100 years after the birth of the first Bentley ‘Super Sports’, the nameplate returns to Bentley for only the fourth Supersports model in history. The new Bentley Supersports is the most driver-focused Continental GT ever, with rear-wheel drive, a two-seat cabin and a gross weight below two tonnes. A non-hybrid, pure internal combustion powertrain has a new 657 bhp, 590 ft-lbs torque twin-turbo 4.0-liter V8 at its heart, with power fed through an eight-speed double clutch gearbox to the rear wheels only. Carbon ceramic brakes, new 22” lightweight forged wheels developed with Manthey Racing and an Akrapovič full-length titanium exhaust system are standard, while Pirelli Trofeo RS tires are available.
The exterior represents the most purposeful Continental GT ever, with a series of form-following-function developments to maximize downforce and save weight. A new front bumper integrates the biggest front splitter ever fitted to a Bentley road car, and feeds cooling air to the engine and front brakes. Carbon fiber dive planes, side sills, fender blades and a rear diffuser and fixed rear wing combine to generate more than 300 kg more downforce than a Continental GT Speed. The weight saving regime extends to the roof, which is now a carbon fiber panel to also lower centre of gravity whilst maintaining structural stiffness.
Inside, the two-seat cabin features new, highly bolstered sports seats, positioned lower in the car, with the rear cabin environment replaced with a carbon fiber and leather shell. Monotone, duo-tone and tri-tone interiors are available, with extensive use of leather, Dinamica and carbon fiber for a performance-focused space.
Bentley’s Chairman and CEO, Dr Frank-Steffen Walliser, comments:
“The new Supersports is more than just the most driver-focused Bentley yet. It signifies a return to Bentley making more extreme cars – ones that combine extraordinary breadth of ability with true driver engagement, while remaining pieces of automotive artwork unique and bespoke to each customer. Bentley has always thrived when revealing a more daring side, and the new Supersports is a statement of our intent while celebrating 100 years of the name. This is the first project developed from start-to-finish since I joined Bentley Motors, and I’m proud of our team and the speed at which we’ve created a car so different to the GT on which it’s based.”
Project Mildred
The new Supersports is the product of an idea that was first proposed in September 2024, when a small engineering team theorized how a rear-wheel drive, sub-two-tonne Continental GT might behave dynamically. Approval was given for them to build one test mule, which took to the track only six weeks later, to prove their concept. The performance of this key demonstrator was convincing, and the project to create the new Supersports was born – albeit under close guard and with a small and focused engineering team.
It was immediately recognized that the project needed a codename to keep it secret. For this, the team turned to inspiration from Bentley’s past, and the story of Mildred Mary Petre. Born in 1895, she was a record breaker on land, and sea and in the air as a racing driver, a powerboat racer and a pilot. In 1929, she drove a Bentley 4½ Liter around the Montlhery circuit in France, solo, for 24 hours. In so doing, she averaged almost 90 mph and established a new endurance record – a phenomenal achievement by today’s standards but even more incredible in the 1920s. She pushed the boundaries of what was possible with a fearless spirit, and so in her honor, the development team christened their new project: Mildred.
A Lineage of Performance
The word Supersports is a modern amalgamation of one of the most evocative names from Bentley history – “Super Sports” – first applied to a Bentley 100 years ago this year. The first Super Sports was launched in 1925 and based on the 3 Liter, with an uprated engine and shorter (and therefore lighter) chassis meaning it was the first Bentley capable of exceeding 100 mph. It also established the second aspect that defines “Super Sports” – rarity, with only 18 examples built.
Dormant for decades, the Supersports name – now one word – roared back to life in 2009 with a 204-mph revival, defining the pinnacle model of the first-generation Continental GT. This was the first two-seat variant of the Continental family, was 220.46 lbs lighter than the standard car, and the most driver-focused Bentley of the day.
It was eclipsed in 2017 by an even faster, more thrilling successor, based on the second-generation Continental GT. Like the first generation Continental Supersports it was powered by a 6.0-liter twin-turbo W12, but now generating 710 hp – making it then the most powerful Bentley ever. 710 examples were produced, to match the power output.
The previous generations of Supersports all defined the ultimate performance version of their respective model families. The new Supersports takes this approach in a different direction; rather than focusing on top speed, the target is maximum driver engagement, through a combination of weight reduction – the most extreme in Bentley’s history – and a new powertrain.
The First RWD Continental GT
The powertrain of the new Supersports is non-hybrid and purely Internal Combustion Engine (ICE). A new, strengthened 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 is the heart of the car – with a stronger crankcase, uprated cylinder heads and larger turbos. The changes yield the highest power density of any Bentley engine – 657 bhp with 590.05 ft-lbs of torque. Coupled to the engine is the ZF eight-speed double clutch transmission used across the Bentley model range, but redeveloped for the Supersports with 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. Developed in conjunction with Bentley partners Akrapovič and unique to Supersports, 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 sprint to 62 mph will be dispatched in 3.7 seconds, and top speed will be circa 192 mph (official verified figures will follow). More important that the headline figures though, will be how the Supersports behaves dynamically.
