Brian Gush, Director of Chassis and Powertrain Engineering comments: "The Supersports is an immensely capable real-world supercar with agility and traction in all driving situations. The new rear-bias all-wheel drive and retuned ESP systems allow the driver to fully exploit the potential of the W12 engine and optimized chassis."
Muscular styling: form follows function
The Bentley Continental Supersports was not born of market research. It started out as a kind of `under the radar' project with a team of four engineers investigating the additional performance potential of a lighter weight Continental GT.
Driven by this small, highly-motivated group of Bentley engineers the project gathered momentum. The team sought to create a rear-bias for the power delivery and also raise that power to create the fastest and most powerful Bentley ever. The design team was then briefed to make the new car `extreme'.
The evolution of the Supersports' design was a clear case of form following function, the purposeful sculptural forms signaling the engineering revisions beneath the skin.
At the front, Supersports has a simple `letter box' centre air intake flanked by two vertical grilles which give the car dramatic differentiation, making it seem wider (and therefore lower) while feeding a larger volume of cooling air to the intercoolers. Two new bonnet vents extract hot air from the engine bay.
At the rear, the subtly curved wheel arches are extended by 25 mm (I inch) each side, necessitating newly tooled panels, to accommodate the increased track of the uprated chassis. They provide the Supersports with a truly muscular stance, complemented by the new lightweight, 20-inch, 10-spoke alloy wheels. The very open design allows a clear view of the carbon ceramic brake discs and calipers.
A new bumper with a black finish to the lower valance, houses larger (+ 40 mm/1.6 inches), unique elliptical exhaust pipes with a discreet vertical divider.
The Supersports is further distinguished by a unique dark-smoked steel finish to all exterior `brightware', including front grilles, lamp bezels, window surrounds and wheels. A complex `Physical Vapour Deposition' process is applied to all stainless steel components to give a lustrous and highly durable finish. A car industry first, this process is normally used as a decorative coating on watches and machine tools.
Four new exterior colors are available exclusively for the Supersports - pearlescent Ice and Quartzite and a first for Bentley, two matt finish colors, Light Grey Satin and Dark Grey Satin. Supersports customers will also have a choice of the 17 `standard' paint colors.
The new Continental Supersports will feature subtle external model badges incorporated in the smoked steel trim strip behind each wheel on the lower front wings.
Dr Ulrich Eichhorn, Member of the Board, Engineering: "The Supersports was driven by the passion and enthusiasm of a small group of designers and engineers. Their aim was simple: to create a performance car exuding adrenaline and potency, where form follows function."
Fully embracing the extreme spirit of Supersports, Bentley's designers have created a unique ambience for the interior of this most `driver focused' of Bentley cars. They have crafted a dedicated two-seat cabin that blends traditional leather hide with three new materials for Bentley - carbon fiber, AlcantaraTM and `Soft-Touch' leather. Traditional Bentley craftsmanship and fine detailing is retained but given a very different interpretation.
Dirk van Braeckel, Director of Design and Styling explains: "Our challenge was to create a driver-focused cabin that complements the extreme character of the exterior, using non-traditional materials whilst maintaining Bentley's high standards of quality and craftsmanship."
Light weight carbon fiber replaces wood veneer on the fascia and centre console, while the new lightweight front sports seats also feature a carbon fiber clamshell back. The rear seats are replaced by a stowage deck area with a carbon fiber luggage retaining beam.
A visible weave in all the carbon fiber components has a `Bentley-specific' density and all the parts are finished at the company's Crewe wood shop.