Bentley has taken the wraps off its hardcore, lightened and focused version of its grand touring coupe; the 2027 Bentley Continental Supersports.
Compared with the standard Continental GT, weight has been reduced from an elephantine 2459kg to a lithe (by Bentley standards) 1995kg. This is a big deal, because according to our research, the last Bentley to weigh under two tonnes was the 1952 Bentley R-Type Continental.
How did this colossal weight saving come about? Well, the first thing they did was throw the plug-in hybrid powertrain (including 25.9kWh battery) in the bin and make it rear-wheel drive instead of AWD, dispensing with heavy hardware required to power the front wheels.
This means nominal output has taken a haircut to 489kW (or 666PS) and 800Nm. This is down from the 575kW and 1000Nm of the Bentley Continental GT Speed. This imbues it with a superior power-to-weight ratio of 4.08kg/kW versus 4.28kg/kW.
Other weight savings come from a carbon fibre roof, fixed spoiler and a carbon-fibre-intensive bodykit with more visual aggression, double canards and a sweet decal at the side. The front grille is embossed with a massive ‘8’ as a nod to Bentley’s historic models. 22-inch alloys are hiding 439mm discs clasped with 10-piston calipers at the front and 410mm rear with four. Pirelli Pzero or Trofeo RS tyres are said to be good for 1.3g of lateral grip.
Thanks to that aggressive bodykit, up to 300kg of downforce can be generated, optimised low in the bodywork for maximum effectiveness. Acceleration across 0-100km/h is quoted at 3.7 seconds with a top speed of 309km/h.
Inside, the carbon bucket seats (obviously wrapped in the finest imaginable materials) form part of a very restrained but brooding interior atmosphere with tan and black themes. A 12.3-inch infotainment system is included, but it is unclear if it rotates like other Bentley models, or is fixed in the name of weight savings.
Only 500 will be made, with production commencing in the fourth quarter of 2026, priced upwards of $800,000. Most will be sent to the USA.
The last time Bentley made a hardcore, lightweight special was the 2015 Continental GT3-R, inspired by the GT3 racing car. 300 were made with 100kg of weight reduction, carbon-ceramic brakes and titanium exhaust plus a rear seat delete.
