The most powerful Bentley ever is here

By topgear ,

BentleyContiSupersports2017 1

Later this year, we’re set to see an all-new version of the football fraternity’s favourite four-seater, the Bentley Continental GT. But what’s the best way to wave off the current car? More horsepower, of course. Lots of horsepower. 700 of the things to create the most powerful, fastest accelerating and extreme Bentley in the history of ever. Ladies and gents, we give you the new Bentley Continental Supersports.

BentleyContiSupersports2017 12

Thanks to a reworked version of the 6.0-litre twin-turbocharged W12, power sits at a nice round 700bhp while torque has been stretched to 1017Nm. That’s enough to launch the 2.3-tonne two-door from 0-97kph in just 3.4 seconds and charge to the horizon at 336kph. Which, Bentley claims, makes it the world’s fastest four-seater. To help it stop, thankfully, the Supersports is complemented with the world’s largest carbon ceramic brake discs to stop the 2.3-tonne land yacht mooring itself into the surrounding scenery.

If your follicles can handle it, you can scalp the roof off and have it as a convertible. There’s a 150kg penalty for doing so, and you’ll hit 97kph from a standstill 0.3 seconds slower than its hard-topped brother and only be able to do 330kph, but you can still sleep easy at night knowing you have the fastest four-seat convertible on the planet.

BentleyContiSupersports2017 9

To get that extra oomph under the bonnet, newly designed bigger turbochargers plus a revised cooling system were fitted. And so the drivetrain could cope with all that power and torque, the cranktrain has been beefed up and there are new conrod bearings. The SS retains the Continental’s four-wheel drive system but has had the torque vectoring tech of the stripey and wingey Conti GT3-R added. Only 60 per cent of its power and torque fires to the rear wheels so don’t expect monster, smokey skids anytime soon. Other tweaks include lower and stiffer suspension, 21in forged alloy wheels (saving 20kg) and the option of a titanium exhaust system.

BentleyContiSupersports2017 8

Compared to the 2009 Supersports, power is up 79 bhp and 217Nm, while top speed has increased by 8 kilometres per hour and the 0-97kph dropped by 0.3 seconds. Our kind of progress.

Visually, there’s a new front and rear bumper, moody light clusters and lots of carbon fibre. If you want, you can even spec more carbon fibre: a rear spoiler (coupe only) and a gloss-polished carbon fibre bonnet. How Mansory. Inside, it’s been plastered with tri-colour diamond-quilted Alcantara, while chequered Supersports carbon fibre fascia panels join the existing list of ten veneers and technical finishes available.

Want one? Well, it’s around £50k more than the existing Conti GT Speed with prices starting at £212,500 for coupes, and £233,800 for convertibles.