New 485kW Bentley Continental GT Speed makes debut

An even more powerful Bentley Continental GT Speed has been revealed that the British luxury car-maker has dubbed the "most dynamic road car" in its 101-year history.

The headline news is the new 2021 Bentley Continental GT Speed flagship gets even more power, supercar levels of performance and overly sportier styling to ensure it stands out beside the standard Bentley coupe.

These include a darkened radiator grille, new side skirts, Speed badging on the front wheels and huge 22-inch alloy rims.

Under the bonnet, Bentley's twin-turbocharged 6.0-litre W12 engine has its output wound up to 485kW and 900Nm – that's a 13kW hike and an extra 60Nm of torque over the previous-generation Continental GT Speed.

Combined once again with all-wheel drive and the latest Conti GT's eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission, Bentley claims the 2244kg heavyweight can launch itself from rest to 100km/h in just 3.5 seconds before topping out at 335km/h.

Improving the Speed's responses on road (or track), Bentley claims the eight-speed DCT's shifts have been quickened to such an extent they're now twice as fast in Sport mode compared to the standard W12 Continental GT.

The transmission has also been recalibrated, holding onto gears longer in Sport mode and downshifting earlier as required to keep the big 6.0-litre twin-turbo on the boil.

Reigning in all its new might, Bentley engineers have developed optional carbon-ceramic brakes that combine huge discs with 10-piston callipers up front and four-piston callipers on the rear axle.

Compared with the standard steel stoppers, Bentley says the new performance brakes also bring a 33kg weight saving.

To improve handling, the Speed chassis comes equipped with an electronically-controlled limited-slip differential on the rear axle for the first time that allows greater on-throttle adjustability.

All-wheel steering has also been introduced to make the big coupe more agile, with Bentley claiming the Speed delivers "a level of agility unlike any other Bentley road car".

In Sport mode, the active all-wheel drive also sends more of its torque rearward, while the stability control now allows a greater angle of slip before intervening, allowing more adjustable handling at the limit.

The chassis updates include the recalibration of the three-chamber air suspension and 48-volt active anti-roll bars that reduces body roll without jeopardising comfort.

Despite the new GT Speed's performance credentials, there's little evidence of a stripped-out interior or thinly-padded race seats, with a large pair of diamond-quilted leather front seats (with 'Speed' badging on the head restraints) fitted standard.

An Alcantara-wrapped steering wheel and a darkened turned aluminium pattern finish for the centre console are also noted, combined with piano black wood veneer.

But the entire cabin can be customised to individual owners' preferences.

Pricing for the 2021 Bentley Continental GT Speed will be announced closer to launch in Australia, which is likely to be before the end of this year – just a few months after it goes on sale in the UK in the third quarter.