100 years after the birth of the first Bentley ‘Super Sports’, the nameplate returns to Bentley for only the fourth Supersports model in history. The new Bentley Supersports is the most driver-focused Continental GT ever, with rear-wheel drive, a two-seat cabin and a gross weight below two tonnes. A non-hybrid, pure internal combustion powertrain has a new 666 PS (657 bhp), 800 Nm twin-turbo 4.0-litre V8 at its heart, with power fed through an eight-speed double clutch gearbox to the rear wheels only. Carbon ceramic brakes, new 22” lightweight forged wheels developed with Manthey Racing and an Akrapovič full-length titanium exhaust system are standard, while Pirelli Trofeo RS tyres are available.
The exterior represents the most purposeful Continental GT ever, with a series of form-following-function developments to maximise downforce and save weight. A new front bumper integrates the biggest front splitter ever fitted to a Bentley road car, and feeds cooling air to the engine and front brakes. Carbon fibre dive planes, side sills, fender blades and a rear diffuser and fixed rear wing combine to generate more than 300 kg more downforce than a Continental GT Speed. The weight saving regime extends to the roof, which is now a carbon fibre panel to also lower centre of gravity whilst maintaining structural stiffness.
Inside, the two-seat cabin features new, highly bolstered sports seats, positioned lower in the car, with the rear cabin environment replaced with a carbon fibre and leather shell. Monotone, duo-tone and tri-tone interiors are available, with extensive use of leather, Dinamica and carbon fibre for a performance-focused space.
Bentley’s Chairman and CEO, Dr Frank-Steffen Walliser, comments:
“The new Supersports is more than just the most driver-focused Bentley yet. It signifies a return to Bentley making more extreme cars – ones that combine extraordinary breadth of ability with true driver engagement, while remaining pieces of automotive artwork unique and bespoke to each customer. Bentley has always thrived when revealing a more daring side, and the new Supersports is a statement of our intent while celebrating 100 years of the name. This is the first project developed from start-to-finish since I joined Bentley Motors, and I’m proud of our team and the speed at which we’ve created a car so different to the GT on which it’s based.”
The powertrain of the new Supersports is non-hybrid and purely Internal Combustion Engine (ICE). A new, strengthened 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 is the heart of the car – with a stronger crankcase, uprated cylinder heads and larger turbos. The changes yield the highest power density of any Bentley engine - 666 PS / 657 bhp (166.5 PS per litre), with 800 Nm of torque. Coupled to the engine is the ZF eight-speed double clutch transmission used across the Bentley model range, but redeveloped for the Supersports with uprated clutches and a new shifting strategy. Gear shifts are now sharper and more responsive, while the downshift strategy during braking has been precisely calibrated to deliver optimal stability and driver confidence.
The engine breathes though a full-length titanium exhaust which is tuned to be significantly more characterful than any previous Bentley. Developed in conjunction with Bentley partners Akrapovič and unique to Supersports, the complete system amplifies and tunes the cross-plane V8 note to be extremely compelling – deep, powerful and completely authentic, with no artificial in-cabin enhancement.
The sprint to 62 mph / 100 km/h will be dispatched in 3.7 seconds, and top speed will be circa 192 mph / 310 km/h (official verified figures will follow in due course). More important that the headline figures though, will be how the Supersports behaves dynamically.
For that, Bentley’s chassis engineers have enjoyed the opportunity for a new level of driver engagement, by making the new Supersports the first rear-wheel drive Continental – except for the Continental GT3 race cars – in history. Power is fed exclusively to the rear wheels through an eLSD, out to rear wheels that have an increased track of 16 mm over a Continental GT. The eLSD is assisted by torque vectoring by brake, with the systems working together to make turn-in as sharp as possible and to give maximum traction. Rear-wheel steering is retained for maximum agility and stability, while the calibrations for the steering, suspension, traction management and ESC systems are all-new.
ESC settings allow the driver to select how much independence or assistance they would prefer – from fully-on, through a Dynamic Mode that allows a level of slip and oversteer within reactive limits, to fully-off – where the driver has complete control of the rear axle, and can provoke the Supersports into significant but highly controllable oversteer.
There are three new configurations to the Drive Dynamics Controller:
- Touring mode matches the performance character of the Sport mode in a Continental GT Speed, but pairs it with increased ride height, softer damping and a more discrete exhaust character.
