Bentley Continental Supersports : A 640bhp Rear-Driven Beast Launching a New ‘Extreme’ Era
Bentley is preparing to unleash a new chapter in its performance history with the arrival of the next-generation Continental Supersports, a rear-wheel-drive, V8-powered grand tourer that will headline the brand’s upcoming “extreme” performance line.
Slated for reveal later this year and deliveries beginning in late 2026, the Supersports will combine heritage-inspired engineering with modern innovation to create the most focused Bentley in decades.
Recently caught testing by spy photographers, the prototype showcased a large fixed rear spoiler and quad exhausts, confirming its intent as a hardcore driver’s car.
While bodywork was partially disguised, insiders confirm that the production version will feature a more aggressive aerodynamic package, with carbon-fiber elements, extended ground effects, and bespoke air channels to optimize downforce and stability at high speeds.
The Supersports badge carries weight in Bentley’s history, having last appeared in 2017 on a 700bhp W12-powered Continental.
This time, however, the W12 has been retired. Instead, power will come from a reworked 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8, producing around 640bhp, an increase over the standard GT Speed’s 592bhp. Importantly,
Bentley has removed the plug-in hybrid system and its heavy gearbox-mounted electric motor, stripping back complexity in favor of purity and lightweight performance.
While the new Supersports may not eclipse the hybrid GT Speed’s 771bhp on paper, it will be dramatically lighter. Sources suggest a target weight of around 2000kg, compared to the GT Speed’s 2459kg. That makes it the lightest Bentley in recent memory, with performance benchmarks expected to match the GT Speed’s blistering 0–60mph time of 3.1 seconds.
Lightweighting will be achieved through extensive use of carbon-fiber bodywork, a carbon roof, Akrapovic exhaust system, lightweight wheels, carbon-ceramic brakes, and a stripped-down interior with racing-style sports seats. In true Supersports fashion, the rear seats are expected to be removed entirely.
The car’s exclusivity adds to its allure. Production numbers will be limited to a few hundred units globally, with prices starting at around £400,000. Every model will likely be heavily customized by Bentley’s Mulliner division, offering tailored paint schemes, handcrafted interiors, and unique performance add-ons.
Bentley’s CEO Frank-Steffen Walliser has previously hinted at a series of “more extreme” models to emphasize Bentley’s performance heritage alongside luxury craftsmanship. The Supersports is set to be the first in this line, creating a bridge between Bentley’s grand touring DNA and its racing-inspired capabilities.
With customer previews already completed and initial orders secured, the upcoming Continental Supersports promises to be one of the most desirable and collectible Bentleys ever made, cementing the marque’s position as the only luxury brand able to balance opulence with uncompromising performance.
