Explainers
Bentley Supersports: 657-hp V8, rear-drive, 1,000 lbs lighter
The 2026 Bentley Supersports strips the Continental GT's hybrid and all-wheel-drive systems, cutting 1,000 pounds of mass for a track-focused, combustion-only grand tourer.
The 2026 Bentley Supersports is what happens when engineers ask what the Continental GT would be without its hybrid-electric powertrain and all-wheel-drive system. The answer: a rear-drive, combustion-only car that weighs 1,000 pounds less, according to Popular Science's first drive report.
The Supersports starts at $486,600 in the US, but the entire production run of 500 cars is already sold, and every buyer worked with Bentley's Mulliner personalization division, so none sold for list price, said Mike Rocco, Bentley Americas President and CEO.
What the Supersports lacks is what makes it notable. The standard Continental GT uses a hybrid V8 and all-wheel drive. Removing those systems, plus adding carbon-fiber bodywork, lightweight forged aluminum wheels, and a titanium exhaust, drops about 1,000 pounds, Popular Science reports.
"If you look at the carbon fiber on the side of the car, it is all purposeful; it is for downforce and to help the wind clear and cool the car as it's being driven," Rocco told Popular Science.
The engine is a twin-turbo 4.0-liter V8 making 657 horsepower and 590 lb.-ft. of torque, with larger single-scroll turbochargers and a dual-mass flywheel. Power goes to the rear wheels through an 8-speed dual-clutch transmission. The exhaust, from Akrapovič, is titanium and active, so drivers can quiet it for early-morning departures or open it up on track.
Popular Science drove the Supersports at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca in Monterey, Calif. The transmission's automatic shifts were flawless, clicking down through the gears under braking for the Corkscrew and back up on the exit, the report says. A torque-vectoring limited-slip differential and electronic stability control keep the power in check, but the report notes that too much throttle makes the rear end slither, a reminder to be gentler on the next lap.
Acceleration to 60 mph takes 3.4 seconds. Brakes are carbon-silicon-carbide: 17.3-inch rotors with 10-piston calipers up front, 16.1-inch rotors with 4-piston calipers in back. Popular Science found no squeal, good pedal feel, and progressive friction, without the aggressive bite of Ferrari brakes or the mushiness of Lamborghini brakes at track speed.
Carbon-fiber spoilers, diffusers, splitters, and dive planes produce downforce at speed, which makes braking more effective at high speeds. The car wears 22-inch forged aluminum wheels with Pirelli P Zero Trofeo RS tires, 275/35 ZR22 front and 315/30 ZR22 rear.
Despite the diet, the Supersports still weighs more than 4,400 pounds. A 48-volt active anti-roll control system with twin-valve air springs keeps it stable on track and comfortable on the road, Popular Science says, though tires and brakes lose effectiveness with sustained track use.
Bentley is building only 500 Supersports, all sold. Whether the program's success leads to more minimalist rear-drive models remains to be seen. Popular Science's drive suggests there could be demand.
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