Crikey, the brand new 657bhp, rear-drive Bentley Supersports is a non-hybrid V8 that is *half a tonne* lighter

This is a really thrilling and really critical new efficiency automobile. An enormous, offended, two-door coupe wreathed in aero and saturated with pure, full-fat V8 energy. Be afraid, for Bentley has unleashed its model new Supersports, and it’s not right here to your nonsense.

Partly as a result of it’s only the fourth Bentley that carries the title because the first ‘Super Sports’ was constructed by the storied British carmaker 100 years in the past. Fittingly, that automobile topped out at 100mph, and ever since, the Supersports Bentleys have ushered in a world of, properly, very critical efficiency.

No change right here. For this iteration – and hoo boy is it some iteration – Bentley has rid the Continental GT’s V8 of any hybrid help, as a substitute permitting that twin-turbo 4.0-litre free rein over the rear wheels.

It’s apparently been strengthened – properly, have a look at the factor – with a stronger crank, uprated heads, and larger turbos. It’s additionally matched to a full titanium exhaust system tuned in order that it seems like no Bentley earlier than it. And pure, too, with “no artificial in-cabin enhancement”.

In this tune, the turbo V8 kicks out 657bhp and 590lb ft of torque, all marshalled very severely by way of an eight-speed twin clutch gearbox – itself handled to sharper, extra responsive modifications and clutchier clutches – and fired straight on the rear axle.

Because this Supersports is the primary ever rear-wheel-drive Continental GT. So that V8 providing up the very best energy density of any Bentley engine can energy this HulkSmash from 0-62mph in 3.7s and on to a prime pace of 192mph. Or thereabouts. Bentley’s nonetheless verifying it.

More than energy, although, is the pointiness. So there’s an digital limited-slip diff on a 16mm wider rear monitor versus an everyday, puny Earth-bound Conti GT, torque vectoring, and recalibrated steering, suspension, traction and ESC setups.

New twin chamber dampers. Delightful 22in solid, machined aluminium wheels that, when fitted with Trofeo RS rubber, imply this factor is ready to nook 30 per cent faster than a Conti GT. 

And the not so small matter – in keeping with Bentley – of the most important brakes ever fitted to a automobile – 10 piston calipers/440mm discs up entrance, four-pot/410mm discs on the again. Ten pistons. Stamp laborious sufficient on the brakes and also you’ll most likely return in time.

The weight’s actually rolled again, largely because of binning the hybrid help, 4WD system, and becoming a carbon roof rather than the aluminium one. That, together with different extra delicate lightweighting like much less sound insulation, deleting some driver help, becoming light-weight sports activities seats and seatbelts and so forth. Bentley reckons this Supersports weighs in at beneath 2,000kg. OK sure, that’s nonetheless supremely heavy – it’s a Bentley in any case – however within the context of a Bentley? Positively Caterham-esque.

And within the context of a Bentley, this one’s very, very offended. You would possibly assume it unbecoming of such a luxurious coupe to bear a lot aggression in its visible language, however to hell with it. The aero additions – a brand new entrance bumper, new dive planes and facet sills, distinctive arch ‘blades’, a reprofiled rear diffuser and a one-piece mounted rear spoiler – all generate 300kg extra downforce than a Conti GT Speed. And that factor’s received ‘Speed’ in its title.

Naturally there are a lot of choices so that you can select from, together with “performance focused” paint colors that add zero horsepower however a lot perspective, extra carbon fibre, leather-based and aluminium, amongst different issues.

Bentley’s solely constructing 500 of this stuff, and also you’ll be capable of order yours from March 2026 for a supply initially of 2027. Price? Bentley hasn’t specified, nevertheless it’ll be… critical.