Bentley Continental Supersports Convertible

Bentley Continental Supersports

The new Continental Supersports Convertible is not only Bentley’s fastest open-top car ever (0-60mph in 3.9 seconds; top speed of 202mph), it’s also the fastest four-seat convertible in the world.
It is powered by the same 621bhp twin-turbocharged W12 that lurks under the bonnet of the Continental Supersports Coupé, launched in 2009, and – as with all models in the Continental range – can run on both petrol and E85 bioethanol. Or any combination of the two.

The styling is described by Bentley as ‘muscular’, with an interior that re-interprets Bentley luxury using satin-finished carbonfibre, Alcantara™ and ‘Soft Grip’ leather. Overall, the engineers have managed a weight saving of 90kg against the GTC Speed.



Prices have not yet been announced but Bentley has released many technical and design details in advance of the Geneva unveiling:

* Revised ZF 6HP26 transmission with ‘Quickshift’ system that cuts shift times by 50% and enables double downshifts
* New 40/60 rear-biased torque split for the all-wheel drive system reduces understeer when powering out of bends and provides for better modulation of line and attitude by ‘throttle steering’
* Retuned Continuous Damping Control (CDC) system, stiffer suspension bushes and uprated rear anti-roll bar benefit body control, steering response, turn-in and balance
* Increased 50mm rear track improves grip and stability
* Lightweight, 20-inch, 10-spoke alloy wheels offer 10kg weight saving per car, reducing unsprung and rotating mass and improving brake cooling
* 275/35 ZR20 Pirelli Ultra High Performance tyres
* Advanced ESP system
* Standard-fit carbon-ceramic brakes provide fade-free braking and contribute a 20kg reduction in rotating and unsprung mass from the front axle
* Distinctive centre air-intake and vertical grilles feed larger volume of air (+ 10%) to turbocharger intercoolers while bonnet vents extract hot air from engine bay
* Subtly curved rear wheelarches with newly tooled side panels accommodate increased rear track of the uprated chassis and provide muscular stance
* Distinctive ‘smoked steel finish’ to all exterior ‘brightware’, including the first automotive application of ‘Physical Vapour Deposition’ to stainless steel
* Larger, twin elliptical exhaust tailpipes and rear valance with discreet vertical divider

2010 Bentley Continental Supersports

2010 Bentley Continental Supersports

Teaser shots for Bentley's new 2010 Continental Supersports have been making their way round the internet for the past couple of weeks, but today Bentley was finally ready to unleash exhaustive details on their new E85-capable 621 horsepower Continental Supersports 2 seat supercar.

The Continental Supersports shares most body pieces and drivetrain architecture with the Continental GT Speed, though both interior and exterior have been beefed up to handle all that extra power. New are larger standard 20 inch wheels with what Bentley boasts are the largest and strongest brakes on any production car.

The Continental Supersports also gets a trick automatically deploying rear spoiler that is completely hidden in the sublime bodywork. Wider track relative to Continental GT Speed models necessitates new flared fenders, and enlargened inlets feed air through the twin-turbocharged air intake system.

E85 ethanol, while clean-burning and mostly eco-friendly, is more corrosive than conventional gasoline. Thus, Bentley has replaced most of the engine internals in its turbocharged W12 powerplant. All the rings, seals and gaskets are unique to the Continental Supersports, meaning a greater focus on extreme performance is possible with this engine.

The Continental Supersports gets a modified version of the AWD system found in lesser Continental models. In this application, the AWD system distributes 40 percent torque to the front wheels and 60 percent to the rear by default. Through the use of electronic locking differentials torque can be reapplied as the situation requires, naturally.

The 2010 Bentley Continental Supersports currently has a release date this Spring, though Bentley says US models are still waiting on regulators' approval to run on the E85 spewing out of North American pumps. The car is adequately engineered, and the British motor company expects full ethanol certification by August.

2010 Bentley Continental Supersports

2010 Bentley Continental Supersports

200 mph Bentley: Big , Fast, Luxurious

The 2010 Bentley Continental Supersports is the fastest and most luxurious Bentley to date.

