Bentley Continental Supersports

Bentley has released the official images and information on the Continental Supersports, themost powerful and fastest Bentley ever, with 621 hp and 329 km/h. It features a muscular exterior design combined with a driver-focused two-seater cockpit. It will go on sale in Autumn 2009.

 

Recently previewed by Bentley with a teaser image, the Continental Supersports is the fastest, most powerful Bentley ever with 630PS (621 bhp), 0-100 km/h acceleration in 3.9 seconds and a top speed of 329 km/h.

The W12 engine is capable of running on both petrol (gasoline) and biofuel.

The Continental Supersports began as an ‘under the radar’ project exploring the possibilities of weight reduction on the Continental GT but with more power and torque.

Compared to the Continental GT Speed the Supersports is 110 kg lighter.

 

Performance is complemented by an array of chassis enhancements including retuned steering and suspension, utilising lighter weight components, retuned dampers and anti-roll bars.

Agility is further enhanced by the 40:60 rear-biased torque split for the all-wheel drive system, a wider rear track, bespoke lightweight 20-inch alloy wheels and a unique electronic stability programme.

Carbon ceramic brakes are standard fitment, benefiting steering response, grip and ride comfort, while saving weight.

The Supersports name is inspired by the original two-seater 3-litre Supersports model introduced in 1925, itself an evolution of the 3-litre Speed. The lightweight, 85 bhp Supersports was the first production Bentley to reach 100 mph.

The Continental Supersports will be available from autumn 2009, and the FlexFuel compatible models will be sold in the US starting from summer 2010.

From the official Press Release:

Design

 

The team at Bentley sought to create a rear-bias for the power delivery and also raise that power to create the fastest and most powerful Bentley ever. The design team was then briefed to make the new car ‘extreme’.

The evolution of the Supersports’ design was a clear case of form following function, the purposeful sculptural forms signalling the engineering revisions beneath the skin.

At the front, Supersports has a simple ‘letter box’ centre air intake flanked by two vertical grilles which give the car dramatic differentiation, making it seem wider (and therefore lower) while feeding a larger volume of cooling air to the intercoolers.

Two new hood vents extract hot air from the engine bay.

 

At the rear, the subtly curved wheel arches are extended by 25 mm (I inch) each side, necessitating newly tooled panels, to accommodate the increased track of the uprated chassis.

They provide the Supersports with a truly muscular stance, complemented by the new lightweight, 20-inch, 10-spoke alloy wheels. The very open design allows a clear view of the carbon ceramic brake discs and calipers.

A new bumper with a black finish to the lower valance, houses larger (+ 40 mm/1.6 inches), unique elliptical exhaust pipes with a discreet vertical divider.

The Supersports is further distinguished by a unique dark-smoked steel finish to all exterior ‘brightware’, including front grilles, lamp bezels, window surrounds and wheels.

A complex Physical Vapour Deposition process is applied to all stainless steel components to give a lustrous and highly durable finish. A car industry first, this process is normally used as a decorative coating on watches and machine tools.

Four new exterior colours are available exclusively for the Supersports – pearlescent Ice and Quartzite and a first for Bentley, two matt finish colours, Light Grey Satin and Dark Grey Satin. Customers will also have a choice of the 17 ‘standard’ paint colours.

The Continental Supersports will feature external model badges incorporated in the smoked steel trim strip behind each wheel on the lower front wings.

Interior Design

The two-seat driver-focused cabin blends traditional leather hide with three new materials for Bentley – carbon fibre, AlcantaraTM and ‘Soft Touch’ leather.

Dirk van Braeckel, Director of Design and Styling explains: “Our challenge was to create a driver-focused cabin that complements the extreme character of the exterior, using non-traditional materials whilst maintaining Bentley’s high standards of quality and craftsmanship.”

Light weight carbon fibre replaces wood veneer on the fascia and centre console, while the new lightweight front sports seats also feature a carbon fibre clamshell back. The rear seats are replaced by a stowage deck area with a carbon fibre luggage retaining beam.

A visible weave in all the carbon fibre components has a ‘Bentley-specific’ density and all the parts are finished at the company’s Crewe wood shop.

The predominant interior colour is black with Beluga secondary hide and Anthracite AlcantaraTM. Customers however can personalise their interior by choosing between Single and Duo Tone themes.