Bentley introduced the name ‘Super Sports’ in 1925 on top of its 4½ liter chassis. It was the first Bentley model capable of 100 miles per hour, and with success at Le Mans in the late 1920s and early 1930s, it helped cement Bentley as a serious competitor in luxury performance.
Now, 100 years later, Bentley is reviving its Supersports name. This time it comes in the form of a powerful, lightweight (at least for a Bentley) rear-wheel drive sports car based on the current Continental GT. And yes, it will work well over 100 km/h
The new Bentley Continental GT Supersports lifts the current model to 11th place with a powerful twin-turbocharged V-8 engine capable of delivering 657 horsepower and 590 pound-feet of torque. It’s mated to an eight-speed dual-clutch transmission and rear-wheel drive – and importantly, it’s not a hybrid.
It takes just 3.7 seconds for the Supersports to reach 100 kilometers per hour. Find a long enough stretch of road and it will continue to a top speed of 186mph.
As the only non-hybrid Continental GT in the lineup and also with rear-wheel drive, the Supersports sheds more than a few pounds compared to its overly complex electrified siblings. Bentley is touting this as the lightest Continental GT yet, weighing just under 2,000 kg, or more than 1,000 kg lighter than the next lightest GT Speed variant (5,421 lbs). It’s no Miata, but it will do in a pinch.
Bentley uses a clever electronic limited slip differential to send all the new power to the rear wheels. It also widened the rear track by 16.0 millimeters and added torque brake vectoring with rear-wheel steering. The steering, suspension and traction control systems have all been completely recalibrated.
The double wishbone front suspension and multi-link rear suspension are linked to Bentley’s 48-volt electronic stabilizer system, which can detect and suppress body roll in just 0.3 seconds. The brakes, Bentley claims, are the largest on any modern production car: 10-piston calipers with 440mm carbon-silicon-carbide stoppers up front, and four-piston calipers with 410mm discs at the rear.
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Source: Bentley
The Supersports has three specific driving modes, depending on use. Touring mode lifts the suspension and softens the dampers for a more restrained ride. Bentley mode sharpens throttle response and adjusts the chassis for a slightly spicier experience. If you’re on the infamous Transfagarasan Highway, check Sport mode to unlock the sharpest, most aggressive settings.
All told, Bentley says the new Supersports corners 30 percent faster than a standard Continental GT Speed, with a maximum lateral force of 1.3 Gs. That’s comparable to something like a Koenigsegg CCX.
Visually, Bentley threw demure out the window and went crazy with valances, skirts, wheels and wings, all topped with carbon fiber to help reduce weight. The new front bumper features an integrated splitter and is the largest ever fitted to a road-going Bentley. It is complemented by two dive planes on each corner of the bumper that help reduce lift.
A new rear diffuser continues the aggro theme at the rear, while the one-piece, fixed spoiler on the trunk lid generates 661 pounds more downforce than the standard Conti GT. The Supersports also wears special 22-inch lightweight forged wheels developed by Manthey Racing specifically for this car.
The weight savings continues inside, where Bentley has removed the rear seat completely. Sorry, kids. That lightweighting also includes eliminating the rear audio system, making the front seats slimmer and removing some of the sound insulation. While less insulation will undoubtedly make for a louder ride, you can at least hear the full-length Akrapovic titanium exhaust system a little better.
The seats themselves are two lightweight, highly reinforced buckets placed low in the vehicle. Buyers can choose from a handful of monotone, two-tone and even three-tone interior combinations, with a healthy mix of leather, Dinamica and carbon fiber accents.
“The new Supersports is more than just the most driver-focused Bentley yet. It marks a return to Bentley creating more extreme cars – cars that combine extraordinary capability with genuine driver involvement, while remaining pieces of automotive artwork that are unique and tailor-made for each customer,” said Chairman and CEO, Dr. Frank-Steffen Walliser.
“Bentley has always managed to reveal a more daring side, and the new Supersports is a statement of our intention and celebrating the 100th anniversary of the name. This is the first project developed from start to finish since I joined Bentley Motors, and I am proud of our team and the speed with which we have created a car so different from the GT on which it is based.”
Photo by: Bentley
As expected, Bentley will only build a few hundred examples of the new Supersports, each individually numbered. Only 500 units are planned worldwide. Order books will open in March 2026 and production will start later in the year.
Pricing for the new Bentley Continental GT Supersports remains a mystery, but expect a pretty significant increase over the current Continental GT, which starts at around $285,000.
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