It is a car that can be used every day as a luxury sport cruiser. This Bentley weighs just below 5000 pounds and has 621 horsepower but can still do the note to sixty in just 3.7 seconds.

The car is finished with black on black and black wheels which gives it a seriously stealth look.

Leno is a huge Bentley Enthusiast with many of them in his collection. Here is Jay Leno's take on the car in the video below.

2010 Bentley Continental Supersports

2010 Bentley Continental Supersports

200 mph Bentley: Big , Fast, Luxurious

The 2010 Bentley Continental Supersports is the fastest and most luxurious Bentley to date.

It is a car that can be used every day as a luxury sport cruiser. This Bentley weighs just below 5000 pounds and has 621 horsepower but can still do the note to sixty in just 3.7 seconds.

The car is finished with black on black and black wheels which gives it a seriously stealth look.

Leno is a huge Bentley Enthusiast with many of them in his collection. Here is Jay Leno's take on the car in the video below.

2010 Bentley Continental Supersports Review

The Continental Supersports was delivered by my good friend Brad and it looked sensational and yet unobtrusive. Whereas a Rolls –Royce would have looked completely out of place the Bentley was just fine among the Porsches, Jaguars and its elder sister a 1993 Bentley owned by our neighbors. It was no great surprise that seconds after I’d parked my phone was ringing.

Can we take it for a spin please asked the owner of the “other” Bentley. Well, I didn’t need too much persuading. One slight problem rose immediately. We live in a 25 mph zone with nice but strict policemen patrolling day and night.

So off we went to an airport where son Nicholas joined us. I know it wasn’t quite the same as the Nurburgring but at least we could all do some acceleration and brake tests without getting huge tickets. And while there wasn’t quite enough room to hit the magic 200 miles per hour the Bentley is capable of, we did see the needle on a steady 170, fast enough ,I think ,for most of us.

The Supersports is aimed at Aston’s stunningly beautiful V12 DBS and Ferrari’s legendary 599 GTB. I am fortunate to have driven all three and luckily –or unluckily-my finances stop me from having to make the choice. For sheer beauty the convertible Aston DBS cannot be beaten. It also has that special ingredient, the James Bond connection. The Ferrari 599 GTB is the top of the Ferrari tree and trees don’t come much taller than that . Whether some people would find the engine sound too much on a long run depends on how much you enjoy listening to it. With the 599 Ferrari can justly claim that a certain Michael Schumacher had a hand in sorting out the handling . On a scale of 1-10 he is a 15.

As for the Bentley, well, there is no doubt that it is very much in contention for top awards. The minute you open the –very heavy-doors you are reminded of Ferrari’s Enzo. The beautifully trimmed two-tone leather and Alcantara seats complete with side bolsters are seriously inviting.

Bentley have removed the rear seats to save some weight and for the same reason they’ve also removed the electric seat-adjusting mechanism. No big deal, you pull a lever, adjust the seat and that’s that.

As for the engine, just press the button and you know you are in supercar country. Burble, burble and ready to go. You can just pop it into D for drive which will see off most other cars or into S for Sport in which case you won’t see anyone other than the cop waiting some way ahead with one of those unfriendly carpets across the road full of nails having been alerted by the whirly bird, just about the only thing that can keep up with you.

The obligatory paddle shifts are totally misplaced. These are not on the steering wheel and therefore pretty useless except on a straight road.

Handling is terrific especially in an automobile weighing 4,850 pounds. The ceramic discs are the size of the biggest pizza you’ve ever seen and the stopping power is nothing short of amazing. The four-wheel drive has a 40-60 rear wheel bias which again works just fine.

Ulrich Eichhorn, Bentley’s Head of Engineering is an accomplished racing driver so the result is an extremely fast and rare car. When I tested it there were only 4 in the United States.

Is it worth 300 thousand dollars? That really does depend on just how selfish you are. You cannot even take your children for a spin because there are no back seats just lots and lots of luggage room. More than in the 599 and the Aston put together.

