Four-time world rally champion Juha Kankkunen recently set an insane ice-speed record of 205.48 mph on the frozen Baltic Sea off the Finnish coast. The car, a Bentley Continental Supersports convertible, was driven on standard tires, and Bentley officials hasten to claim that its environmental impact was minimized by the use of E85 bio-ethanol fuel, so there’s that.


Setting a speed record on ice in a convertible makes perfect sense, so why not release a whole passel of droptops to commemorate the event? That’s exactly what Bentley is doing to celebrate this amusing footnote in automotive history, announcing a 100-unit run of Ice Speed Record (ISR) editions of the Continental Supersports convertible. They’re based on the original Conti architecture; while the second-generation Continental GT coupe has been released, the convertibles and Flying Spur sedan still have gen-one underpinnings for now.


The ISR’s most notable alterations come in the name of performance. Tweaks to the intake system and intercooler help whip up 11 more horsepower than a standard Supersports convertible, and the ISR’s 631 hp make it the most powerful Bentley ever. Maximum torque is unchanged at 590 lb-ft. The six-speed automatic is still of the conventional torque-converter variety and channels the ISR’s power to all four wheels, but it has been optimized for rapid shifts.

2011 Bentley Continental Supersports Convertible

New 2011 Bentley Continental Supersports Convertible

2011 Bentley Continental Supersports Convertible
So there you are, driving home to your expansive, yet somehow fitting, estate on 10 Mammon Lane, and you think to yourself, “Self, I need a new car
. A ride that says ‘Look at how filthy rich I am!’ What kind of car is that?”

The answer is easy: The new for 2011 Bentley Continental
Supersports Convertible

The newest addition to the Continental model range features a very healthy 621-horsepower, from a twin-turbocharged W12 engine that is capable of running on both gasoline and E85 bioethanol, making it both powerful and environmentally conscious. Not to mention helping with the overall snootiness factor, and your own sense of self worth.

Price? Starting from a mere $280,400, the new four-seat Supersports Convertible arrives at Bentley retailers this summer. Its interior “signifies a dramatic re-interpretation of Bentley luxury. Satin-finished carbon fiber, Alcantara and ‘Soft Grip’ leather create a unique ambiance with a distinctly sporting and contemporary style.”