Continental GT

Make
Bentley
Segment
Coupe

When Bentley first launched the Continental GT back in 2003, it packed the same 6.0-liter twin-turbo W12 engine as it does today, only it produced 552 horsepower. By the time that first-gen model was updated last year, it had bred a 592-horsepower GT Speed and 621-horse Supersports. And then the game started all over again. The 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 was introduced with 500 hp, the base W12 was boosted to 567 hp and the GT Speed was introduced with 616 horses – almost as much as the previous Supersports.

The next model on the horizon, of course, will be another Supersports, but how much power will it produce?According to Autocar, at least 650 horsepower, unburdened by extra weight due to carbon-fiber bodywork and a stripped cabin. Coupled with a stiffer suspension and upgraded brakes, the new Supersports will be the fastest road-going Bentley yet. That is, until the GT3 comes along. Bentley unveiled the Continental GT3 concept at the 2012 Paris Auto Show, and is tipped to make it a reality in both racing and street-legal forms. The latter could get as much as 675 horsepower.

Of course, Autocar could be getting it all wrong and Bentley could opt to phase out the Supersports in favor of the road-going GT3 model – or combine them both into one uber-Conti. We'll just have to wait and see, but the future is looking good for powerful new Bentleys.