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Bentley gets racy with new 657-hp Supersports coupe

[All images courtesy of Bentley Motors]

 

 

Bentley says its new 657-hp Supersports model is the most driver-focused Continental GT ever, with rear-wheel drive, a two-seat cabin, and a gross weight below 2 metric tons. With a 800-Nm twin-turbo 4.0-L V8 at its heart, the racy, rear-wheel-drive, two-door coupe signals a return to Bentley making more extreme cars that are both luxe and a thrill to drive.

The limited-edition Supersports celebrates the 100-year anniversary of the first Bentley "Super Sports" car, which was launched in 1925 as a Le Mans-type racer based on an uprated Bentley 3 Litre. It was the first Bentley capable of exceeding 100 mph, in part due to its lighter and shorter chassis. Only 18 examples were built. Two other Supersports models have been made in the company's history up to now. The Supersports name roared back to life in 2009 with a 204-mph revival, defining the pinnacle model of the first-generation Continental GT. It was the first two-seat variant of the Continental family. That car was eclipsed in 2017 by an even faster, more thrilling successor, based on the second-gen Continental GT. This car was powered by a 6.0-L twin-turbo W12 that generated 700 hp, making it the most powerful Bentley ever at the time.

The previous generations of Supersports all defined the ultimate performance version of their respective model families. The new 2026 Supersports takes this approach in a different direction. Rather than focusing on top speed, Bentley says the target was maximum driver engagement through a combination of weight reduction (the most extreme in Bentley's history) and a new powertrain.

VIDEO: The Bentley Supersports 2026. [Credit: Bentley Motors]

The 2026 Supersports is the first rear-wheel-drive Continental GT in the company's history. It has a ZF eight-speed double clutch gearbox. Carbon ceramic brakes, new 22-in. lightweight forged wheels developed with Manthey Racing, and an Akrapovic full-length titanium exhaust system are standard, while Pirelli Trofeo RS tires are available.

The powertrain of the new Supersports is non-hybrid and relies purely on an internal combustion engine. The V8 engine features a stronger crankcase, uprated cylinder heads, and larger turbos. The car boasts uprated clutches and a new shifting strategy. Gear shifts are now sharper and more responsive, while the downshift strategy during braking has been precisely calibrated to deliver optimal stability and driver confidence.

The engine breathes though a full-length titanium exhaust which is tuned to be significantly more characterful than any previous Bentley. The complete system amplifies and tunes the cross-plane V8 note to be extremely compelling -- deep, powerful, and completely authentic, with no artificial in-cabin enhancement. The car does 0 to 62 mph in 3.7 sec, with a top speed projected to be 192 mph.

More important than the speed figures though, will be how the Supersports behaves dynamically. For that, Bentley's chassis engineers have taken the opportunity to create a new level of driver engagement by making the new Supersports the first rear-wheel-drive Continental (except for the Continental GT3 race cars) in history. Power is fed exclusively to the rear wheels through an electronic limited slip differential (eLSD), out to rear wheels that have an increased track of 16 mm over a Continental GT. The eLSD is assisted by torque vectoring by brake, with the systems working together to make turn-in as sharp as possible and to give maximum traction. Rear-wheel steering is retained for maximum agility and stability, while the calibrations for the steering, suspension, traction management, and electronic stability control (ESC) systems are all new.

VIDEO: The history of the Bentley Supersports. [Credit: Bentley Motors]

ESC settings allow the driver to select how much independence or assistance is preferred -- from fully on, through a Dynamic Mode that allows a level of slip and oversteer within reactive limits, to fully off, where the driver has complete control of the rear axle and can provoke the Supersports into significant but highly controllable oversteer. There are three new configurations to the Drive Dynamics Controller: Touring mode (matches the performance character of the Sport mode in a Continental GT Speed but pairs it with increased ride height, softer damping, and a more discrete exhaust character), Bentley mode (increases the performance character beyond Touring mode, with gearbox strategy, throttle pedal, and chassis settings all uplifted), and Sport mode (the ultimate optimization for driver engagement and tuned for maximum chassis and powertrain response).

The chassis system uses aluminum double wishbones at the front with a multi-link rear axle, air springs, and new twin chamber dampers. Bentley Dynamic Ride, the proprietary 48-V electric anti-roll control system, can apply up to 1,300 Nm of anti-roll reaction torque in 0.3 sec. Braking is by the largest automotive braking system in the world: 440-mm Carbon-Silicon-Carbide (CSiC) discs on the front axle, clamped by 10-piston calipers, and 410-mm discs with four-piston calipers at the rear.

The Supersports comes with new, 22-in. forged and machined aluminum alloy wheels developed in conjunction with specialists Manthey Racing, available in two finishes. Two tire options are available too.

The Supersports is also the lightest Bentley in 85 Years -- with the most downforce. The car is nearly half a metric ton lighter than the standard Continental GT. The most significant weight savings comes from the powertrain, with a reduction commensurate with the conversion to ICE-only propulsion and rear-wheel drive. The roof, which is usually aluminum, has been replaced with a carbon fiber panel, which saves weight and lowers the overall center of gravity.

The rear cabin environment has been axed, which naturally saves a significant amount of weight. Along with the seats and seatbelts, rear cabin sound insulation has been reduced, and the audio system has been reconfigured for the front cabin only. Additional weight savings come from the deletion of certain driver assistance systems, not required on a driver-focused GT.

The new exterior details of the car combine to make this the most aggressive Bentley Grand Tourer ever. Crafting new elements in carbon fiber helped reduce weight further to meet the target, with new pieces including:

• A new lower front bumper with an integrated front splitter (the largest aerodynamic splitter ever fitted to a road-going Bentley);
• Two pairs of stacked dive planes sit at the corners of the front bumper, which work in conjunction with the splitter to reduce front lift;
• New side sills that run the length of the wheelbase;
• New B-shaped fender blades behind the front wheels that manage the airflow from the front wheel arches, aiding both extraction of high-pressure air and managing its flow along the body side;
• A new rear diffuser that is built into an all-new rear bumper construction that includes vents for the rear wheel arches; and
• A one-piece, fixed rear spoiler.

These aerodynamic pieces are all the result of extensive testing, with form following function and no elements included just for aesthetic purposes. Together, Bentley says the additions generate more than 300 kg more downforce than a Continental GT Speed, while maintaining lift balance along the car and helping to achieve a dynamic weight distribution, which starts at 54:46 when the car is stationary and gradually moves rearward with speed. The final finishing carbon fiber touches are the wing mirrors and engine cover.

Inside, the new Supersports is as purposeful as the rest of the car. Every detail is engineered to elevate the driving experience, redefining performance-focused luxury. New lightweight sports seats are provided for the driver and one passenger, with increased lateral bolstering, a lower position in the car, and carbon elements across the shoulder area. The seats feature 11-way electric adjustment and retain seat heating.

The rear cabin is replaced by a lightweight and precision-engineered carbon fiber tub that wraps around the space. Finished with a leather wraparound design, the tub integrates into the rest of the cabin and delivers a cleaner, more purposeful interior layout.

Lightweight and high-gloss carbon fiber veneers are applied to the fascia panels, joined by a blend of leather and Dinamica, with the latter technical material to the centers of the seat backs and seat cushions, the center panels of the doors, and the headliner. Supersports embroidery and badging completes the cabin, together with an individually numbered badge in the center console.

Only 500 of these cars will be handcrafted by Bentley's crew in Crewe, England. Pricing has not been released. The 2017 Supersports model had a starting price close to $300,000 when it debuted. Learn more and get updates at bentleymotors.com/en/models/supersports.html.

Source: Bentley Motors

Published November 2025

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