When the unique 621-horsepower Bentley Continental Supersports launched in 2009, we discovered it to be a refined, cossetting, and completely bonkers tackle Bentley’s conventional ultra-luxury theme. The Supersports returned in 2017 for the Continental GT’s second technology however has been noticeably absent for the reason that 2019 arrival of the third-generation nameplate. That adjustments quickly, nevertheless.
Autocar has realized that Bentley is near revealing a brand new Continental Supersports primarily based on the lately up to date Continental GT vary. Nevertheless, as a substitute of the V8 plug-in hybrid powertrain launched with the latest replace, which delivers a stout 771 hp within the GT Pace, the brand new Supersports will reportedly be powered purely by the V8, a twin-turbocharged 4.0-liter mill.
New Supersports Might Ditch The Hybrid System Totally
In line with Autocar‘s sources, the engine will produce over 640 hp. Which may not match the 700 hp of the final Supersports’ twin-turbocharged 6.0-liter W12, however the lighter weight of the V8 in comparison with the now-discontinued W12 ought to ship sharper and extra agile dealing with. The lighter, extra centered theme will probably be repeated elsewhere, as Bentley will reportedly additionally skip an all-wheel-drive system in favor of a purely rear-drive setup for the primary time in its newest Continental GT.
Per the sources, dropping the hybrid system and AWD, mixed with different measures, just like the liberal use of carbon fiber, together with for the roof and entrance seats (the rear seats will probably be deleted), will assist cut back the curb weight of the large coupe to about 4,400 kilos, a saving of roughly 1,000 kilos in comparison with the GT Pace. This could make the automobile the lightest and most sporting Bentley in a long time and doubtlessly lead to a 0-60 mph time of shut to a few seconds.
Different modifications will reportedly embrace light-weight wheels, carbon-ceramic brake rotors, and the Continental GT’s already-available titanium Akrapovic exhaust. Depend on the chassis and aerodynamics to be tuned extra for monitor driving than grand touring. That is mirrored in latest spy photographs of prototypes.
Prototypes Testing In Public View
Evenly camouflaged prototypes have been noticed in June on roads surrounding the Nürburgring racetrack in Germany, revealing particulars such because the aforementioned Akrapovič exhaust. A entrance fascia was fitted with dive planes (or canards), designed to extend downforce on the entrance axle, and a large rear wing to spice up downforce on the rear axle.
Apparently, Autocar means that the brand new Continental can have a restricted manufacturing run, which means will probably be priced a lot greater than even the GT Pace, which begins at simply over $300,000. It is a part of a brand new technique below lately appointed Bentley CEO Frank-Steffen Walliser, a Porsche veteran who developed the 918 Spyder amongst different achievements. The plan is to leverage Bentley’s motorsports heritage to introduce a brand new line of maximum efficiency fashions.
Bentley boasts a storied motorsport legacy, highlighted by a number of victories on the iconic 24 Hours of Le Mans, and the marque isn’t any stranger to performance-oriented, track-ready fashions. Probably the most excessive was the previous-generation Continental GT’s GT3-R variant, which drew inspiration from a Continental GT3 race automobile. Keep tuned.
Supply: Autocar