The first thing
my wife noticed was the Bentley Continental Supersports'
two front seats: manual adjustments?
"Are you kidding me?" the
astonished woman asked, turning to me with eyes wide.
"For $273,000, I have to adjust the seats
manually?"
Of course, as Mom used to say, some
people would complain if you hung them with a new rope.
Chill, woman! It's a Bentley. It has a
6.0-liter twin-turbocharged engine. Zero to 60 in 3.7
seconds, a boasted top speed of 204 mph. Sweet-smelling,
plush leather and Alcantara and carbon fiber accents
everywhere. Where are your priorities, woman?
Truth of the matter is that these are
racing seats and easily adjusted without power — also
it was one more thing to help cut back on weight. And
that was an important consideration throughout the
engineering of Bentley's hardcore speed machine.
Installing carbon-backed racing seats
and ditching the front bucket seats and their power
mechanisms saved around 100 pounds, Bentley says.
Rear seats also were tossed, subbing
them with a platform for packages. That, together with
replacing wood trim with carbon fiber, brought another
57 pounds of savings.
Carbon ceramic brakes clipped yet
another 11 pounds off every wheel. And the Supersports'
20-inch wheels cut another 20 pounds or so off the
weight on the Continental.
So we wind up with a svelte, screaming
machine? Well, not exactly. At nearly 5,000 pounds, the
thing is a big-boned brute. But beware Aston Martin DBS
and Ferrari 599 Fiorano, this 621-hp machine is mean.
Bentley claims it gets up to 60 mph in 3.7 seconds and I
won't argue with the number. Zero-to-100 in 8.9.
Yep, that's a mean machine and more
fun than I probably deserve in my life. Midrange torque
made me president of the passing lanes. Bentley calls it
30-50 mph in 1.7 seconds, 50-77 in 2.1 seconds. Just get
outta the way, dude.
And did I mention the heavenly grumble
of the W-12 engine? It sounds like it's looking for
trouble.
The Supersports actually feels nimble,
despite its heft, taking corners with ease. It's lower
than the GT Speed by about a half-inch in front and
rear. Enhancing stability is a wider track in the rear
than the Speed version.
And the Pirelli P Zeros certainly can
take some credit for the road grip.
There are four suspension settings but
dang if I could tell much difference among them. The
ride is firm, and so are the seats — firm enough that
those more interested in comfort might want to check out
alternative Bentley models.
This is an all-wheel-drive machine but
the torque advantage is given to the rear at 60 percent.
No surprise, then, that it feels like a muscle car from
the '60s, albeit a luxurious one.
Steering is sharp as a razor blade,
responding instantaneously to your every whim. Slowing
this bad-boy Bentley down was done adequately, but the
brakes probably could use a bit more bite. With this
kind of weight and speed, you want to know with
certainty that stopping is not an issue.
Regulating speed is a six-speed
automatic that is smooth as silk, and will shift swiftly
when you punch the accelerator.
Sparco bucket seats, in spite of their
firmness, were comfortable enough. No back seats, as
aforementioned, but a nice plateau for luggage or
packages.
Hope you like carbon fiber trim. It's
everywhere inside, replacing the more refined and
heavier wood trim. Rich, soft leather and Alcantara
interior looks and smells great.
There are a number of cosmetic
improvements over the GT Speed, like wide oval tailpipes
and more air vents on hood and front bumper. After all,
this is Bentley's new flagship speedster. It looks like
a million bucks and is not likely to disappoint on the
road.
Well, OK, I didn't mention mileage
yet: 12 mph around town, but 19 on the highway — if
you behave. And just try.
The Supersports comes with a $60,000
premium over the GT Speed, bringing the price tag to
$273,295. The exclusivity factor counts for something:
Bentley estimates no more than 2,000 will be built.
The Supersports is overweight and
drinks too much. I admit it. But, like an massive
linebacker with speed who knows how to cut down a
running game, you will marvel at its remarkable
abilities.