► Bentley’s most driver-focused Continental GT ever
► Non-hybrid, RWD and no rear seats
► Is Bentley taking inspiration from Porsche?
Bentley has revealed its new Supersports as the most driver-focused version of its Continental GT yet.
It’s the first car that Bentley’s new boss, and Porsche veteran, Frank-Steffen Walliser has watched over from start to finish, and undoubtedly takes inspiration from his decades at Stuttgart, where at various points in his carrer he was in charge of both the firm’s motorsport arm and the 911 line.
It’s also the closest thing yet to a true ‘GT3’ Bentley, with no rear seats and rear-wheel-drive on a Continental GT for the first time. Walliser says it ‘signifies a return to Bentley making more extreme cars’.
Unlike the latest iteration of GT, the Supersports drops the hybrid element in favour of pure V8 brawn. It’s worth noting that it doesn’t actually have Continental GT in its name, it’ll be simply called Supersports. Following its reveal in New York and ahead of its arrival in the UK in 2027, here’s everything you need to know about it.
How did the Supersport come about?
Bentley is marking 100 years of the ‘Super Sport’ name this year, debuting it in 1925 on an uprated version of the 3 Litre, and being the first Bentley to crack 100mph.
The firm seemed to forget the name existed until it was revived in 2009 for the first-generation Continental GT Supersports, a more engaging model that was also available without rear seats, and shaved 100kg off its weight. It returned again in 2017 on the second-generation Continental GT, with its 6.0-litre W12 engine tuned to produce 700bhp, making it the most powerful Bentley at the time.
But Bentley says it has changed its focus of the new Supersports away from top speed to driver engagement, with the project proposed just two months after Walliser joined Bentley as chairman and CEO in September 2024. Called Project Mildred and named after Mildred Mary Petre, who held land, speed and air records in the 1920s, the boss tasked a small engineering team to come up with a RWD, sub-two-tonne test mule of the Continental GT in just six weeks. The project got the greenlight shortly after it started testing.
The engine
Most of Bentley’s core line-up are now plug-in hybrids, including the latest Continental GT, which arrived in early 2025. Using a 4.0-litre V8 as its base, the additional electric motor has helped the GT to put up to 781bhp in the case of Speed variants, and even 671bhp in ‘entry-level’ guise.
But the Supersports goes back to basics, losing its hybrid element but keeping the base 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8, which has been strengthened with a stronger crankcase, uprated cylinder heads and larger turbos.
The result is 657bhp and 590lb ft of torque, allowing for a 0-60mph time of 3.7 seconds and 192mph top speed. All figures are down on the regular models, but just like a Porsche 911 GT3 can’t keep up with the outright pace of Turbo variants, straight-line speed is not the absolute priority.
Did you say a rear-wheel-drive Continental GT?
Yes, though there have been various rear-biased Conti GTs in the past, Bentley has always kept four-wheel-drive on its road cars. Until now that is, with all drive sent to the rear wheels by an electronic limited slip differential. Rear-wheel steering remains, though the firm has recalibrated this, along with the suspension.
The ESC can be configured to be on, tamed down in Dynamic mode or off completely. Yes, big skids should be possible without much effort. Win.
Huge ceramic brakes are also standard, while the Supersports’s 22-inch forged alloys have been developed with renowned Porsche specialists Manthey Racing. We weren’t kidding when we said Bentley has ‘done a Porsche’. Pirelli P-Zeros are standard, but Trofeo RS rubber is available as an option. With these, Bentley says the Supersports can ‘corner 30 per cent quicker than a GT Speed’.
Speaking ahead of its unveiling, Walliser said: ‘It will be a true driver’s car, it will be technically a little bit unexpected for Bentley, but it will not be unexpected for those who know me. It will be a real sports car from Bentley.’
It’s the lightest Bentley in 85 years
Lightweight and Bentley aren’t two words that go hand in hand, but Bentley proudly claims the Supersports is its lightest car in 85 years. Though it’s all relative, of course, this GT only just sneaks in under two tonnes, but it’s still a significant 450kg saving compared to the regular model.
Sacking off the heavy hybrid system has been the key way to do this, but as has the switch to RWD. The rear seats have also been removed, while other weight-saving measures include a carbon-fibre roof, as well as minimising the level of driver assists and reducing rear sound insulation.
Any other changes to be aware of?
Visually this is also perhaps the most aggressive looking of all the Continental GTs to date. Carbon-fibre is used throughout, including on the largest splitter every fitted to a Bentley. There are improved cooling channels in the bumpers, as well as a unique mesh grille. A one-piece fixed rear spoiler is especially unlike Bentley’s usual design, as are the carbon side sills.
But Bentley promises ‘form is following function’, with all of these details helping to create an additional 300kg of downforce compared to a regular GT Speed.
Inside, new lightweight front seats are fitted and are placed lower than other GT models, but there’s still a good mix of leather and Alcantara so it feels luxurious as a Bentley should be.
Just 500 Supersports will be built, with each individually numbered on the centre console, making it the rarest of all the Continental GTs to wear the badge. Orders will open in March 2026 though deliveries won’t start until early 2027.