The man in charge of Bentley is an ex-Porsche guy, and it seems to be already reflecting in the direction that the British giant is now taking! Autocar reports that Bentley is working on a new ‘hardcore’ Continental GT Supersports, which will come with a 640-hp non-hybrid V8. There will be no All Wheel Drive (AWD) on offer and the car will send all of its power to the rear wheels. Bentley CEO Dr. Frank-Steffen Walliser is all set to reshape the brand and its future.
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Rear-Wheel Drive And A Pure V8 For Max Fun
Bentley has used the Supersports name twice before, both times for high-powered versions of the old W12-powered Continental GT. But that engine is gone. The current-generation Continental lineup is all V8, paired with hybrid systems for better efficiency and extra power.
The new Supersports is set to break that pattern. It is reported to run a twin-turbo 4.0-liter V8 that produces 640 hp. More importantly, it will be rear-wheel drive only- the first Continental GT of its kind. This is a radical move considering the fact that Bentley is known for building grand tourers with all-wheel traction.
The upcoming car will become the most powerful rear-wheel drive (RWD) car built on its platform yet. If you didn’t know it yet, this is the same platform that’s found in the Porsche Panamera.
‘Hardcore Bentleys’: The Lineage
The idea of a stripped-down, hardcore Bentley might sound unusual, but there is precedent. In 2014, Bentley launched the Continental GT3-R, inspired by its GT3 race car. That car had a rear-seat delete, lightweight components, a V8 engine instead of a W12, and even a carbon-fiber wing. While it was short-lived, it proved that Bentley customers were open to performance-focused interpretations of the Continental.
The Supersports will take that philosophy further. Expect weight-saving measures, aggressive aerodynamics, and performance parts designed to turn the big Bentley into something far sharper and more driver-focused than anything currently on sale in the brand’s portfolio.
Racing DNA Runs Deep
Bentley’s turn back toward hardcore performance is not just about product strategy- it’s about tapping into the company’s history. Bentley was once a dominant force at Le Mans, winning five times in the 1920s and again in 2003. Even during its quieter years under Rolls-Royce ownership, flashes of sporting credibility emerged, particularly with the Turbo R in the 1980s.
Since joining the Volkswagen Group in 1998, Bentley has leaned more heavily into performance, but the balance between luxury and sport has always tilted toward the former. Walliser seems determined to change the same, at least for a limited series of cars like the Supersports.
When Will We See It?
Autocar reports that the new Continental Supersports will debut before the end of this year. It will be the first in a line of more extreme models Bentley is planning, with Walliser eager to highlight the brand’s race-derived side.
Production is expected to be limited, and pricing will place it well above the already expensive Continental GT Speed. It will be the most driver-focused Continental GT ever built, a true showcase of Walliser’s Porsche-honed expertise applied to Bentley’s flagship.
Why It Matters
Bentley’s DNA has always been a mix of luxury and performance, but in recent years, electrification and comfort have taken center stage. The Supersports signals a reset, proving that Bentley is still willing to build a car for drivers who crave raw, analog excitement.
As Walliser himself knows from Porsche, heritage matters- and racing pedigree matters even more. With the new rear-driven, V8-powered Supersports, Bentley is trying to carve out a new identity in a world where luxury brands are increasingly chasing silence and range.
The CEO Is Truly a Car Guy
Unlike many industry executives, Walliser is a dyed-in-the-wool car enthusiast. During his career at Porsche, he oversaw some of the company’s most legendary projects. He led development of the 918 Spyder, ran Porsche’s Motorsport division, and later became head of the 718 and 911 model lines.
When he stepped into the CEO role at Bentley last year, enthusiasts wondered how his influence might transform a brand more associated with opulence than lap times. The upcoming Supersports provides the clearest answer yet- we could be looking at the most exciting Bentley in decades.
*Images used are for representation purposes only
