What's all this about?
Love the idea of the recently announced 659hp Bentley Continental GT Speed but you're more of a fan of the Convertible body style? Then good news: the Conti GTC, as it used to be known, is also getting the uprated Speed powertrain and all the styling accoutrements to go with it, too.
Oh goody! Can you tell me more?
Certainly, although you'll already know all the broad strokes from having obviously read our comprehensive news piece on the Coupe - such as the fact that the aforementioned peak power of the 6.0-litre biturbo W12 engine has been ramped up from 635- to 659hp (although torque remains unchanged at a still-ginormous 900Nm), which means the GT Speed Convertible will run 0-62mph in 3.7 seconds and go on to a top speed of 208mph. That means it is 0.1 seconds quicker than a, er, 'regular' W12 GTC, but also 0.1 seconds slower than the GT Speed Coupe, although at least the Speed Convertible can match that car for its V-max.
And, just the like hard-topped model, the new Speed has All-Wheel Steering, an electronic rear differential, the option of carbon-ceramic brakes, unique exterior and interior detailing (including 22-inch forged Speed alloys on the outside and a two-tone cabin with lotsa Alcantara within), and the same calibration of its four-wheel-drive system that sees more of the torque thrown rearwards if the car is in Sport mode. Also, like any third-gen Conti GTC, the Speed has a tailored, Z-fold roof that raises and lowers in just 19 seconds, including on the move at speeds of up to 31mph. Prices aren't confirmed as yet but as the GT Speed Coupe will be likely around the £192,000 before you so much as even think about the phrase 'customisation options', expect the Convertible to tip beyond £200,000 in standard form.
Ah, to be the rich! Anything else to add at this stage?
Not from us, but Chris Craft, Bentley's member of the board for Sales and Marketing, said: "The new Speed is the most driver-focused Continental GT Convertible available and unique in its ability to offer extremely refined, all-season open-top grand touring with the added edge of astonishing performance and dynamism. Combined with exquisite, handcrafted interior details, the Continental GT Speed Convertible exemplifies all Bentley knows about creating the world's most stylish and elegant cars for roof-down motoring."
Matt Robinson - 14 Apr 2021