Bentley rolled out its fastest road car to date at the Geneva motor show, in the form of an updated Continental GT Speed coupe that can hit a hypercar-rivalling 331km/h. Even the roadster version is no slouch, as evidenced by a top whack of 327km/h.
Enabling the almost-2.5-tonne Conti GT Speed to achieve these mind-boggling velocities is an amped-up 6.0-litre twin-turbo W12 engine that cranks out 467kW and a fat 820Nm of twist.
This enormous grunt is kept in check by lowered and stiffened suspension, and the car is kept glued to the tarmac via chunky rubber wrapped around 21-inch Speed wheels.
Visual clues to the new Speed’s identity come via a sharp front splitter, discrete side skirts and a rear diffuser – all of which are colour-matched to the rest of the bodywork for the first time.
Trainspotters will also pick up on the dark tint finish applied to the rims, headlamps and tail lamps, as well as the red-painted brake callipers and ‘Speed’ badge affixed to the front fenders.
In case this isn’t enough, there’s a new signature Speed paint colour – Candy Red – for buyers who really like to bling it up.
The cabin also gains a few unique touches, such as dark monotone trim with accent stripes in a contrasting colour applied across the doors, rear panels, fascia wings, inner console and gear lever.
In addition, there are ‘Speed’ motifs sewn on the front and rear headrests, as well as a ‘Speed’ badge on the passenger side fascia panel.
It’s not just the Speed that has come in for attention, as the rest of the Continental range is now offered with various trim packages, such as Premier Specification, which brings goodies that include massaging and ventilated seats, the Naim for Bentley premium audio system, a rear-view camera, twin front arm rests and a valet key.
There’s also Interior Style Specification, which brings contrast stitching to the entire cabin, entailing 37 hours of additional crafting and over 600 metres of thread.
Other trim packages include GT Classic Specification, All-Seasons Specification, Mulliner Driving Specification, GT V8 S Sport Specification and Classic Mulliner Styling Specification. Each of these enables customers to precisely spec their car.
Elsewhere in the Bentley range, the second-gen Flying Spur is now available with the company’s clean-running 4.0-litre twin turbo V8 engine, which produces a healthy 373kW and 660Nm, enabling the big limo to sprint to 100km/h in a sprightly 5.2 seconds, on its way to a v-max of 295km/h.
It’s not a hideous gas guzzler though, thanks to measures such as cylinder deactivation, intelligent thermal management and electrical recuperation, enabling the V8 Flying Spur to cover up to 840km between refills.
As in the Flying Spur W12, the engine feeds power through a ZF eight-speed automatic transmission to a continuous all-wheel drive system.
The V8 model is differentiated from its twelve-cylinder sibling via ‘figure of eight’ chromed exhaust finishers. In addition, the Bentley badge has a red centre, while the front grilles are finished in black, with a black ‘wing’ insert.
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