- Bentley announced a new hardcore variant of the Continental GT coupe.
- It features a redesigned bodykit and will likely wear the Supersports name.
- The model is expected to drop hybrid AWD for a V8 rear-wheel-drive setup.
A sharper, more focused chapter is about to open for the Bentley Continental GT, as the brand prepares to introduce a new performance flagship expected to wear the Supersports badge once again. This upcoming version appears with a redesigned bodykit, likely paired with a tighter chassis setup and a host of weight-saving measures.
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More importantly, the new Supersports is expected to ditch the plug-in hybrid AWD setup of the current Continental GT Speed for an upgraded non-electrified twin-turbo V8 sending power exclusively to the rear wheels.
Teased In Sound And Shadow
The new model was shown for the first time in a teaser, revealing some of its secrets and the roaring sound of its engine. Bentley’s official announcement was cryptic, but it leaves little room for doubt about the new variant:
“The return of an iconic name to Bentley is imminent, 100 years after it was first introduced. This will be a rare Bentley – and one that is raring to perform. Another extraordinary car, coming soon. More details will be released in due course.”
The new Supersports looks similar to the lightly camouflaged prototype that was spotted by our spy photographers just a few months ago. However, the final production version features an even more aggressive bodykit.
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The redesigned front bumper sports larger intakes, a prominent splitter, and dual canards. The profile is dominated by a new set of alloy wheels finished in black. Finally, the rear end gets a fixed rear spoiler, extra fins on the bumper, and a larger diffuser housing quad exhaust pipes.
Power Figures With A Shrug
While official figures are still thin, the new Continental Supersports is widely expected to run a beefed-up version of the twin-turbo 4.0-liter V8, with output hovering around 650 horsepower. On paper, that actually leaves it trailing the current GT Speed, which churns out 771 hp (583 kW / 782 PS) from its plug-in hybrid setup. It also undercuts the last Supersports from 2017, which packed a 700 hp (522 kW / 710 PS) W12. Not exactly a game of one-upmanship, then.
Still, power is only one side of the equation. The new model is expected to shed considerable weight compared to the rest of the Continental GT range, with reports suggesting a kerb weight of roughly 2,000 kg (4,410 pounds). Combined with rear-wheel drive and a chassis tuned for precision, this setup promises a very different driving experience from the AWD GT Speed.
Limited Numbers, Elevated Price
More details should arrive in the weeks ahead, but the teaser already hints that the Supersports will be built in limited numbers. That exclusivity will inevitably push its price above the rest of the lineup. For context, the Continental GT Speed currently starts at $306,250 in the US, while the Mulliner variant begins at $330,950. Expect the new Supersports to sit well above both.
