New 657-bhp Bentley Supersports becomes first-ever RWD Continental

Harking back to the brand’s racing roots, the Continental Supersports turns luxurious GT into track-ready weapon. From aggressive aero to impressive weight reduction, is this the most extreme Bentley in history?

Meet project Mildred. Doesn’t exactly sound like the sort of title you might give a fire-breathing, hardcore version of a twin-turbocharged V8 supercar, right? Well, much in the same way vicious category five tornados are given quaint titles like Dorris and Mabel, Bentley has chosen a benign codename for its Supersports project.

There is a backstory, though, and it’s nearly 100 years old. Born in 1895, Mildred Mary Petre was a record breaker on land, sea, and in the air. But of all her achievements, piloting a 1929 Bentley 4 1/2 Litre around the Montlhery circuit for 24 hours at an average speed of almost 90 mph, was arguably one of her greatest. Hence why Bentley opted to christen its fearless new project, Mildred. 

Now we’ve got the history lesson out of the way, let’s talk about where the story’s headed. Having been employed just three times before, the Supersports title is given only to Bentley’s most extreme machines. This new Continental Supersports is no different.

And it’s as much about what’s been lost, as what’s been gained. Chiefly, that means an enormous weight reduction of nearly half a tonne — aiding everything from acceleration to braking and handling. For context, compare that figure to the mere 100 kg reduction on the first-generation Continental GT, and you realise the new car’s savings are no joke. 

So, how did they do it? By swapping the aluminium roof for a carbon fibre panel, for one. The interior has also been stripped — relatively speaking — meaning you no longer get rear seats, plus the sound system and insulation have both been suitably reduced. However, the lion’s share of those lost kgs have come from ditching the four-wheel drive system and all of its associated hybrid gubbins. That means you’ll enjoy all of the Supersport’s newfound agility with the added bonus of an uncorrupted steering feel — courtesy of rear-wheel drive, for the first time ever.

The chassis upgrades don’t stop there. There’s a new eLSD which utilises torque vectoring by brake to help the Supersports turn in harder and tighter than before. Moreover, that rear-drive setup has been bolstered with a 16 mm wider track at the back, as well as recalibrations to the steering, suspension, and traction control. Then, to ensure all those tweaks are put to good use, buyers can choose between versatile Pirelli P-Zero tyres, or seriously racy Trofeo RS rubber. The end result? When optioned with the track rubber, this new machine is said to corner a remarkable 30% quicker than a regular Continental GT. 

As for the engine, with 657 bhp on tap, there have been more powerful Continentals. Raw numbers only tell part of the story, though. Thanks to a stronger crankcase, uprated cylinder heads, and larger turbos, the V8 is the most power dense (164 bhp per litre) of any Bentley unit. Paired to a new eight-speed DCT gearbox with a revised shifting strategy for snappier changes, the Supersport’s drivetrain should boast response unlike any car in its class. And for the cherry on top, a new full-length titanium exhaust from acoustic experts, Akrapovic, should uncork the V8’s typically muted rumble.

Last but not least on the list of performance enhancements, is the Supersports revised aerodynamic profile. From the prominent boot lid spoiler to the pair of stacked dive planes sit which sit at the corners of the front bumper, this uprated Continental has been designed to both reduce drag and increase downforce. According to Bentley, none of the brutish additions are just for show, with the combined package offering 300 kg more downforce at speed than the GT version.

Ultimately then, as hardcore special editions go, the new Supersports is a fitting if slightly left field take on Bentley’s luxurious GT express. And with just 500 slated for production, it’s not one you’ll often see on British roads.

Interested? Bentley will take first orders in March of 2026, with deliveries expected to land in early 2027. But don’t expect it to come cheaply. With the standard model starting over £200,000, who knows what premium that Supersports badge could add.

Do you think there’s a market for a stripped-down, pared-back Bentley? Let us know if you’d take the Continental Supersports over a track-ready rival from Ferrari or Aston Martin.

Hero image credit:  Bentley