Mazda Miata). To rein in all that mass, carbon-ceramic brakes are standard, as is a brake-based torque vectoring system borrowed from the hard-core Continental GT3-R. In our tests, the GT3-R ran 60 mph in 3.4 seconds despite having “only” 592 horsepower on tap, so we’ll be eager to verify Bentley’s performance claims for this new version.
You’ll be able to spot the Continental Supersports by its body kit, which includes a carbon-fiber front splitter and rear diffuser along with side sill extensions. Various vents and grilles on the hood and fenders are finished in gloss black, while the headlights and taillights are slightly tinted. Options include a rear spoiler and even side decals for more ostentatious buyers looking to throw some shade at owners of lesser Continentals. The interior benefits from plenty of faux-suede and carbon-fiber trim, along with a distinct steering wheel and Supersports badges stitched into the headrests.
Although the Continental Supersports coupe is likely to be the one that puts down the most impressive performance numbers, a droptop Supersports will also be offered. Its 385-pound weight penalty dulls performance somewhat, as Bentley claims only 3.7 seconds for the zero-to-60-mph run and a mere 205-mph top speed, but the convertible shares visual tweaks and performance modifications with the hardtop.
Opting for the convertible also imposes a significant price penalty, with the convertible, priced at $325,325, costs nearly $30,000 more than the coupe, at $296,025. (Both prices are before the imposition of the gas-guzzler tax that applies to these cars.) It’s unlikely that either price will be of much import to those looking to own the pinnacle of the current Continental range.
