New Bentley Revealed

Newest model is the fastest and most powerful Bentley ever and it also can run on biofuel.

Continental Supersports

Things must be getting slow around here at LotPro.com, because now we’re writing about an automobile that most of us won’t even see, much less sit in or drive. On the other hand, Bentleys always have been beautiful examples of automotive art, even given the excesses often displayed by the interior customizations of owners. So, on to the good parts:

The name ‘Supersports’, itself, is inspired by the original two-seater 3-litre Supersports model introduced in 1925. That lightweight 85 hp Supersports was the first production Bentley to reach 100 mph.

Outside, the latest Supersports differs from the more plebian (if you can call it that) GT Speed by a new front fascia that features massive air intakes below the outboard headlamps (to feed the intercoolers), more pronounced wheel arches to accommodate a wider track, hood vents (for additional airflow to the intercoolers), special lightweight wheels (saving 22 pounds) and a unique dark-smoked steel finish to all exterior “brightware” using a “physical vapour deposition” process normally used as a coating on industrial tools and, (considering the age of most Bentley owners), hip replacement joints.

Here are a few of the technical specifications:

•    6-litre W12 engine twin-turbocharged engine now produces 621 hp at 6000 rev/min and 590 lb ft of torque at 1700 – 5600 rev/min
•    0 – 60 mph in 3.7 seconds
•    0 -100 mph in 8.9 seconds
•    50 – 70 mph in 2.1 seconds
•    80 – 120 km/h in 2.6 seconds
•    Top speed of 204 mph
•    Revised ZF 6HP26 transmission with ‘Quickshift’ system that cuts shift times by 50% and enables double downshifts
•    New 40/60 rear-biased torque split for the all-wheel drive system reduces understeer when powering out of bends and provides for better modulation of line and attitude by ‘throttle steering’
•    Uprated front suspension with aluminum forward levers, stiffer bushes together with retuned anti roll bar and Servotronic steering for sharper turn-in
•    Revised Continuous Damping Control (CDC) for improved body control
•    Unique lightweight, 20-inch, 10-spoke alloy wheels offer 22 lb weight saving per car, reducing unsprung and rotating mass and improving brake cooling. Increased 1 inch offset on rear wheels improves grip and stability
•    275/35 ZR20 Pirelli Ultra High Performance tires
•    Advanced ESP system fully exploits potential of the most powerful W12 engine and improved chassis
•    Standard-fit carbon-ceramic brakes – the largest and most powerful brakes ever fitted to a production car – contribute 44 lb weight saving
•    243 lb weight saving compared to Continental GT Speed

So there you have it. The Supersports offers the driver 21 additional horses, an additional 37 lb.-ft. of torque over the GT Speed. The cabin is limited to two occupants – the back seats having been eliminated in the interest of weight savings. This is more than offset by the fact that the two remaining seats are constructed of carbon fiber (as is the interior trim) and can be had in either solid black, or black with gray, red or tan accented trim.

Flexfuel anyone

The only odd thing about the Supersports is that Bentley seems to have spent an inordinate amount of time and money to make it available, eventually, as a flexfuel vehicle capable of burning E85, gasoline, or any mixture of the two. While E85 is certainly “green” in the sense that it is a biofuel, it is notoriously inefficient when compared to gasoline. Even though this won’t matter to most Supersports owners, the fact remains that it certainly will offend most environmentalists, especially if you consider this fact: the Continental GT has an EPA fuel economy rating of 10 city/17 highway. If you use a pure E85 blend, this would compute to an EPA rating of 7 city/13 highway – hardly an encouraging figure – be it for renewable resources or otherwise.

Tags: Bentley, continental supersports, gt speed