Bentley Continental Supersports convertible

[EXTRACT]#EANF# What‘s it? A similar formula successfully applied towards the Bentley Continental GT to transform it straight into the Supersports has now been applied towards the soft-top. Which suggests, more power, less weight and a number of technical and cosmetic improvements, all which now cause it to be the quickest open-top Bentley in history. And, theoretically a minimum of, the kind of Bentley that you could like to hurtle around a track in. Or even more likely you need to be happy inside the knowledge which you could in case you wanted to. Identical to the Coupe version actually, using the one key difference that you may take three friends along with you. The hard-top version does without rear seats, a weight saving which Bentley has sensibly ignored inside the cloth-top. Nevertheless, it’s still got a useful 90kgs less lard, even if this remains greatly the incorrect side of two tonnes. A minimum of there’s lots of shove to haul that mass around : the W12 now puts out 621bhp and 590lb ft of torque which is sufficient to spirit it to 202mph. The myriad chassis changes include a reprogrammed four-wheel drive system to ensure that 60 per cent of torque is now sent towards the rear wheels in normal driving conditions. The electronic dampers happen to be reprogrammed, and also the anti-rear roll roll is beefed up. There’s also a wider track. All which promises a similar sharper, more spirited drive that we’ve already experienced inside the coupe. Just like the coupe you also get lots of cosmetic enhancements, including flared rear wings, more aggressive looking front bodywork and lots of cabin detailing informing you that you’re riding inside the sportiest open-top Continental. These details include a similar special, thinner yet extremely comfortable seats as inside the Supersports Coupe and a touch and centre-console trimmed in carbonfibre, instead of the standard wood panels. It is also proficient at running on E85 biofuel. What’s it like? The large question is if the open-top bodystyle is at odds using the Supersports philosophy. Are all of the things we liked in regards to the hard top diluted using the roof removed? It only takes a couple of hundred metres behind the wheel to find that it’s almost so aggressive like the coupe, almost so raw. But Bentley’s engineers saw that to be more in keeping by having an open-top. It’s still a remarkably swift and sure-footed car and one which hides its mass well too. Its body control and steering precision are superb, most especially when you consider the things you’re throwing around corners. And you’d have to get a screw loose to approach its limits of traction on the public road, even in foul conditions. The duality from the Supersports Convertible is section of its attract me. You have the odd wobble, except for most part it features a supple ride and, roof up or down, it will a very good job of masking the sun and rain. Yet a NASCAR exhaust note is merely a throttle prod or gearchange away. And also the sure footedness means you cover ground almost indecently quickly. Downsides are few. In fact there’s the value tag and running costs of the car such as this. But when you’ve got the wherewithal you continue to may discover the rear seats just a little limiting. Most adults will feel cramped and claustrophobic after a couple of miles, particularly with the hood up. Many of the cabin controls look and feel dated now too, especially the infotainment system. Should I buy one? Using the new Continental set to show on the scene next year, this looks like being the final hurrah to the biggest-selling Bentley in history. The Supersports Convertible isn’t our favourite Conti, but such is its pace and agility it’s a challenge to argue against if you would like supercar poke and sunlight in your head. Chas Hallett EXTRACT#EANF# Bentley Continental Supersports convertible