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Driven: Bentley Continental Supersports

17.02.10

The first shipment of up $ 273.515 Supersport Conti is visceral: You think "tuner", although perhaps not the way you see the little neighbor Covenant denounced and wide rubber. Although, honestly, there is a part of this after all. Here if it is in large measure not intended for setter. The Supersport rides on a half-inch Continentals moderate than others (.4 inches to the front stoop .6 inches at the rear).It becomes a giant, bright 20-inch wheels shod with terrible custom 275/35x20-inch Pirelli P-Zero UHP rubber buttocks of the track is two inches wider than any other Continental to accommodate the large dimensions of the wheels and tires wider. It is even more function behind the wheel, you eyeball the largest manufacturer of carbon brake discs ceramic ever sold (16.5 inch front, 14 inches, education), with eight-piston calipers. This equipment greatly aid in stopping a car that can follow to 60mph in 3.6 seconds and 100 mph in under seven seconds, and is the fastest Bentley in the story of the brand, you want binders incredibly powerful. The rotors also shorten lighter unsprung weight at each corner of 11 lbs. Less weight at the wheels increases the flexibility of the phenomenal two-seater, as the revised multi-link suspension and the combination of stiffer bushings. "Litheness" in a car near 5000 pounds? Yes: more of that in a study. Everything you see outside has a function, however.The Supersports' heavy eyeshadow natty headlights and grille are blackened strictly to put others on Bentleys lower-stream this car is purpose-built for performance. This car continues the theme of the prime. "Bentley" makes you think oak boardroom and tobacco colored leather. Here we find enjoyment Bordello-red leather bucket seats with carbon-fiber frames, charcoal Alcantara inserts said poles and a quilt Alcantara wrapping in an arch horseshoe door latch door lock, with a fine red edge enhancement of diamond material.Behind the front bucket seats have been removed back to tame more weight, but there is a rear shelf, opposite which is a non-carbon fiber support quite different, to better prevent anyone from mistaking the area for a place to sit. More coverage of the carbon fragment and the center console / center console, and to complete the look, as Bentley rite, checks are made in overweight often knurled aluminum in another surrounding these raise the stature of old dress - money, such as ST Dupont cigar lighters, although still being in the cabin trim makes you think nouveau riche, not an aristocrat.Driving the Supersport is a plot is simpler than you might expect. The paddle-shift six-speed is high class than the one in the same way expensive Aston Martin DBS Volante. In this V-12 Flyer inevitable mode is a bit rough-shifts are always a half-beat news. But Bentley manual clutch is smooth as single malt, if you tilt the device or tool and leave the fate shift algorithms for you. It is only apt that Bentley is in the Audi / VW / Lamborghini closer, and these brands have some of the best books without clutch invented.The ZF gearbox of the Supersports is linked to a six-liter turbo lookalike, 621hp W-12 engine. Power is up from 550hp to Continental poor and 600hp in the GTC Speed. Even better is that the mountain of Bentley torque of 590 pound-feet arrives early at 1700 rpm and does not weaken until 5600 rpm, whereas at any flying object that you're much more attractive.Much more than brute force is intoxicating, and although this engine has seen autobiography under the hood of the VW Phaeton unfortunate here, the exhaust has been tuned for much more in the low-end boom and lower brass to rev rough track, You'll never think of the corporate affiliation of the machine. You're not reminded, oh, a Lamborghini. Dialect maybe it's because Bentley is British in origin and thus Anglo-Saxon, the brand has always been more focused on the conceptual force freight train rather than the Sideshow Opera you get an V-12 Born in Sant'Agata Bolognese.One feature that is similar is how all-wheel drive is used to save the couple mind blowing on the sidewalk, here the distribution is 60 hinie/40 before, and as with Audi and Lamborghini, it greatly improves takeoff and, if you "courageous Re, using the throttle to straighten the car out of corners. Both rubber can even the best of inertia of 4940 pounds curb weight, as can be in control of stability.Speaking of that, the car comes with three modes for the system, so you can decide how many heroes you want to resist (in the middle position there is room to play, but also the latitude error) and four parameters travel: Comfort, Normal, Entertainment 1 and Sport 2. If you own a test track, you may need the most severe of these, but otherwise the Supersports feels buttoned at all times and on the roads of North-shot test where we were may seem overstiff if you sport chip 1 or 2.A highlight of the Bentley suffered, which is at the helm, even in moments of drama is well weighted, super clear, and as serene, a balance that you will not find even in this segment of thin air market. Another thing that you won 't find many $ 275,000 are cars with seats that can not be notched up just rake and tips are options with the Supersports.While Bentley poured their seats normally gajillion-adjustable orientation for these carbon much lighter and buckets of faux cowhide, we can assume that each buyer Supersports is at least 5'10 ", which is what ' might have to find yourself behind the fitting exactly where. Yeah, I'm a little shorter than that at 5'8 ", but not along me a dwarf. Or maybe one sacrifice you make if you want a great car, and without cause if not exceptionally comfortable.Although, the U.S. perspective, it seems Bentley is not in position enough to alienate a single would-be customer: sales fell a huge 50% in the United States in 2009. With very hardened off trying to be discreet, one wonders if a stronger, broader, Bentley is the car the less clear the super rich of the West. And I bet that no matter what you weigh there are probably enough new rich Chinese, Russian oligarchs and Emirates-Homestead customers to buy every last Bentley Supersports can sell.And if you have $ 275K, I am eager to bet they can find a way to make you more comfortable driving.

Source: Motor Authority (blog)