Drop-top Bentley Continental GT Speed revealed

The spec of the flagship convertible from Crewe is unlikely to differ too greatly from the GT Speed coupe on which it is based. So expect power to come from a 6.0-litre twin-turbocharged W12 engine, with peak output of 616bhp. An eight-speed automatic gerabox should send drive to all four wheels.

The coupe's 0-100kph time is 4.0sec, so expect the GT Speed convertible to be a couple of tenths off that due to the extra weight of its fabric roof mechanism.

 

The real headline could come from the top speed; the coupe's is 330kph, so it's possible the convertible could also have a top speed in excess of 321kph.

 

Bentley stiffened the chassis and uprated some hardware in the air-sprung suspension of the GT Speed coupe and also uprated the steering, so expect the same upgrades for the convertible over the standard GTC. The ride height should also be lowered, with the wheels fitted being 21inches in diameter.

 

Styling changes appear to be subtle and focus on new, dark-tinted mesh for the main grille and lower air intake, and a ‘rifled’ finish for the dual exhaust tailpipes. Bentley also appears to have upgraded the Speed’s interior to take the top-level Mulliner Driving specification of leather and trim as standard, as with the coupe.