Bentley reveals quickest Continental ever

Bentley has announced its Continental GT Speed coupe will benefit from the same power upgrade as the Flying Spur that was unveiled at the Geneva motor show in March.

The big Bentley coupe, which was already was the fastest car the firm has ever made, now produces 472kW/840Nm from its twin-turbo 6.0-litre W12 engine.

That’s a modest increase of just 5kW/20Nm over the old model but performance improves all the same.

Now the Conti GT can reach 100km/h from standstill in just 3.9 seconds -- 0.2 sec quicker than the old GT Speed.

Top speed, meanwhile, is now 331km/h.

Bentley hasn’t owned up how the extra power has been generated but says the additional torque has to be managed throughout the rev range to maintain a flat torque curve from 2000-5000rpm.

As well as the added power, there’s a new special-edition version of the Continental coupe called the GT Speed Striking Black Edition (pictured here in orange).

Following in the tyre tracks of the recently revealed Rolls-Royce Ghost and Wraith Black, the new Striking Black Edition (available as either a coupe or convertible) copies its luxurious rivals by adding visual menace by using high-gloss black finished parts where you would normally expect chrome.

The Bentley also comes with large new 21-inch alloys that, again, are painted black.

Inside, instead of wood you’ll find carbon-fibre. Braver customers can also specify their interior with bold colour highlights and contrasting leather.

Bentley says deliveries will begin in Europe this winter.