In accordance with British publication Autocar, the primary new Continental Supersports since 2017 will probably be powered by the identical 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 seen within the GT Velocity, however it is going to ditch that car’s transmission-mounted electrical motor to turn into a ‘pure’ petrol mannequin.
Attributable to arrive in 2026 after its reveal later this yr, it’s anticipated to be the quickest, lightest and costliest Continental GT ever, with a purpose to spearhead a brand new vary of ‘excessive’ efficiency fashions from Bentley.
The brand new Continental GT flagship will give Bentley a novel providing as Audi – which can be a part of the Volkswagen Group – seems to be to make use of a hybrid model of the identical 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 in its 2026 RS6 Avant (wagon) to be bought alongside the RS6 e-tron electrical car (EV).
By binning the electrical motor, battery and plug-in hybrid setup, the two-door Continental Supersports will lack the height energy of the 575kW GT Velocity – and its 522kW 6.0-litre W12-powered predecessor (Autocar suggests it is going to produce 441kW) – however it is going to carry far much less weight.
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Bentley is reportedly focusing on a closing kerb weight of 2000kg or much less – a considerable 459kg lower than the GT Velocity – so it’s prone to match or higher its extra highly effective stablemate’s 3.1-second 0-60mph (97km/h) acceleration declare.
As a part of its mass discount program, it could additionally characteristic carbon-fibre physique panels, light-weight entrance seats and even the removing of its rear seats with a purpose to save weight and ship an interesting drive from behind the wheel.
To that finish, the Supersports will reportedly revert to a standard rear-wheel drive structure by ditching the GT Velocity’s all-wheel drive system, additional lowering the kilogram depend.
The Supersports is anticipated to value £400,000 ($A832,706) within the UK, the place the GT Velocity is priced at £237,000 ($A493,378), so you may count on a equally giant value premium over the GT Velocity coupe’s Australian value of $581,900 earlier than on-roads.
Bentley launched hybrid variations of its two-door Continental GT (within the UK) and four-door Flying Spur fashions earlier this yr, becoming a member of the plug-in hybrid ‘Extremely Efficiency’ Velocity variants launched in September 2024.
In 2024, then-Bentley CEO Adrian Hallmark confirmed the historic model would proceed to supply hybrid autos past 2030, scrapping a earlier plan to promote solely EVs after the top of this decade.
In June this yr, it introduced the brand new Bentayga Velocity SUV – which swapped its earlier W12 engine in favour of a 478kW/820Nm 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8, enabling a claimed 3.5-second 0-100km/h time.
Australian pricing for the V8-powered Bentayga Velocity is but to be introduced.
Final month Bentley revealed its first EV idea, the high-riding EXP 15 ‘elevated sporting sedan’, which previewed its future design course.
