What's the news?
Bentley has revealed its new Continental GT Speed model in full, claiming that it's the fastest production car the company has ever made. It does 330km/h and will make its world debut at the Goodwood Festival of Speed in the UK.
Exterior
For a model that's touted as the fastest ever Bentley's designers have been very restrained. The Speed receives relatively minor exterior tweaks, such as new 21-inch 'Speed' alloy wheels (available in two colours), a different finish to the front grille and lower air intakes and bespoke exhaust tailpipes. No doubt full-on aggression is being reserved for the Supersports variant...
Interior
Inside, the already sumptuous cabin is enhanced by the standard Mulliner Driving Specification package.
Mechanicals
The Speed takes the basic components of the regular Continental GT and enhances the specification. So the 6.0-litre twin-turbocharged W12 engine now produces up to 625hp at 6,000rpm and 800Nm of torque. Along with the headline 330km/h top speed the Continental GT Speed accelerates from 0-100km/h in 4.2 seconds. The ZF eight-speed automatic gearbox now features closer ratios and as ever power is sent to all four wheels with a Torsen centre differential. The ride height is lowered, while the steering and suspension components have been tweaked.
Anything else?
Although keen buyers can place an order for the new Speed model now, deliveries don't start until October. Before that, from 28 June to 1 July, the GT makes its public debut at the Goodwood Festival of Speed in England. The 'modern Bentley Boys', a.k.a. Juha Kankunnen, Guy Smith and Derek Bell, will demonstrate a pre-production GT Speed up the Goodwood Hill twice a day.