The new Bentely Supersports has the biggest brakes ever fitted to a car. <\/p>\n
Once you\u2019ve finished wide-mouthed gazing at these whooping anchors \u2013 fronts are 440mm carbon ceramic rotors clenched by ten piston calipers \u2013 you start asking why the hell such monsters are required.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s all about intention.<\/p>\n
This Bentley, you see, has very naughty plans. <\/p>\n
The \u2018un-woke\u2019 Bentley <\/p>\n
In our age of electrification and dilution of driving joy, the aptly-named Supersports tyre smokes into frame like a dapper lord of the manor giving a two-finger salute to greenies before howling away to a tax haven.<\/p>\n
Bentley\u2019s timing is excellent. Its first EV \u2013 the Torcal SUV \u2013 is just weeks away. So to drown out any boos from brand traditionalists, this two-door Continental GT Supersports is an extrovert reminder the fabled Brit hasn\u2019t forgotten its sporting roots.<\/p>\n
Embracing the un-woke, it\u2019s ditched a \u201cnormal\u201d Conti GT\u2019s hybrid V8 and replaced it with a unique 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 specifically for this model. <\/p>\n
\u201cOur most emotive engine yet, and the best sound character yet,\u201d said Bentley\u2019s Mike Sayer, his green Bentley Motors jacket suggestively sporting a \u201cFull Send\u201d badge.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s a road-going GT3 Bentley in all but name. <\/p>\n
Under the bonnet <\/p>\n
Figures are tasty, despite losing some power and torque by ditching the hybrid\u2019s electric motor. But really, 490kW, 800Nm, 320km\/h top speed and 0-100km\/h in 3.6 seconds is plenty for this track-targeting GT. <\/p>\n
All-wheel-drive\u2019s gone for a sportier, lighter rear-drive setup. It\u2019s svelte for a Bentley. In fact, it\u2019s the first from the marque to dip under 2000kg in 85 years.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Helping matters are myriad carbon body parts, a carbon roof, lightweight sports seats, titanium Akrapovic exhaust and removing the likes of sound deadening, driver assist kit and the rear seats. Sorry, kids. Some aero body bits like twin-stacked carbon wheel arch blades favour function over design elegance, but who cares? <\/p>\n
It\u2019s a \u201clook at me\u201d Bentley, hence the giant \u201c8\u201d painted in the grille, and \u201cperformance focused\u201d paint colours.<\/p>\n
Our tester in Dragon Red was red one side and black the other, while inside the firm, grippy bucket seats were mismatched hues too. Those crazy rich folk, eh?<\/p>\n
How much? <\/p>\n
Speaking of which, a Supersports is $794,000 plus on-road costs for our market, with deliveries due next year. Of the 500 global allocation, there\u2019s already a double-digit number of Aussie customer orders.<\/p>\n
Let\u2019s hope the well-heeled buyers know their local racetracks, as that\u2019s where this Bentley wild child belongs.<\/p>\n
In fact, Bentley saw fit to chuck us keys at one of the world\u2019s wildest circuits \u2013 California\u2019s Laguna Seca \u2013 with arguably the world\u2019s wildest corner: The downhill-plunging Corkscrew.<\/p>\n
Approaching this blind turn at monstrous speed made me entirely grateful we had those world\u2019s biggest stoppers behind its 22-inch wheels.<\/p>\n
The ultimate test <\/p>\n
Hard on the brakes before the tight left-hander comes into view, then I see nothing but sky while pitching the big Bentley left. Here, I do my best meerkat impression while trying to spot when to turn for the immediate right hander. <\/p>\n
Oops! Bit too off the edge there, and I fear removing that exhaust system (which probably costs more than my Volkswagen) on the rumble strips. <\/p>\n
The Supersports feels more agile than any two tonner deserves to. It changes direction with flat, composed delight, aided by optional Pirelli P Zero Trofeo RS tyres. Once this lap record-chasing rubber is warm, the Supersports feels smaller, chuckable, darty and riotous good fun, helped no end with a much-revised eight-speed dual clutch auto and all that power going only through the rear.<\/p>\n
It feels like a proper sports car, just with lovely Bentley things like contrast stitching and embroidery for its leather chairs and knurled metal controls to go with air suspension, an electronic limited slip differential and rear wheel steer.<\/p>\n
What\u2019s the point? <\/p>\n
The idea is you can comfortably drive a Supersports 500 kilometres to a racetrack, enjoy a day\u2019s play, then drive it either home or to the nearest exclusive resort. Few performance cars successfully manage this.<\/p>\n
We can\u2019t confuse a Supersports with a 1450kg Porsche 911 GT3 RS: It\u2019s just too heavy and luxurious. At Laguna Seca\u2019s tight final turn it finally feels its size, and no electric kick means acceleration isn\u2019t supercar-like mind-blowing. But on an open stretch it is very fast; power and torque building with booming orchestral accompaniment. <\/p>\n
Then its chassis, tyres and aero will help glue you through a fast corner to give you the hero feels. <\/p>\n
Plus you\u2019ll look as dapper hopping out of one in a three-piece suit as you would a race suit.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The new Bentely Supersports has the biggest brakes ever fitted to a car. 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