Overall rating:

No ambiguity with Bentley's latest addition to the Continental GT line-up, the GT Speed Convertible being billed as not just Bentley's fastest ever drop top, but the only way currently possible to give four people a 200mph open-topped ride.

Key Facts

Model tested: Bentley Continental GT Speed Convertible
Pricing: £168,985
Engine: 6.0-litre W12 twin-turbocharged petrol
Transmission: four-wheel drive, eight-speed automatic
Body style: two-door convertible
Rivals: Ferrari California, Mercedes-Benz SL 65 AMG, Porsche 911 Turbo Cabriolet
CO₂ emissions: 347g/km
Combined economy: 19.0mpg
Top speed: 202mph
0-62mph: 4.4 seconds
Power: 625hp at 6,000rpm
Torque: 800Nm at 2,000rpm

In the Metal:

Red - St James Red specifically - wouldn't usually be a colour you'd think would look good on a Bentley, but under the West Coast American sun among the bustling traffic it does look rather sensational. This is a convertible after all, and open-topped motoring is all about showing off. The Continental GT Speed's transformation to the drop-top comes with all the go-faster bits of the coupé - think lower, aerodynamically enhanced bumpers, 21-inch alloys, rifled exhausts, a different grille and Speed emblazoned tread plates in the sills among others, and the black carbon extra bits on this car are part of a none too cheap option pack. Proportionally the Convertible has always looked good, the longer rear deck and flatter roof line - with the roof up - making the open car look significantly different to its closed relative.

Inside it's business as usual, which means hand crafted finishes, fine materials and the sort of bespoke high-luxury and deep quality that nothing at the GT Speed Convertible price point can match. The satnav system works a bit slowly, the infotainment's interface is not as intuitive as systems in lesser machines, but it's forgivably clunky rather than frustratingly so.

Driving it:

We've raved about the Continental GT Speed Convertible's V8-engined relative here before and that still stands true. If you want a sharper drive then forget those W12 badges on the wings and go for the lighter, nimbler car. However, if elastic, seemingly endless power is what you're after then the Speed delivers, that ably denoted by the quoted 202mph top speed - Bentley's people admitting that the official number is actually a touch conservative. With all four wheels driving through the ZF-sourced eight-speed automatic gearbox, that twin-turbocharged W12 hurls the Speed forward from standstill to 62mph in 4.4 seconds, and given the way it still gathers pace deep into three figures that top speed seems entirely believable.

There's a slight, almost apologetic pause between pushing the accelerator to the floor and the Speed doing its thing. When up and moving the gearbox with all its ratios does keep itself busy, but the smoothness means it's barely noticeable - though that does mean you feel less inclined to use the paddle-shifters. Noise suppression (both wind and road) with the roof up is excellent, the hood's multi-layered, acoustically optimised make-up meaning it's near coupé-quiet inside. Dropped, and with the wind deflector and windows up, it's relatively draught free, too.

No surprises there. The biggest surprise is the car's agility. The convertible weighs even more than the already bulky coupé and how it manages that mass is very impressive indeed. The suspension is 10mm lower, while stiffer anti-roll bars and revised spring and damper rates - on the four-way adjustable dampers - does add some sharpness dynamically.

There's a slight patter through the steering thanks to the loss of rigidity, which is exacerbated by choosing the firmer damper rates, but body control and ride comfort are otherwise impressive. The steering, with a revised ratio, delivers good weight around the straight ahead for high speed stability, and the off-centre weighting is nicely judged - the rim even delivering a modicum of feel. It's no outright sports car, yet neither will it embarrass itself against its more focused rivals. Indeed, the GT Speed Convertible's agility impresses, though its bulk means the brakes do get worked fairly hard if you're in a hurry - a softer, longer pedal being the result of repeated use.

What you get for your Money:

It's difficult to argue that £170,000 represents something of a bargain, but when looked at alongside its key rivals it does look like a reasonable ask. Nothing, not even the Ferrari California, can offer the sort of high-luxury, hand-crafted interior of the Continental GT Speed Convertible's cabin, and likewise none of its rivals offer the day-to-day usability. Sure, it's inevitable that you'll bump up that list price by at least £10,000 with options, but even then the Bentley does seem to operate almost exclusively of its potential rivals.

Worth Noting

Unlike its V8 relation the Continental GT Speed doesn't offer trick fuel-saving cylinder deactivation or stop-start making it less of a Continental GT and more of a county GT - the range being piffling. That's ultimately frustrating, meaning frequent fuel stops, as even driving it in the most saintly manner won't have you getting anything like the official combined economy figure of 19mpg.

Summary

All the incredible rounded performance and ability of its coupé relation but with the benefit of open air, the compromises made for the Speed Convertible are few. The sharper driving cars remain at the lower end of the Continental GT range, but if seemingly endless power is what you want then the Speed delivers exactly that. For now, that is, as Bentley hasn't ruled out the return of the Supersports model, which dials up the intensity to another level again. Until then if you want to take three friends above 200mph in the open air then this is the only way to do it.