The Bentley Supersports arrives as the automaker’s most driver-focused coupe yet, stripping away weight and complexity in pursuit of pure performance. Developed at Bentley’s headquarters in Crewe, England, the new model takes a very different path from the brand’s recent shift toward electrification and plug-in hybrid power.
While Bentley has been building out its electric future, including the upcoming Torcal EV and a V8 plug-in hybrid version of the Continental GT, its engineers pursued a contrasting idea: what would happen if you removed the hybrid hardware entirely? The result also drops all-wheel drive, a defining trait of every road-going Bentley since the turn of the century, along with the rear seats. Cutting all of that trims significant curb weight, following a well-established formula that Porsche has famously used for its lightweight, race-inspired road cars.
A racing pedigree behind the Supersports
Bentley’s motorsport experience informs the new coupe. The company won the demanding Bathurst 12 Hours race in 2020 with a GT3 version of the Continental GT3. Like that competition car, the Supersports opts for relative simplicity, using a 4.0 L twin-turbo V8 that sends power exclusively to the rear wheels. It also carries more aggressive aerodynamics than you typically see on a road-legal car wearing the flying B badge.
The lightest Bentley since 1941
The engine is a new variant of Bentley’s 4.0 L V8, featuring a strengthened block, new cylinder heads, and larger turbos. Engineers added a dual-mass flywheel, and the unit remains wet-sumped. Output stands at 657 hp (490 kW) and 590 lb-ft (800 Nm) of torque. That makes it far from the most powerful Bentley ever built, but arguably the most engaging to drive.
Both the front and rear axles use 48 V active anti-roll bars capable of reacting in a third of a second, applying up to 960 lb-ft (1,300 Nm) of reaction torque to keep the car flat through corners. The twin-valve dampers and air suspension have been recalibrated across Touring, Bentley, and Sport modes. Handling gets further help from rear-wheel steering and an electronic limited-slip differential.
On the optional Pirelli Trofeo RS tires, the Supersports can pull up to 1.3 Gs of cornering force. The model was demonstrated at Laguna Seca, including a descent into the track’s most famous corner. The Supersports rides curbs without complaint, cornering with the composure its rear-drive layout and chassis technology promise.
With its combination of reduced weight, rear-wheel drive, and track-focused hardware, the Supersports stands as the lightest Bentley produced since 1941.
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Image: arstechnica.com