- Bentley mode increases the performance character beyond Touring mode, with gearbox strategy, throttle pedal and chassis settings all uplifted. Exhaust system valves open to enhance sound character, and launch control becomes available.
- Sport mode goes even further, with ultimate optimisation for driver engagement and tuned for maximum chassis and powertrain response.
The chassis system uses aluminium double wishbones at the front with a multi-link rear axle, air springs, and new twin chamber dampers – ECU-controlled in bump and rebound independently. Bentley Dynamic Ride, the proprietary 48V electric anti-roll control system, can apply up to 1300 Nm of anti-roll reaction torque in 0.3 seconds. Braking is by the largest automotive braking system in the world – 440 mm Carbon-Silicon-Carbide (CSiC) discs on the front axle, clamped by 10-piston calipers, and 410 mm discs with four-piston calipers at the rear – fitted as standard. Calipers are black as standard, with a red-painted option available.
The Supersports comes with new, 22” forged and machined aluminium allow wheels developed in conjunction with specialists Manthey Racing, available in two finishes – Black Painted, and Black Painted and Machined (introducing a silver metal accent). Uniquely for the Supersports, two tyre options are available: a standard Pirelli P-Zero tyre, and a new Trofeo RS performance tyre as an option. With Trofeo RS tyres fitted, the chassis changes and weight savings mean that the Supersports can corner approximately 30% quicker than a Continental GT Speed, with up to 1.3g peak lateral force.
The new Supersports is nearly half a tonne lighter than the Continental GT, and will weigh less than 2000 kg. The most significant weight saving comes from the powertrain, with a reduction commensurate with the conversion to ICE-only propulsion and rear-wheel drive. The roof – usually aluminium – has been replaced with a carbon fibre panel, which saves weight and lowers the overall centre of gravity.
The rear cabin environment has been deleted, saving a significant amount of weight. Along with the seats and seatbelts, rear cabin sound insulation has been reduced, and the audio system has been reconfigured for the front cabin only. Additional weight savings come the deletion of certain driver assistance systems, not required on a driver-focused GT.
The interior of the new Supersports is as purposeful as the rest of the car, inspired by the energy and precision of motorsport. Two-seat only, it completes the focus on driver engagement that is the singular mission statement of the car. Every details is engineering to elevate the driving experience, redefining performance-focused luxury.
New lightweight sports seats are provided for the driver and one passenger, with increased lateral bolstering, a lower position in the car and carbon elements across the shoulder area. The seats feature 11-way electric adjustment and retain seat heating. The rear cabin is replaced by a lightweight and precision engineering carbon fibre tub that wraps around the space. Finished with a leather wraparound design, the tub integrates into the rest of the cabin and delivers a cleaner, more purposeful interior layout.
Lightweight and high gloss carbon fibre veneers to the waistrails and fascia panels are standard, joined by a blend of leather and Dinamica, with the latter technical material to the centres of the seat backs and seat cushions, the centre panels of the doors and the headlining. Supersports embroidery and badging completes the cabin, together with an individually numbered badge to the centre console.
Every Supersports will be individually numbered before it leaves the factory, with customers able to request specific numbers from the 500 examples that will be handcrafted in Crewe.
Paint options start with a core range of 24 performance-focused colours, with additional paint finishes including Supersports logos and matte paint available via Mulliner. Beyond single-tone exteriors, Bentley’s design team has developed five ‘Design Themes’, which include either a small section of vertical striping and a Supersports name in a contrasting colour on the lower body side behind the front wheel, or a series of painted stripes in two contrasting colours across the rear quarters of the car.
Exterior carbon fibre is available in high gloss finish, and the lower elements can be fully painted or pinstriped.
For the cabin, 22 Main Hide colours are accompanied by 11 Secondary Hide and nine Accent Hide colours. Single tone, duo-tone (as standard) and a new and unique tri-tone colour split are all available, and Dark Chrome Specification is standard.
In place of interior carbon fibre, customers can also choose from Diamond Brushed or Engine Turned Aluminium in a Dark Tint finish, or the clean and elegant simplicity of Piano Black.
The launch imagery for Supersports is in a Design Theme called “Nightfall”, which blends Anthracite gloss exterior paint with a Camel accent to the lower bodywork along with Camel lower striping and a contrast number 8 to the grille. The interior is in Beluga and Camel, with Bronze accents.