The Bentley Continental GT Speed Convertible hits 208mph

This is the brand new [deep breath] Bentley Continental GT Speed Convertible. This third-generation car, says Bentley, is “the most powerful, driver-focused interpretation of the benchmark convertible Grand Tourer”.

The engine punches out more power than ever before. It’s had a truckload of chassis technology thrown at it to make it pointy and sharp and other such terms. Even the roof stows quickly.

And yet, one suspects, few owners of the new Bentley Continental GT Speed Convertible will ever breach or even challenge its sky-high limits. They will probably just enjoy having more… sky on offer.

After all, look at it. What a handsome car this new generation of Continental GT is. The new convertible GT Speed features bespoke radiator and lower bumper grille-tints, new sills, new 22in wheels, and your choice of seven exterior roof colours. Speaking of which, the roof can be opened or closed in just 19 seconds at up to 30mph.

Bentley has gone to great lengths to ensure it is a Good Roof, too. Lots of seals and roof insulation and ‘acoustic treatments’ – heck, even reworking the operating mechanism – to make it three decibels quieter than the last Conti GT Speed cabrio. It is, says Bentley, as quiet as the last-gen Conti GT coupe.

What’s quietly numbing is the power on offer. The 6.0-litre W12 – matched to an eight-speed automatic – is Hercules incarnate: 650bhp and 664lb ft of torque (the same as the recently revealed GT Speed Coupe), allowing it to go from 0-62mph in 3.7secs (the Speed Coupe does it in 3.6secs) and a top speed of 208mph (exactly the same as the hard-top).

We’re assured that the car’s Sport mode shifts through the gears twice as fast as in the really-not-standard ‘standard’ W12, keeping the revs high when needed. Active chassis tech will provide amusing levels of grip and handling, no doubt. The AWD system has been modified to give more of a shift between the various modes, there’s an electronic diff, all-wheel-steering, 48V anti-roll tech, three-chamber adaptive dampers and carbon ceramic brakes as an option.

It’s simply glorious inside, as you’d expect. The Speed comes with an Alcantara steering wheel, leather and Alcantara seats, lots of black veneer, sports pedals and ‘Speed’ treadplate plaques, and even a neckwarmer. Naturally, there are many Options.

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