For that, Bentley’s chassis engineers have enjoyed the opportunity for 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 eLSD, out to rear wheels that have an increased track of 0.629 inches 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 ESC systems are all-new.
ESC settings allow the driver to select how much independence or assistance they would prefer – 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. Exhaust system valves open to enhance sound, and launch control becomes available.
•Sport mode goes even further, with 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 – ECU-controlled in bump and rebound independently. Bentley Dynamic Ride, the proprietary 48V electric anti-roll control system, can apply up to 958.83 ft-lbs of anti-roll reaction torque in 0.3 seconds. Braking is by the largest automotive braking system in the world – 17.32 inch Carbon-Silicon-Carbide (CSiC) discs on the front axle, clamped by 10-piston calipers, and 16.14 inch discs with four-piston calipers at the rear – fitted as standard. Calipers are black as standard, with a red-painted option available.
The Supersports comes with new, 22” forged and machined aluminum allow wheels developed in conjunction with specialists Manthey Racing, available in two finishes – Black Painted, and Black Painted and Machined (introducing a silver metal accent). Uniquely for the Supersports, two tire options are available: a standard Pirelli P-Zero tyre, and a new Trofeo RS performance tyre as an option. With Trofeo RS tires fitted, the chassis changes and weight savings mean that the Supersports can corner approximately 30% quicker than a Continental GT Speed, with up to 1.3g peak lateral force.
The Lightest Bentley in 85 Years – With the Most Downforce
The new Supersports is nearly half a tonne lighter than the Continental GT, and will weigh less than 4,409.24 lbs. The most significant weight saving comes from the powertrain, with a reduction commensurate with the conversion to ICE-only propulsion and rear-wheel drive. The roof – 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 deleted, saving 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 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). The bumper includes two new cooling channels each side, that feed cool air to the front brakes and engine respectively. Above the bumper, a new lightweight mesh grille, with a design unique to Supersports, is laser cut in extremely fine aluminum
- Two pairs of stacked dive planes sit at the corners of the front bumper, working in conjunction with the splitter to reduce front lift
- New side sills, running the length of the wheelbase
- Behind the front wheels, new B-shaped fender blades 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, built into an all-new rear bumper construction that includes vents for the rear wheel arches
- A one piece, fixed rear spoiler to the top of the boot lid
These aerodynamic pieces are all the result of extensive testing, with form following function, and no elements included just for aesthetic purposes. Together, 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.
A Sporting Cabin
The interior of the new Supersports is as purposeful as the rest of the car, inspired by the energy and precision of motorsport. Two-seat only, it completes the focus on driver engagement that is the singular mission statement of the car. Every details is engineering 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 engineering 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 fibre veneers to the waistrails and fascia panels are standard, 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 headlining. Supersports embroidery and badging completes the cabin, together with an individually numbered badge to the center console.
Numbered, Individual, Bespoke
Every Supersports will be individually numbered before it leaves the factory, with customers able to request specific numbers from the 500 examples that will be handcrafted in Crewe.
Paint options start with a core range of 24 performance-focused colors, with additional paint finishes including Supersports logos and matte paint available via Mulliner. Beyond single-tone exteriors, Bentley’s design team has developed five ‘Design Themes’, which include either a small section of vertical striping and a Supersports name in a contrasting color on the lower body side behind the front wheel, or a series of painted stripes in two contrasting colors across the rear quarters of the car.
Exterior carbon fiber is available in high gloss finish, and the lower elements can be fully painted or pinstriped.
For the cabin, 22 Main Hide colors are accompanied by 11 Secondary Hide and nine Accent Hide colors. Single tone, duo-tone (as standard) and a new and unique tri-tone colour split are all available, and Dark Chrome Specification is standard.
In place of interior carbon fiber, customers can also choose from Diamond Brushed or Engine Turned Aluminum in a Dark Tint finish, or the clean and elegant simplicity of Piano Black.
The launch imagery for Supersports is in a Design Theme called “Nightfall”, which blends Anthracite gloss exterior paint with a Camel accent to the lower bodywork along with Camel lower striping and a contrast number 8 to the grille. The interior is in Beluga and Camel, with Bronze accents.
Meanwhile, the car unveiled in New York at the global debut is in a specification called ‘Daybreak’, in Jetstream Matte with a Design Theme livery in Arctica and Portofino. The interior is Damson with Light Blue and Pillar Box Red accents.
Ordering, Production and Deliveries
The launch of the new Supersports will be celebrated with the most dynamic and exciting film in Bentley’s history, which will be revealed with a premiere in Dubai in January. Order opening follows in March, with production beginning in Q4 2026 ahead of first deliveries at the start of 2027. The new Supersports will be available in the following countries and areas: UK, Europe (EU27 plus Switzerland and Turkey), USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Malaysia, Oman, Bahrain, UAE, Qatar and Kuwait.
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