Lot 219 - 2010 Bentley Continental GT Supersports

• 621bhp, four-wheel drive, six-speed automatic, 0-60 in 3.7 seconds
• All Bentley main dealer service history
• Showroom condition and host of dealer upgrades
• Believed to be less than 300 two seat Supersports supplied worldwide

Unveiled in 2003 at the Geneva Motor Show, the Continental GT was a different animal. The Crewe-built cars numbers were impressive with the twin-turbo, VAG 6.0 litre W12 engines, developed in the VW Phaeton and stillborn W12 sports car, producing 552bhp and 479lb ft torque. This prodigious output was fed through a six-speed automatic box from the new A8 and distributed by the Quattro four-wheel drive system. 0-60 in 4.7 seconds and a top speed of 196mph were significant for a car of this stature.  Some six years later, also in Geneva, Bentley unveiled their new 621bhp Continental Supersports which was indecently quick with 0-60mph in 3.7 seconds and a top speed of 204 mph, making it the fastest and the most powerful production Bentley ever. With a revised 'Tiptronic' automatic gearbox employing a 'quick-shift' system, gear change times were reduced by 50%. In order to cope with the increased power, it was necessary to have carbon fibre reinforced silicon carbide ceramic disc brakes - the largest and most powerful brakes ever fitted to a production car.

As the Supersports evolved Bentley managed to accidentally create a very limited-edition car, the two seat examples were not selling as hoped because at the time most of the Bentley ownership comprised a demographic of drivers who wanted four seats and a softer ride. Enter the SuperSport ‘comfort seat’ option, a four-seat option that still gave performance, clearly not that of the two-seater but it gave a very clean way for Bentley to exit what appeared to be a fabulous car but not for their then customer demographic, thus leaving those with the full two-seat example with a low production car and now highly desirable with less than 300 believed to have been delivered worldwide with the two seat option.

This stunning low mileage Bentley Continental Supersports is a 2010, UK supplied, right hand drive example finished in metallic Onyx Black with Beluga and Newmarket tan leather trim. Presented with a pair of heated, two-piece, carbon fibre sports seats and Breitling analogue clock sitting above the £5,000 uprated NAIM premium satellite navigation by Bentley Bristol. Upgrades by Bentley have not stopped there, originally a Bentley Pangbourne demonstrator car, as many options as possible were specified including a Bentley warrantied and fitted Acropovic exhaust system which was circa £7,000 alone and added between 7-12bhp along with an uprated leather steering wheel. Where rear passengers would normally reside, a carbon fibre cross-brace spans the cabin, generating torsional rigidity, showing the real intent of the 'Supersports', this is a rarity now as many cars were converted by Bentley to four seat cars to help sales. Sitting on 20" alloy wheels, the car is fitted with carbon-ceramic brakes, adjustable suspension and a host of other options making it, effectively, a very luxurious 'Group A Touring Car' for the road with incredible power.