Oh, by the way, as the seats don’t adjust upwards-unless it was just me who couldn’t figure it out- you have to put a cushion under your wife if she is only 5 foot three like my good lady. She couldn’t see a thing. Not a great selling point at 300 big ones. Is it an overkill? Is it an engineering tour de force? Probably. If you would like to buy one I would suggest the somewhat less exotic version, namely the Bentley Continental. Just as beautiful, a lot more comfortable, vastly more practical and as you are cruising from Sun Valley to San Francisco you can have two smiling little Johnnies in the back. Talk about brownie points!

Bentley Continental Supersports Technical Specs
ENGINEEngine Capacity5998ccMax. Power621bhp / 630 PS / 463kW @ 6000rpmMax.Torque800Nm, 590 lb-ft @ 2000-4500rpmCompression Ratio9.0:1Emission LevelEU4 / LEV2Fuel98 (95) RON
DRIVELINE AND TRANSMISSION
Continuous all-wheel drive
40/60 front/rear torque split
zf 6-speed automatic transmission
Quickshift
PERFORMANCE
Max. Speed 204mph / 329km/h
Acceleration 0 - 60mph 3.7 seconds
Acceleration 0 - 100km/h 3.9 seconds
* Power rating based on 98 RON fuel
FUEL CONSUMPTION
EU DRIVE CYCLE
Urban 11.3mpg 25.0 litres/100km
Extra-Urban 24.8mpg 11.4 litres/100km
Combined 17.3mpg 16.3 litres/100km
Co2 emissions (combined) 388g/km
EPA DRIVE CYCLE
City Driving 13 USmpg
Highway Driving 23.8 USmpg
WEIGHTS AND VOLUMES
Kerbweight 2240kg 4940lb
Gross Vehicle Weight 2750kg 6060 lb
Front Axle Weight 1433kg 3160 lb
Rear Axle Weight 1317kg 2900 lb
Boot Volume 370L 0.37m3 (13.1cu-ft)
Fuel tank capacity 90L 19.8 Gallons / 23.8 US Gallons

2010 Bentley Continental Supersports

The Bentley Continental Supersports is the fastest car Bentley makes.

The 2010 Bentley Continental Supersports may be the most extreme example of sport luxury available today, putting mere BMWs to shame, but its navigation system is terrible. The maps are very low resolution and, stored on a DVD, are slow to refresh and calculate routes. This navigation system lacks all but the most basic features, with no external data feeds or text to speech. It really doesn't belong in this car.

Let that rest as our main criticism so we can get to the good stuff, which is just about everything else.

Bentley has offered several variations of its Continental coupe since its introduction in 2003, but the Supersports model exhibits the purest level of performance. Bentley tweaked the already massive engine for more power, fitted wheels with big carbon ceramic brakes, and shed 243 pounds of weight, most notably by removing the rear seat.

And you really don't want a rear seat in this car, as you would resent any passengers back there for being a drag on performance, while they would unfriend you on Facebook for being relegated to such cramped quarters.

Bentley Continental Supersports with E85 biofuel

The new Continental Supersports, the first Bentley to use FlexFuel technology which enables it to run on E85 biofuel, gasoline or any combination of these two fuels, has further underlined its green credentials by meeting the 85% recyclability standard (95% for recoverability) demanded of all the Bentley Continental range.

In May 2009 Bentley received the official recycling pre-certification (in accordance with the EU Directive 2005/64/EG) from the German Motor Transport Authority (KBA) - thereby becoming one of the first luxury car manufacturers to attain this standard.

Type approval then followed from TÜV, the independent testing and certification service supplier, and now, with the addition of the Continental Supersports to this certification, the entire Bentley Continental range meets this exacting standard. The certificate, which is only awarded after detailed independent scrutiny of the car, assures the fact that virtually all the Continental's materials can be reused or reprocessed by other industries.

The Crewe-built Supercar, which is now arriving in Bentley showrooms, is the most extreme production car in the company's 90-year history. Capable of reaching 204 mph (329km/h), it is also the lightest road-going Bentley having shed some 110kg through a broad programme of weight reduction involving the innovative use of new materials such as carbon ceramics and carbon fibre.

