The new two-seat Bentley Supersports might be slower than a standard Continental GT, but it looks wilder and is significantly lighter, so it should be a more engaging drive.
Under the bonnet is a 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 boasting new cylinder heads, larger turbos, and a stronger crankcase to develop 490kW and 800Nm. There’s also a bespoke Akrapovič exhaust for a more sonorous note from the tailpipes.
The V8 drives the rear wheels via an eight-speed dual-clutch automated transmission, and an electronic limited slip differential. The ZF transmission has uprated clutches and remapped software for shaper gear changes, and its downshift on braking strategy has been retuned for better stability.
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To help the Supersports get off the line and turning in sharply through corners, there’s torque vectoring and a 48V electric anti-roll control system dubbed Bentley Ride.
Bentley claims the Supersports can complete the 0-100km/h standard in 3.7 seconds, and will have a top speed around 310km/h.
By comparison, the regular Continental GT, which has a 575kW/1000Nm 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 plug-in hybrid drivetrain with all-wheel drive, has a 0-100km/h time of 3.2 seconds and a top speed of 335km/h.
The Supersports is the first Continental GT to weigh under 2000kg, and is said to be lightest Bentley in 85 years. Much of the saving comes from ditching the plug-in hybrid’s battery and electric motors, as well as the all-wheel drivetrain.
Other weight saving measures include a carbon-fibre roof, rear seats replaced by a leather-wrapped carbon-fibre tub, reduced sound deadening, simplified sound system, and deleted driver assistance features.
Stopping ability comes from what’s claimed to be the “largest automotive braking system in the world”. Up front there’s 440mm Carbon-Silicon Carbide discs with 10-piston calipers, and at the back there’s 410mm discs with four-piston calipers. The calipers are painted black as standard, but red ones optional.
The Supersports rides on 22-inch forged and machined Manthey Racing alloy wheels in either black, or black with a machined silver accent. Pirelli P-Zero tyres are fitted as standard, but buyers can opt for Trofeo RS rubber instead.
For the Supersports Bentley has taken Continental GT’s handsome body and given it the boy-racer treatment. Up front there’s a new bumper with two cooling channels on each side (one for the brakes, and one for the engine), a front splitter, two pairs of stacked dive planes, and a laser-cut mesh grille.
Behind the front wheel arches are a set of B-shaped fender blades to manage airflow along the side of the car, which now feature chunky new sills.
At the rear there’s a 15mm wider track, a sharper new bumper with wheel arch vents and integrated diffuser, and a fixed boot lid spoiler.
Inside the cabin there’s a pair of new lightweight sports seats with more bolstering and which sit closer to the ground. Buyers can choose from 22 main colours and 11 secondary colours for the leather upholstery, as well 24 exterior paint options.
Just 500 Supersports will be built from the fourth quarter of 2026, with customer deliveries beginning in early 2027. Orders open March next year, and Australia and New Zealand are among a small number of confirmed markets.