Wednesday 2nd January 2013

New Bentley GT Speed Convertible revealed

Lift the January blues in a blast of 200mph slipstream courtesy of all-new Bentley GT Speed Convertible

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How's 2013 looking for you? Any less gloomy than 2012? Given headlines dominated by fiscal cliffs and the rest it doesn't really sound like it but Bentley is trying to lift our mood a little with the second-gen Speed version of the GT Convertible. At 202mph it's the fastest four-seater drop-top available and a token 2mph faster than the old one which, where conditions allow and all that, puts the bluster into Bentley 'blower' for you and three friends.

Probably not photographed in Detroit...

With an adequate 625hp and 590lb ft of torque, the GT Speed Convertible's 6.0-litre W12 drives all four wheels through ZF's all-conquering eight-speed auto. A 10mm ride height drop and unique-to-the-model 21-inch wheels mark the Speed out from (relatively) lesser GTCs with their pitiful 575hp engines. A dark grille and rifled exhausts underline the point.

Bentley is showing some chutzpah in unveiling the new Speed Convertible in the economically ravaged environs of Detroit (it debuts at next week's motor show there) rather than one of its more buoyant markets. Indeed, of all the places you really wouldn't want to drive around in a drop-top Bentley Detroit in January would have to rate pretty highly, no matter that the hood is insulated to -30 degrees.

Blustery way to prove 200mph cred

Should you have somewhere sunnier and less edgy to enjoy your new Speed Convertible, what's to expect? Kind of what you'd have anticipated of a soft-top version of the Speed coupe really. It's 175kg heavier than that car, to the cost of 3mph from the top speed (202mph) and a tenth to the 0-62mph time, which is now 4.1 seconds. The extra weight is more telling on the 0-100mph run, with the cabrio taking 9.7 seconds over the coupe's 9.0 dead. It's a tad slower than the 640hp old-shape Supersports-based Ice Speed Record cabrio we drove last year, admittedly. Like it really matters - it's plenty rapid enough to wear the Speed badge and isn't likely to leave you feeling short changed performance-wise.

The Speed Convertible is, to put it tactfully, at the 'new money' end of the Bentley customer spectrum these days but, of course, Bentley's famous Le Mans racers back in the day were big, fast, open top tourers. So how about clawing back some cred by entering a British Racing Green one into Le Mans and having it driven by a bunch of champagne-fuelled, moustachioed posh boys in white boiler suits? No? C'mon, that'd be a PH kind of new year's resolution!

[Funkstar De Luxe]

That colour is doing nothing for it.

[pSyCoSiS]

Impessive stats...

However, agree with the comment about the colour.

Although, it would suit a hot MILF!

[soad]

Nice motor, odd choice of a colour.

[V8 FOU]

Why can I not get excited about this car and others of its ilk?
Give me a Continental - the last of the "proper" Bentleys of the 90's and that is more like it.
Too footballer, to coin a cliche.....


Like the Le Mans idea tho'!

[soad]

V8 FOU said:

Why can I not get excited about this car and others of its ilk?

Take it for a spin/test drive? Might change your mind...

[JDFR]

soad said:

Take it for a spin/test drive? Might change your mind...

You can't argue with the facts; it's a fast, luxurious car that will get you anywhere you need to be with effortless ease. They really are great cars but it just lacks the soul (and possibly class) of the old school Bentleys. The Supersport coupe variants however are nuttier than a bag of squirrels.

[graeme4130]

It's wonderful bit of kit, I'm sure. However, I can't help but associate them with Premiership footballers and their wives... It's the rich mans white RR Sport

[B10]

Funkstar De Luxe said:

That colour is doing nothing for it.

I like the colour. At least it is a colour rather than shade of black or silver (grey).

[Lordbenny]

graeme4130 said:

It's wonderful bit of kit, I'm sure. However, I can't help but associate them with Premiership footballers and their wives... It's the rich mans white RR Sport

You beat me to it! Exactly what I was thinking.

Round my way, Bentleys are everywhere, driven by pink polo shirted wkers and their wives drive black RR sports with personalised plates. Bentley have an awful image now even though they are nice cars.

[Hellbound]

I like it.

I hate the chrome, especially around the rear lights.

[Martin 480 Turbo]

Ricardo Montalban will like it even better now.

[Alfa159Ti]

Rank.

[MrGeoff]

Wonder what 202mph with the roof down is like. I suspect there will be a few deaf footballers.

[Galileo]

MrGeoff said:

Wonder what 202mph with the roof down is like. I suspect there will be a few deaf footballers.

That certainly looks to be the sort of person it is being aimed at, using that colour. Nobody with any class would go anywhere near it.

[Stew2000]

Most of the Continentals I've seen are driven by women. So I guess it's good advertising.

[threespires]

Lordbenny said:

You beat me to it! Exactly what I was thinking.

Round my way, Bentleys are everywhere, driven by pink polo shirted wkers and their wives drive black RR sports with personalised plates. Bentley have an awful image now even though they are nice cars.

Pray why are they 'w--- krs' ?
They are obviously successful people, what's wrong with that?
If their choice of cars are both UK built and they are supporting that industry then I say 'Good for them'.
Just what this country needs at this difficult time.
You sir, by showing your attitude towards their success,, seem to be the 'w---nkr' here.

[MycroftWard]

I'm sure it's a very capable car but the look and image of the thing doesn't really do anything for me.

Can't help but feel these aren't that special any more now you can get an early GT for circa £30k.

[Paul M]

Ugly and irrelevant ..... IMHO

[sinbaddio]

1 x conti t, plus 1 x azure and some change

[suffolk009]

I'm a big fan of purple cars. I have owned two of them.

But that colour, on that car. Yuk.