Bentley Supersports Ice Speed Record Convertible

The British company is introducing the Bentley Supersports Ice Speed Record Convertible, the ‘most potent and radically styled’ model which celebrates the automaker’s world ice speed record recently achieved with the help of Juha Kankkunen.

With power provided by a twin-turbo 6.0-litre 12-cylinder biofuel-burning engine, the Bentley Supersports Ice Speed Record Convertible produces 640 PS (631 bhp / 471 kW) and 800 Nm (590 lb-ft of torque), all of which get sent to te car’s all-wheel-drive system via a Quickshift 6-speed automatic transmission.

The increase in power comes from the automaker tweaking the engine and adding new air intake ducts plus a new intercooler and exhaust system, and as a result the 0 to 60 mph acceleration time is dismissed in 3.8 seconds (0 to 100 Km/h in 4.0 seconds), while the 0 to 100 mph sprint is done in 9.5 seconds (94. seconds from 0 to 160 Km/h).

With production limited to 100 units, the Bentley Supersports Ice Speed Record Convertible will feature a series of exclusive elements, like three ‘stand-out’ body colours (Beluga, Quartzite and
Arctica White), a Dark Grey Metallic soft top, and 20 inch 10-spoke design dark tint alloys.

Pricing for the Bentley Supersports Ice Speed Record Convertible was not disclosed.

Bentley press release :
Celebration of Bentley’s world ice speed record- breaking Supersports convertible driven by rally champion, Juha Kankkunen

(Geneva, 28 February 2011) Bentley announces today its most potent and radically styled convertible ever – the 202mph (325km/h) Supersports ‘Ice Speed Record’ convertible. This new model, limited to just 100 cars worldwide, is a celebration of the Company’s world ice speed record set two weeks ago by Finland’s four-time world rally champion Juha Kankkunen in a Bentley Continental Supersports convertible.

Driving the all-wheel drive, biofuel-powered 6-litre, 12-cylinder Continental Supersports convertible on the perilous frozen Baltic Sea, off the coast of Finland,  Kankkunen achieved a speed of 205.48 mph (330.695 km/h) eclipsing his own ice speed record of 199.83 mph (321.6 km/h) set in 2007 in the Continental GT.

Both the new Supersports ‘Ice Speed Record’ convertible and Juha’s record-breaking Supersports will be on display on the Bentley stand at the Geneva Show from 1st March.

Wolfgang Duerheimer, Bentley’s new Chairman and Chief Executive, said:
“Juha Kankkunen’s drive was a remarkable achievement and worthy of a very special car. The Continental Supersports ‘Ice Speed Record’ is a true driver’s car that captures that unique Bentley spirit. It offers extreme performance, agility and an extrovert personality, while retaining the refinement, handcrafted luxury and comfort our customers expect.”

Bentley’s most powerful 6 litre W12 engine with FlexFuel technology
The 6-litre, twin turbo-charged W12 engine, produces 640 PS (631 bhp /
471 kW) – the most powerful Bentley ever – and 800Nm (590lb ft) of
torque. Paired with a Quickshift six-speed automatic transmission, it
launches the convertible ‘Ice Speed Record’ model from 0-60mph in 3.8
seconds (0-100km/h in 4.0s) and reaches 100mph from a standing start in
only 9.5 seconds (0-160 km/h in 9.4s).

The additional engine power of the new convertible is the result of
fine tuning of the engine to optimise the benefits of the new
free-breathing air intake ducts, intercooler system and the exhaust system.
And true to the Bentley tradition of delivering instantly available
and exhilarating performance in real world driving conditions, the ‘Ice
Speed Record’ convertible will sprint from 50-75mph (80-120 km/h) in
just 2.5 seconds.

