Bentley launches its fastest production model ever

Records are meant to be broken, and few car manufacturers can pride themselves in setting and breaking their very own performance milestones like Bentley. Having already set the land speed record on ice in 2011, when multiple-time world rally champion Juha Kankunnen clocked an incredible 330.695 km/h on the frozen waters of the Baltic Sea in a Bentley Continental Supersports convertible, the British luxury car maker has literally earned for its supercars, a ‘super cool’ identity.

However, for those who missed out on the ice shattering world record last year, and wouldn’t mind witnessing an almost similar feat on terra firma today, Bentley has just launched its fastest production model the all-new Continental GT Speed coupe, orders for which have already begun worldwide.

At the heart of this hot headed hardtop from Crewe is an up-rated version of Bentley’s unique 6-litre, 48-valve, four-cam, twin turbocharged W12 engine that develops 625PS @6000rpm and 800Nm of torque, making it the most powerful production model ever made.

The new GT Speed’s immense power is transmitted through a close-ratio, ZF eight-speed automatic gearbox that facilitates gratifyingly quick gear changes through its intelligent adaptive control software. The outcome? A Coupe that now completes its 0-100 km/h sprint is exactly 4.0 seconds and further hits a psychedelic top whack of 329 km/h.

What’s even more astonishing is that despite managing all that added power and augmented performance, the new gearbox also makes a significant contribution to an overall twelve per cent improvement in fuel economy and CO2 emissions.

On the outside the most notable design cues on the new Continental GT Speed is its dark-tinted matrix front grille and lower air intakes and a ‘rifled’ finish to its exhaust tailpipes. The already muscular, elegant sculpted coachwork of the Continental coupe is well poised support the extreme performance attributes of the GT Speed thanks to a unique chassis tune by the Bentley Boys that includes uprated steering and suspension systems and a lowered ride height. 

Complemented by 21-inch Speed wheels, the Continental GT Speed offers a sportier and more engaging Bentley driving experience with tauter handling and improved agility. Standard fitment on all Continental models, the permanent all-wheel drive system, employing a central Torsen differential, harnesses the prodigious power and torque of the new GT Speed and ensures huge levels of grip and stability whatever the road or weather conditions.

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Commenting on the launch of the new GT Speed, Wolfgang Dürheimer, Bentley’s Chairman and Chief Executive says, “For nearly a decade, the Bentley Continental GT has defined high luxury, high performance grand touring and the unique W12 engine has been so successful that Bentley is now the world’s largest producer of 12-cylinder engines. The new GT Speed with its harder-edged, sportier character reaffirms this pinnacle positioning and continues to broaden the worldwide appeal of the Continental coupe.”

The Bentley Continental GT Speed coupe will make its international debut at the prestigious Goodwood Festival of Speed being held from the 28th June until the 1st July 2012. If you happen to be on the list of attendees be sure to catch Juha Kankunnen, Guy Smith and Derek Bell piloting a pre-production model of the GT Speed up the Goodwood Hill twice a day.