Bentley unleashes hardcore convertible
Unveiled at the Geneva motor show, the Bentley Continental Supersports 'Ice Speed Record' will be limited to just 100 units, and is capable of propelling its occupants to very high speeds...Geneva International Motor Show
Bentley recently posted an ice speed record of 330km/h with a little bit of help from four-time rally world champion Juha Kankkunen, and to celebrate the milestone, the company has taken the wraps off the most 'potent' convertible ever built -- meet the Bentley Continental Supersports 'Ice Speed Record'.
Although the new Bentley's name is a bit of a mouthful, it'll also be a handful thanks to its twin-turbo 6.0-litre W12-cylinder engine which cranks out 471kW/800Nm, making it the most powerful 6.0-litre engine Bentley has ever produced.
The extra power comes courtesy of changes to the engine's induction and exhaust systems, with freer-flowing air intakes, a larger intercooler and an upgraded exhaust system.
While top speed hasn't been revealed, the all-wheel-drive sports car will reach 100km/h from rest in just 4.0 seconds flat. Power is filtered through a Quickshift six-speed automatic transmission.
Only 100 units of the Bentley Continental Supersports 'Ice Speed Record' will be built, Wolfgang Duerheimer, Bentley's new Chairman and Chief Executive, heaped praise on both car and driver: "Juha Kankkunen's drive was a remarkable achievement and worthy of a very special car," he said.
Interestingly, the low-volume special edition is designed to run on both standard petrol and E85 biofuel, the latter resulting in reduced CO2 emissions. Whichever fuel it uses however, it's been designed to deliver big thrills, as Duerheimer explained: "The Continental Supersports 'Ice Speed Record' is a true driver's car that captures the unique Bentley spirit. It offers extreme performance, agility and an extrovert personality, while retaining the refinement, handcrafted luxury and comfort our customers expect."
Huge 420mm front and 356mm rear carbon-ceramic brake discs fitted with massive eight-piston calipers at the front take care of deceleration. Ultra high-performance Pirelli 275/35 ZR20 tyres are fitted to specially-designed 20-inch alloy rims.
Within the vehicle, owners will be greeted with an opulent cabin finished in carbon fibre, diamond-quilted Alcantara, and other exotic materials. It boasts a "highly-advanced" eight-inch touch-screen infotainment system with a 30Gb on-board hard disk, featuring all the latest technologies and functions, including real-time traffic mapping with Google Maps integration.
The Bentley Continental Supersports 'Ice Speed Record' convertible is available in three colours, Beluga, Quartzite and Arctica White.
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