Bentley’s Continental GT Supersports Is Back: A Teaser That’s Got Me Dreaming of RWD Mayhem
When a brand dusts off a nameplate that’s pure legend, only to crank it into something even wilder? Bentley’s just done that with their latest Continental GT Supersports teaser, dropping shadowy hints of a high-octane revival that’s got the gearhead grapevine buzzing. It’s been seven years since the W-12-powered Supersports bowed out in 2018, but this 2025 nod – marking a century since the original 1925 racing icon – feels like Bentley’s cheeky wink at history while flipping the script on their hybrid-heavy lineup. No full reveal yet (they’re playing coy with “in due course”), but that single image? It’s loaded with clues screaming “lightweight, rear-drive fury.” As a guy who’s logged miles in the current GT Speed (that 771-hp hybrid V8 is a torque monster), I’m already plotting a deposit. Let’s dissect the drip-feed and why this could be Bentley’s gutsiest GT play yet.
The Teaser Breakdown: Winged Rear, Vented Flares, and Quad-Tip Growl
That lone shot from Bentley? It’s all rear-end drama – a subtle lip wing perched above those jewel-like taillamps, venting slits carved behind the wheels for brake cooling (or aero tricks?), and a diffuser that’s sharper than a Crewe tailor’s suit. The bumper’s edges look etched for downforce, and those quad exhaust tips? They’re chunkier, hinting at a freer-flowing V8 sans electric assist. It’s aggressive without shouting – think Mulliner tweaks on steroids, lowering the visual center of gravity for that planted, prowling stance.
Bentley calls it “raring to perform,” and with the tagline nodding to the 1925 Supersports racer (the 3 Litre that scorched Le Mans), it’s clear this isn’t a mild refresh. Reports from across the pond (Autocar’s been deep in the weeds) whisper a pure V8 setup, twin-turbo 4.0-liter pushing north of 600 hp – ditching the Speed’s 188-hp e-motor for a lighter, rear-wheel-drive config. That’d slash curb weight by 200+ pounds (from the Speed’s 5,500-ish), unlocking sub-3-second 0-60 sprints and top speeds flirting with 210 mph. No more AWD safety net – just raw, tail-happy thrills for those who can handle ’em. And rarity? Bentley promises limited runs, making it a collector’s catnip from launch.
Power Shift: From Hybrid Harmony to RWD Reckoning
The current Continental GT lineup’s no joke – the Speed’s V8 hybrid belts 771 hp and 738 lb-ft for effortless overtakes, while the base GT dials to 671 hp for “restrained” luxury. But Bentley’s hybrid path (all models electrified by 2026) has softened the Supersports’ edge; this tease flips that script. Losing the battery means simpler plumbing, carbon bits for the body (doors, hood?), and a chassis tuned for balance over brute shove – think more M8 Comp than Cayenne Turbo GT.
Why now? The 1925 centenary’s a perfect hook, but it’s strategic too – rivals like Aston’s Vantage or Ferrari’s Roma are nipping at GT heels with pure-ICE purity. A RWD Supersports would carve a niche: Grand tourer by day (650-mile range on 23 gallons), track teaser by weekend. Expect adaptive dampers, torque vectoring, and those vents feeding massive brakes for fade-free stops. Price? Ballpark $350K+, with Mulliner extras pushing north. If Bentley’s serious about “iconic return,” this could eclipse the old W-12’s 700 hp as their most driver-focused GT ever.
Why It Matters: Bentley’s Play to Recapture the Supercoupe Crown
The Continental GT’s always danced that line – opulent cruiser with a feral undercurrent – but hybrids tipped it toward efficiency over excess. This Supersports tease? It’s a love letter to the purists, echoing the 2009-2018 run’s drama (that Speed Six revival was a 750-hp hoot). In a world of 1,000-hp EVs, a lightweight V8 RWD GT feels refreshingly analog – tail-out slides on tap, soundtrack unfiltered, and no range anxiety guilt.
Bentley’s timing’s spot-on: With the next-gen DB12 S lurking and Porsche’s 911 Dakar going rogue, a winged, vented GT could steal the spotlight at Goodwood or Geneva. Rare? Absolutely – sub-500 units, I’d wager, with bespoke Mulliner liveries. If it’s half as addictive as the teaser promises, it’ll be the GT that reminds us why Bentley’s the grand tourer GOAT.
Source- caranddriver