In common with its Continental stable mates, the new Supersports
model runs on both petrol (gasoline) or E85 bio-ethanol or any
combination of the two. Pioneered in the Supersports coupe, this
FlexFuel technology offers a reduction of up to 70 per cent in CO2
emissions on a well-to-wheel basis, a measure of a fuel’s net
contribution to the atmosphere, not just tailpipe emissions. The
on-board fuel supply system monitors the content of the fuel tank and
ensures that power and torque remain constant regardless of the ratio of
petrol to biofuel.

The all-wheel drive system provides outstanding traction in all
weather conditions. The drive is transferred between the front and rear
axles automatically via a Torsen centre differential. The standard 40
front/60 rear torque split provides optimum traction and modulation of
line and attitude by ’throttle steering’ for more enthusiastic drivers.
The new exhaust system with reduced back pressure benefits gas flow
while delivering a sporty baritone note under hard acceleration. On
light throttle cruising, the new Supersports model remains impressively
refined.

Large diameter (420 mm front, 356 mm rear), carbon ceramic brake
discs, with eight-piston calipers at the front provide fade-resistant
stopping power. This lightweight system also reduces unsprung and
rotating mass, benefiting steering response and handling. As with all
Supersports models the ‘Ice Speed Record’ is fitted as standard with
Pirelli 275/35ZR20 ultra high performance tyres.

Dramatically extrovert styling
Just 100 examples of this dramatically styled new model will be built
at Bentley’s Crewe factory. The Supersports ‘Ice Speed Record’ is
distinguished by its vibrant and muscular styling cues that reinforce
the uncompromising performance credentials of this extreme Bentley
convertible.

Bentley’s designers have selected three ‘stand-out’ exterior paint
colours for the new convertible: Beluga, Quartzite and, fittingly,
Arctica White. These colours are complemented by a Dark Grey Metallic
soft top with Bentley’s refined three-ply composite construction.
The unique appearance of the soft top is created in the outer layer
by a ‘grey’ acrylic fibre with a semi-transparent ‘metallic look’ in a
twill weave construction.  The car’s potent performance is further
accentuated by 20” inch, 10-spoke Supersports wheels with a dark tint
finish.

Bentley Supersports Ice Speed Record Video :

Contemporary luxury craftsmanship and advanced technology
The dramatic character of the four-seat Supersports ‘Ice Speed
Record’ continues in the cockpit in which traditional Bentley
craftsmanship and fine detailing are given an even more extrovert
interpretation.

Traditional leather hides sit alongside a range of contemporary
materials for a distinctly sporting style. This includes diamond-quilted
Alcantara to doors, quarter panels and seat facings, and ‘soft-grip’
leather on the steering wheel and gear lever.

Unique to the ‘Ice Speed Record’ model, the high-gloss carbon fibre
on the dashboard, centre console and roof panel, features a unique red
weave. The theme continues with Pillar Box red piping to seats and
doors, and Pillar Box Red contrast stitching to seats, door casings,
steering wheel and gearshift paddles.

The front seats and floor mats also feature embroidered ‘Supersports’
legends while the signature Breitling dashboard clock also has a red
accent.
The Supersports ‘Ice Speed Record’, despite its ice racing pedigree,
is clearly no ‘stripped out’ racer. Its highly specified interior has
the highly-advanced touchscreen infotainment system from the new
Continental GT that provides rich map imagery and a 30GB on-board hard
drive.

An 8-inch screen displays the car’s audio system, telephone, ride and
comfort settings as well as the very latest navigation system, which
uses both an in-car hard-disc drive and a DVD player to access route
data. It also utilises dynamic navigation to avoid heavy traffic spots,
locates destinations using geo-tagged photos from an SD memory card and
is Google Maps-compatible for most markets.

The infotainment system, with 7-digit postcode entry, combines
touchscreen controls and classic Bentley knurled rotary switches to
offer instant usability. It is complemented by a new driver information
panel (DIP) located in the main instrument cluster. The new wide-screen
DIP employs TFT technology and enhanced graphics provide the driver with
clear and easily accessible information about a wide range of car
systems.

Technical Specification