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The new Bentley Continental GT Speed continues with a name that ties it historically with Bentley's past, having been applied to several variants of their cars since the early 1920s.
Bentley Continental GT Speed represents the first major upgrade of the car.
Priced from R3m - R5m it is part of the niche range of supercars that will be seen at MPH'08.
According to Franz-Josef Paefgen, the company's chair and CEO, "Between 20% and 40% of buyers who will purchase a Bentley Continental GT will buy the Speed".
Would you change the lyrics to a Beatles song? Probably not, and by the same token Bentley have thought their changes for the 'Speed' very carefully.
On the outside there have been some cosmetic changes, like a redesigned grille surround and a larger air intake to better aspirate 6.0-litre twin-turbo V12 engine. With oval exhausts replacing the conventional round predecessors and chrome bezels to add "bling", the Speed is certainly living up to its name.
Inside, Bentley have retained the diamond pattern upholstery from the 60th Anniversary car, and upgraded the steering wheel to a smaller-diameter three-spoke design for better "feel".
In its "Speed" guise the new Bentley is capable of 0-to-100 km/h in 4.5 seconds, and helped by its speed-dependent suspension 160 km/h comes up in 10.2 seconds, 0.8 of a second faster than the regular GT. This makes the Continental GT Speed the most powerful production Bentley ever, and the first to have a top speed of more than 326 km/h.
The ZF six-speed automatic is one of the best available in its class, swapping ratios quickly and seamlessly. This can be done automatically or manually by means of the steering wheel paddles or the shift lever.
The carbon ceramic brakes are an option on both models, and are able to stop the Speed on the proverbial dime. And they would have to considering the fact that even though the car is 35kg lighter it still weighs in at 2,350 kg Aluminum components have been added to the suspension, and the Speed gets recalibrated air springs, a lower ride height, solid-mounted front suspension subframe, stiffer rear suspension bushings, uprated anti-roll bars, revalved ZF Servotronic steering and custom-engineered Pirelli P-Zero tires, all in aid of better handling.
In early 2007, a Bentley Continental GT Speed set a new world speed record on ice of 331km/h. The previous record of 296 km/h was held by a Bugatti EB110 Supersport.
The Bentley G.T Speed will not be breaking any records at MPH '08 Powered by BP Ultimate in association with DSTV, however visitors will be able to drool over it as well as enjoying 90 minutes of MPH Live Theatre. Hosted by Top Gear presenters Jeremy Clarkson and Richard 'the Hamster' Hammond and MC Sasha Martinengo. MPH'08 takes place at the Coca-Cola Dome, Northgate from the 31 January to 3 February.
Tickets prices for adults are R170 (which includes entrance to the exhibition as well as standard seating in MPH'08 theatre for the 90 minute show) and R260 (which includes entrance to the exhibition as well as premium seating in MPH'08 theatre for the 90 minute show) and tickets for children under 12 are R100 (including seating in the theatre, excludes prime time show at 20h00 on Friday and Saturday evening).
To book your tickets, contact Computicket on Jeep Grand Cherokees or 083 915 8000. All prices include Computicket charges.
