Bentley has confirmed its new performance halo – the stripped out, two-seat Supersports – will be sold in Australia, albeit in extremely limited numbers.
Fewer than 10 out of 500 total examples of the Supersports have been allocated to the local market, with each expected to wear a price tag in the vicinity of $900,000 before on-road costs.
“Let’s say it’s a high single figure,” Bentley chief communications officer Wayne Bruce told CarExpert when asked about the Australian allocation.
“It’s noisier and more exciting to drive than the current GT Speed, but you could still drive from Melbourne to Sydney in that car if you wanted to.”
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The ‘Super Sports’ moniker first adorned a Bentley in 1925 – more specifically a lighter, more powerful version of the 3 Litre. Supersports branding has since been applied to two separate generations of the modern Continental, while the upcoming Supersports will ditch the Continental name but remain based on Bentley’s two-door coupe.
Production of the new Supersports will commence from the fourth quarter of 2026, with customer deliveries beginning in early 2027.
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 additional performance and aural drama.
Unlike the base Continental, the V8 drives the rear wheels only via an eight-speed dual-clutch automatic 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.
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.
Handling benefits from torque vectoring and a 48V electric anti-roll control system dubbed Bentley Ride. Significant weight savings also contribute to enhanced dynamics – the Supersports is the first Continental GT to weigh under 2000kg, and is said to be lightest Bentley in 85 years.
Nearly 500kg has been saved through various measures, including ditching the plug-in hybrid’s battery and electric motors, as well as the all-wheel drive system.
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.
The brakes, on the other hand, have been beefed up to match the Supersports’ uprated performance. That means 440mm Carbon-Silicon Carbide discs with 10-piston calipers at the front, and 410mm discs with four-piston calipers at the rear.
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.
Exterior design highlights include new bumpers front and rear, a 15mm wider rear track, several aerodynamic attachments, and a fixed boot lid spoiler.
Inside the cabin there’s a pair of lighter, lower sports seats with more bolstering. Buyers can choose from 22 main colours and 11 secondary colours for the leather upholstery, as well as 24 exterior paint options.
According to Mr Bruce, the radically focused nature of the fourth-generation Supersports can be attributed to the vision of current CEO Dr. Frank-Steffen Walliser, who crossed over to Bentley from Porsche last year.
“What is unique about Bentley is the polarity we have – we can be super-luxury but we can also be performance. I often use the example of the year when we designed a state limousine for the Queen and also won Le Mans,” explained Mr Bruce.
“Supersports was about pushing us further in the performance direction. It was an idea that was knocking around for a while but it took the arrival of a new CEO, Dr. Frank-Steffen Walliser, to give it petrol and bring everyone together.
“We’ve seen interest from customers in the social media coverage, it has brought new excitement to Bentley. It’s surprised people, and it’s good to surprise.”
MORE: Bentley Supersports: Rear-wheel drive Continental is brand’s lightest car since 1940