Bentley Teases New Continental Supersports

The latest Continental range-topper could ditch the all-wheel drive—and the hybrid setup.

Bentley has teased the latest addition to the Continental GT range, and it looks like it'll pack even more performance. The British brand says "the return of an iconic name to Bentley is imminent, 100 years after it was first introduced," and taking that in along with the sizeable rear spoiler here, the answer is clear: a Continental Supersports is coming.

We've seen the big Conti get the Supersports treatment twice since the model relaunched early this century. Both times it featured a pumped-up version of company W12, last offering 700 horsepower. That engine is no longer, and currently all Continentals use the corporate 4.0-liter turbo V8 with a plug-in hybrid system, similar to the one found in the Lamborghini Urus SE. It already makes more power than any Supersports (771 hp), so how will Bentley top it?

Autocar reports Bentley is aiming to bolster its sportier reputation amongst the ultra-lux set by launching more "extreme" models, and the Supersports is the tip of the spear. Rumors suggest that current CEO Frank-Steffen Walliser—who has a sports car pedigree from his previous positions at Porsche—wants to highlight Bentley's racing history by going all Colin Chapman: simplify and add lightness. Out goes the hybrid system and it's weighty 25.9-kilowatt-hour battery pack, along with the all-wheel drive. Remember that this corporate V8 can still see more power on its own too, with Lamborghini extracting over 660 horsepower from it. Paired with a significant weight reduction to around 4,409 pounds (2,000 kilograms), the Supersports could still be plenty quick and also more agile.

Expect to see the latest Bentley Continental Supersports debut before the end of the year. And maybe we can get it in gradient, too.

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