Bentley Launches The Continental GT ‘Supersports’
For context, Travis Pastrana is an action sports “freak” of sorts who basically kept millennials on the edge of our seat through either motocross, rally or even when he took over from Ken Block with the Gymkhana video franchise before Ken’s passing – and hence this collaboration between him and Bentley came as somewhat of a surprise, from a brand perspective that is.
Noting the promotional video, it became very clear as to why Bentley went this route though – and this is the part we get technical a bit.
The Supersports is essentially the most driver-focused Bentley ever with the brand fitting a 4.0Litre at the heart of the car that puts out an acclaimed 490kW @ 800Nm of torque through the twin-turbo non-hybrid V8 engine. This does not make this model the 1st “Super Sports” model to exceed 160km/h but it is also said to be a mark in which Bentley is making it back into extreme cars, as per Bentley’s CEO Dr Frank-Steffen Walliser.
“The new Supersports is more than just the most driver-focused Bentley yet. It signifies a return to Bentley making more extreme cars – ones that combine extraordinary breadth of ability with true driver engagement, while remaining pieces of automotive artwork unique and bespoke to each customer. Bentley has always thrived when revealing a more daring side, and the new Supersports is a statement of our intent while celebrating 100 years of the name. This is the first project developed from start-to-finish since I joined Bentley Motors, and I’m proud of our team and the speed at which we’ve created a car so different to the GT on which it’s based.”
In short – we have only just begun.
A few notes:
- Power is fed through an eight-speed double clutch gearbox to the rear wheels only.
- Carbon ceramic brakes, new 22” lightweight forged wheels developed with Manthey Racing and an Akrapovič full-length titanium exhaust system are standard, while Pirelli Trofeo RS tyres are also made available.
- This is a two-seat, and the cabin introduces new sports seats in the two-seat cabin which a set lower in the car.
- The project was kept so secret that the “Supersports” title was not a mistake
Supersports is a modern interpretation of one of the most evocative names in Bentley’s history — Super Sports — first introduced exactly 100 years ago. The original Super Sports debuted in 1925, based on the Bentley 3 Litre, and featured an uprated engine paired with a shorter, lighter chassis. This combination made it the first Bentley capable of exceeding 160km/h. Just as importantly, it established another defining pillar of the Super Sports name: exclusivity, with only 18 examples ever produced.
We are truly privelaged to witness another Supersports in this generation, that’s for sure. The Supersports will only be limited to 500 units – no word as yet if we will see a few units on our South African streets.
