Biggest brakes of any production car!
Four score and seven days ago we told you the new Bentley Continental GT Speed Convertible was ready for Summer. Along with the coupe version, the styling, power, and luxury are everything you would expect from the leaders in English luxury.
But what sets the GT Speed twins apart from the competition? Under the hand-painted body are the strongest and most advanced chassis and suspension they have ever offered. Let’s start with stopping. The new ceramic brakes are 17.4″. Not only are those rotors larger than the wheels on my car, but they also cut 73 lbs in un-sprung, rotating weight. This allows the 5,500 lb car to leap to 60 mph in 3.5 seconds. The top speed of 208 mph is made possible by a dozen cylinders and twin turbos.
At your disposal are 659 horsepower and 664 lb-ft of torque. It is sent to all wheels with a nominal torque bias of 36% going to the front wheels in Comfort mode. Dial-in Sport mode and the front wheels only receive 28% to allow the meaty rear tires to dig in. They receive power from an electronic differential, and rear-wheel steering will hold almost any corner. Should you enter a drift, the computer cuts torque by 90%, in a twinkling of an eye. With several driving modes to choose from, it can be a daily driver that doubles as a leather-lined track machine. Our dealers have all the details, so click the button and hang on!
Images (C) Bentley Motors