Bentley Conti Supersports

Grand tourer remains as brutal and imposing as ever First Fang New. Fast. Driven.

- Georg Kacher

MAKE no mistake, Bentley’s most potent road-going engine makes your head spin – 1017Nm of torque kind of does that to you. However, at 2280kg, the second-generation Continental Supersports needs every bit of that pulling power and all of its 522kW. Better head for the open highway, and not a twisty back road, then.

Launched in 2004, the Continental still utilises a conventional, leather clad key. Twist it, hit the starter button and the 12 cylinders, arranged in a W configuration, fire into life. The twin-turbo, 6.0-litre unit hums along almost inaudibly at less than 2000rpm before raising the baritones as the revs climb, adding bass to the choir before hitting a crescendo at the 5900rpm power peak. It certainly trumpets its message loud and clear, but can also call for calm when alighting at the golf-club valet.

Despite its sizeable girth and weight, the all-wheel drive luxury coupe hits 100km/h from rest in a mere 3.5 seconds. And while the maximum speed is an equally imposing 336km/h, the claimed average fuel consumption of 15.7L/100km is the result of the headline figures. Interestingly, because 58 per cent of the kerb weight rests on the front axle, putting a lot of stress on the front tyres under heavy braking, pressures have to be raised to hit the impressive V-max.