"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.