Our spy shooters are a busy bunch. Fresh off the spotting of BMW's 5 Series Gran Turismo on the streets of Munich, their latest find came as it was being unloaded from its trailer just outside of the famous (or, perhaps, infamous) Nurburgring race circuit. Pictured here in all its matte-grey glory is Bentley Continental Supersports test mule, no doubt getting ready to run some Nordschleife laps in preparation for its production debut either later this year or in early 2010.
As we reported in our First Look article, the Bentley Continental Supersports is pegged to be the fastest Bentley ever produced - and also the greenest. Using an eco-friendly E85 ethanol/gasoline mix, the Continental Supersports will produce 621 horsepower and 590 lb-ft of torque from its VW-derived 6.0L W-12 engine. Of course, that motor has been extensively revised with new valves and injectors, among other components, to produce the same performance whether running 100% gasoline or an 85% ethanol mix. A new "Quickshift" ZF six-speed automatic gearbox swaps cogs twice as fast as the standard unit and will send 40% of that power to the Conti's front wheels and the remaining 60% to the rear, in an effort to counteract the luxury coupe's heavy nose.
But there's more to the Continental Supersports' performance than just the engine. Bentley engineers have shaved over 300 lbs from its newest supercoupe, while ensuring that the car is 95% percent recyclable - not that any examples are bound to end up in a landfill anytime soon, as Bentley is quick to point out. While the Supersports looks similar in appearance to its standard GT counterpart, both the front and rear valances have been revised to improve aerodynamics and cooling. Two hood vents have been added to the same effect, and the car's rear haunches are larger to contain the wider track. Carbon framed, leather-lined bucket seats are found in the cabin, behind which a large brace runs the width of the cockpit for structural rigidity.
The end result? Expect a 3.7-second 0 to 60 mph sprint with 100 mph coming up just 5.2 seconds later. The Conti Supersports' top speed is a staggering 204 mph. Thought Bentleys are for posers? Think again - this is serious stuff. Oh, and this is no one-off publicity special aimed at improving Bentley's green image. By 2012, all Bentley's will be bio-fuel compatible.
Thanks to: Motor Trend