The achievement of this certification is testament to the endeavours of the Bentley engineering team as Dr. Arno Homburg, Head of Whole vehicle Development at Bentley Motors said:

"Producing the fastest Bentley was a challenge in itself. However, we were equally determined not to sacrifice any environmental aspect in pursuit of this goal. The result is the paradox that the most extreme Bentley ever, is also the greenest".

The Supersports is the first iteration of the environmental strategy Bentley launched at the Geneva Motor Show in 2008. Powered by gasoline, E85 biofuel or any combination of these two fuels, the Supersports can reduce CO2 emissions by up to 70% on a well-to-wheel basis.

It is one element of a broader Bentley strategy which will see by 2012 the company's average fleet CO2 emissions reduced by 15% and the introduction of a new powertrain that will by itself deliver a 40% reduction in fuel consumption. This programme is also supported at the Bentley factory where the use of gas, electricity and water have all been reduced significantly despite Bentley achieving record levels of production in recent years.

A genuine two-seater, the Supersports takes Bentley into new market sectors. It has received an overwhelmingly positive media reaction and is now attracting keen customer interest. Its Flexfuel capability ensures that is fuelled for the future and, with this latest recyclability certification, customers can be assured that every effort has been taken to consider the environmental impact of all components over the entire life of the car. As Dr Homburg adds:

"It is part of our responsibility as a car maker to contribute to environmental improvements and with Supersports you can see an evolution of this thinking. Even though Bentleys last a very long time - nearly 70% of all cars ever made are still on the road or in collections - we have still sought to ensure any environmental impact is minimised. The wide use of natural materials such as wood and leather and the craftsmanship inherent in their use naturally favours us here."

2010 Bentley Continental Supersports First Drive

Bentley describes the new 2010 Bentley Continental Supersports as “a fusion of extremes.” And that it is, starting with the name itself, which fuses the “Continental” badge, which dates to the brand’s 1950s models, and “Supersports,” a descriptor first given to a series of speed-record-setting Bentleys in the 1920s. Styling-wise, 2010 Bentley Continental Supersports look is also a blend of the elegant body shape of the Continental GT coupe and sinister elements such as black wheels and gaping front intakes. The interior remains inarguably luxurious, yet eschews stodgy wood and puffy seats in favor of intense carbon-fiber trim and lightweight racing shells.

If this sounds like high-brow automotive schizophrenia, just know tha­­­­t each enhancement achieves the purpose stated by the Supersports name, contributing small but effective measures that elevate the Supersports out of the sphere where normal Continentals exist and into a world of faster, more exclusive, and even more prestigious nameplates. Think of it as a big-boned Aston Martin DBS and you won’t be far off.

Bentley may make Continental Supersports convertible

The Bentley Continental is getting isn't getting any younger and soon it's going to need replacing. But while Bentley's focus is firmly fixed on the new Mulsanne and the variations expected to follow, the "entry-level" Continental hasn't been forgotten. The Continental has already spawned seven different derivatives – including the GT coupe, GTC cabrio, Flying Spur sedan, Speed versions of each and the Supersports coupe – but recent reports indicate that adding an eighth version is being considered.

The variant in question would be a Supersports convertible, featuring the same 621-horsepower, flex-fuel twin-turbo 6.0-litre W12 (21 hp more than standard) as the Supersports coupe. In the process, the GTC would drop some weight – and receive carbon ceramic brakes andonly have room for two occupants. Sources indicate that if goes ahead, the Continental Supersports convertible would likely reach market about a year from now, where it would almost certainly command the highest price in the Continental range.

2010 Bentley Continental Supersports First Drive

If you keep the throttle mashed, you can hit 140+ on Monticello Motor Club's long straight. Massive carbon-ceramic front rotors bleed off speed, and you'll flick the downshift paddle numerous times in preparation for the (relatively) low-speed first corner. Aluminum suspension components and sticky Pirelli's bite hard, and once past the apex, you'll press the twin-turbocharged, 12-cylinder engine's 590 pound-feet of torque back into the New York track's surface.

