Bentley Continental Supersports blasts into 2017

Pumping out 522kW (700hp) and 1017Nm from its 6.0-litre W12, complete with "rifle-fire crackle" on the downshifts, the 2017 Bentley Continental Supersports is completely bonkers.

And also exceedingly luxurious.

Lofting a big up-yours to all the self-driving, electric, zero emission vehicles with mood-enhancing emotional functionality that have been the hallmark of 2017 CES (Consumer Electronic Show) in Las Vegas, this Bentley beast follows a simpler recipe.

Make it big and fast, loud and lavish.

The coupe's twin-turbo W12 engine is best thought of as two V6s sharing a crankshaft, and its extreme power and torque provides it with a 0-100km/h acceleration time of 3.5 seconds. That's super quick.

Top speed? 336km/h thanks. That'll ensure Jeeves can collect the groceries in record time.
Bentley is calling the Continental Supersports "the world's fastest and most powerful luxury four-seat car" and with newly developed engine hardware and a torque-vectoring AWD system (60 per cent rear bias) borrowed from the Continental GT3-R, it should be lark at full throttle.

Stopping power has been enhanced via the fitment of massive carbon ceramic disc brakes that lurk behind large 21-inch alloy wheels. Rather than getting embroiled in numbers and figures, Bentley simply says the "brake discs are the largest of their type in the world".

The wheels shed 20kg in unsprung mass while a special titanium exhaust can be optioned that sheds another 5kg from the car's weight. Therefore, it makes the big Bentley even louder while ensuring it's a very heavy car, instead of ludicrously heavy car.

Although the Conti Supersports has been tuned to deliver extreme levels of performance – the term "supercar pace" is mentioned in the PR spin – Bentley has gone to great lengths to emphasise the vehicle's fundamentally luxurious nature. Or in Bentley-speak, a "fusion of extremes in luxury and performance".

That means a tri-tone interior colour scheme with more Alcantara and leather than an underground adult shop in Berlin, covering the sort of seats usually found in luxury penthouse apartments.

Diamond-quilted designs are in abundance along with carbon-fibre accents and a bespoke Supersports steering wheel and gear knob are added too.

Naturally, filthy-rich buyers can employ Bentley's bespoke coach building department – Mulliner – to completely customise every little detail… No request is too ostentatious. Well, almost.

The exterior of the 2017 Bentley Continental Supersports features racy new front and rear fascias with integrated carbon-fibre splitter and diffuser respectively. It also has a wide body kit thanks to flared wheels arches that add a touch of menace.

Rifled tailpipe designs show attention to detail as do new side skirts but the optional rear spoiler and sticker pack are, mercifully, optional. There's also an 'X Specification' pack that add carbon fibre body accents and engine cover, gloss black wheel tint and the outlandish titanium exhaust.

Oh, and there's a (slightly slower) convertible version of the Bentley Continental Supersports too, just in case you needed to attract more attention.

And if you have to ask how much, you can't afford one.

Wolfgang Dürheimer, chief executive of Bentley Motors, sounded pretty pleased with himself after announcing the world-beater and the heritage it draws on.

"From the very first Supersports of the 1920s, to the Bentley Continental Supersports of 2009 – and now with the third iteration of this iconic model – it is a name which excites, impassions and thrills," he said.

"Only Bentley could create a car which blends immense performance and unrivalled luxury in this way," observed Dürheimer.

And he's probably right.