“The Bentley is not just about money, it is also about taste”"
Bentley is expanding its list of ultra-high-performance Continental models for the 2011 model year. At the 2010 New York Auto Show the exotic British brand showed off the Continental Supersports Convertible.
Bentley keeps the Supersports separate from its “mainstream” Continental GT and GT Speed coupes and convertibles. The Supersports, Built with a nod toward the brand’s storied racing heritage, is the most powerful Bentley ever. It’s powered by a 621-horsepower version of the Continental GT’s turbocharged W12 engine. The engine can run on gasoline, E85 ethanol-blended fuel, or a combination of both. The only transmission is a 6-speed automatic. Bentley clocks its 0-60-mph acceleration time around 4.0 seconds or less.
While the Supersports Coupe seats 2, the 2011 convertible will seat 4 and use a power soft top. The convertible will have a performance suspension and expensive carbon-ceramic brake rotors like the coupe. Bentley engineers strip out equipment such as power seats in order to help keep the car’s weight down. Features not skimped on include a navigation system and leather and metal trim covering most every touchable surface.
Exact pricing was not announced at show time, be ready that the 2011 Continental Supersports Convertible to cost considerably more than the $267,000 Coupe.
The Supersports Convertible seems a bit unfocused. The fact that it’s a 4-passenger model is puzzling, and the lack of a solid roof will almost certainly compromise its handling. The only way we’ll know for sure if these issues are real demerits is to spend time behind the wheel.