Lapping Monticello in a 24 Hours of Le Mans-winning prototype? No. It's a leather-lined, roadgoing Bentley. One that weighs 5000 pounds, at that. Welcome to the latest, hottest, best-performing model in the Continental lineup, called Supersports.
"We had one group of engineers working on getting more power out of our 6.0-liter W-12 engine," says Brian Gush, Bentley's director of Powertrain and Chassis Engineering. "Another was addressing vehicle weight reduction. A third was working on the ZF transmission, in search of quicker shifts. We decided to meld these efforts together, add a body/chassis improvement program, and make the ultimate Continental GT."

If there's one thing the Continental suffers from, it's weight. There's just too much of it, and too much of it on the front end; all of the engine sits forward of the front axle line. So out came the scales. Semi-racing style, non-power-adjustable Sparco seats account for the first 100 pounds out of the middle. As the Supersports was conceived to compete with cars like the Ferrari 599 Fiorano and the Aston Martin DBS, the rear seats hit the dumpster entirely. This, and extensive use of carbon-fiber trim, saved another 57 pounds in the cabin.

Switching from iron to the aforementioned carbon-ceramic front brake rotors saved another 44 pounds. This move gets bonus points, as the weight lost here is unsprung and also reciprocating mass, so this seemingly small benefit is vast. Lighter binders allow suspension components that could be designed 20 pounds lighter. The Supersports' new 20-inch wheels weigh 5.5 pounds a corner less than those on other Continentals. All the abs crunches led to over 240 pounds less girth.

2010 Bentley Continental Supersports First Drive

Getting to know the 2010 Bentley Continental Supersports is like discovering your rather crusty family lawyer spends his spare time slugging it out as a bare-knuckle boxer.

After all, this is Bentley, a brand that conjures up images of wood and leather, recollections of traditional craftsmen wearing white coats with pencils in the top pocket.

Instead the Bentley Continental Supersports will scare you witless.

From the Bentley Skunkworks
If you mash the aluminum throttle pedal of the 2010 Bentley Continental Supersports to the floor, what happens next is unlike any other car, let alone any other Bentley. It's not just the searing thrust coming from the 621-horsepower, twin-turbo 6.0-liter W12 engine, for there are other ultrahigh-performance cars that will also cannon you to 60 mph in 3.7 seconds. What makes the Continental Supersports unique is the incongruity of sitting within 2.5 tons of leather-lined British steel and then being fired at the horizon like an artillery shell.

The Supersports started life as one of those deliciously mad, out-of-hours, unofficial projects by a few obsessive Bentley engineers for whom there is no such concept as too fast or too powerful. And because Bentley has a small but noisy constituency of customers who feel the same way, it wasn't long before the undercover operation became part of the product plan.

It's appropriate that this new variation of the Continental GT has been dubbed "Supersports." It's meant to recall a two-passenger Bentley introduced in 1925, a lightweight, two-passenger derivative of the classic 3.0-liter Speed that won the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1924. The Supersports incorporated some racing hardware and became the first production Bentley capable of reaching 100 mph.

The Continental Supersports is supposed to be just like this. Only it goes 204 mph. It's the Extreme Bentley.

2010 Bentley Continental Supersports

Engineering Drive: 2010 Bentley Continental Supersports

Just weeks from now, Bentley will unveil its replacement for the Arnage, a rival to the Rolls-Royce Phantom. Yet at the other end of Bentley's spectrum, the new Continental Supersports is claimed to be a rival to the Ferrari 599.

Ferrari 599? That's a bold claim. The Supersports is, after all, a derivative of the Continental GT -- an overweight four-seat GT, not a lithe supercar. Well yes, but after an "engineering drive" of a late prototype, we can confirm the Continental Supersports has come a long way from your garden-variety Continental GT.

A rework of the twin-turbo engine sees peak power rise to 621 horsepower. The torque rises seven percent to 590 pound-feet, developed on a level line from 2500 rpm to 4000. And the engine doesn't have such a hard job: vehicle weight has fallen by 242 pounds.