Motor Trend - Engineering Drive: 2010 Bentley Continental Supersports

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Aug 4, 2009 | 05:27 PM

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Motor Trend - Engineering Drive: 2010 Bentley Continental Supersports

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599 Fighter? We Score a Quick Drive in the Fastest -- and Greenest -- Bentley Ever

Just weeks from now, Bentley will unveil its replacement for the Arnage, a rival to the Rolls-Royce Phantom. Yet at the other end of Bentley's spectrum, the new Continental Supersports is claimed to be a rival to the Ferrari 599.

Ferrari 599? That's a bold claim. The Supersports is, after all, a derivative of the Continental GT -- an overweight four-seat GT, not a lithe supercar. Well yes, but after an "engineering drive" of a late prototype, we can confirm the Continental Supersports has come a long way from your garden-variety Continental GT.

A rework of the twin-turbo engine sees peak power rise to 621 horsepower. The torque rises seven percent to 590 pound-feet, developed on a level line from 2500 rpm to 4000. And the engine doesn't have such a hard job: vehicle weight has fallen by 242 pounds.

The biggest slim-fast aids are the front seats, a pair of Bentley-upholstered Sparco carbon fiber shells. They have recline and reach adjustments -- non-electric -- but to move them in any other direction means the use of a wrench. Besides, there's no rear seat. Instead, it's a baggage bench with carbon-fiber retaining member.

The interior might be lighter but it's still pretty plush. If your bags are used to an aircraft hold, they'll enjoy reclining on the ultrasoft quilted Alcantara in the rear cabin of the Supersports. Up front, the driver enjoys new instrument faces, styled to recall the clocks on the first 100-mph Bentley, the 1925 Supersports.

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