First Look:
The 2011 Bentley Continental Supersports Convertible seems to be trying too hard to bring the best of both worlds for its targeted audiences, and in its urge to do it, the car appears to be stuck between the two fortes. While in the conventional Bentley fashion the 2011 Bentley Continental Supersports Convertible comes loaded with all the modern luxuries that is expected from the brand, but at the same time it attempts to withstand the high-performance exotic sports car in the market and hence is a tad short on the pampered luxuriousness, it also attempts to stand with high-performance exotic sports cars. As a result of all this, the car that we gets as an output comes with plenty of compromises made on both the spectrum.
The “regular” Bentley Continental GTC already is a strong performer on its own, and sprints from 0 to 60 in easily less than 5.0 secs and possesses a top speed of 199 mph. The 2011 Bentley Continental Supersports Convertible beats the “regular” with its even quicker acceleration, sharper handling and a top speed in excess of 200 mph. But all these performance enhancements get questioned when you tell the price tag of $74,800 for the car, and tops it up with the fact that the cost of the Supersports Convertible is not monetary only.
The frim suspension settings of Supersports Convertible can be harsh for some drivers, especially if you are more of a performance minded driver. The seats for the car are manually operated, which surely can be a let down for some buyers and so is the case with the out-of-date infotainment interface. The trunk space in the car has also been compromised to create room for the folding soft top. In addition, its most probable that the next Continental Supersports will get many of the improvements of the 2012 Continental GT.
Only the though of buying “last year’s” Bentley is sufficient to turn the customers towards the true exotic sports cars. In this price range some considerable options includes the likes of Aston Martin DBS convertible, which offers the same balanced blend of performance and luxury and even has the same price tag. The Ferrari California on the other hand is not as powerful as the DBS, but it does offer more nimbleness and a retractile hardtop. And at the same time there is the stalwart Porsche 911 lineup, having a wide range of performance oriented vehicles to meet a wide range of customers taste. All that said, considering the fact that only 80 2011 Bentley Continental Supersports Convertible will be entering the US market, you can be assured of exclusivity in the market.
What’s New for 2011 Bentley Continental Supersports Convertible?
The 2011 Bentley Continental Supersports Convertible is a completely new model.
Body Styling and Features:
The 2011 Bentley Continental Supersports Convertible is a drop-top variant Continental GT coupe and is a high-performance one. The car comes in a single nicely appointed trim level.
The standard features for the Supersports Convertible includes the likes of carbon-ceramic brakes, exclusive exterior styling, 20 in wheels, bi-xenon headlamps, a rear spoiler, a power folding top, parking sensors, keyless entry/ignition, automatic wipers, Bluetooth, a back parcel shelf, dual-zone automatic climate control, sport steering wheel, faux-suede leather covering and trim, 4-way manual frivolous front seats, carbon-fiber trim, a ten speaker stereo having a lifetime satellite radio subscription and an iPod interface and a navigation system.
The list of optional equipments for the performance-oriented lightweight Supersports Convertible is limited in comparison to the conventional GT. The list of optional equipments here includes a rearview camera, a power trunk, a 15 speaker Naim premium audio system, multiple 2-tone interior color choices and the alternative to install the veritable Continental GTC’s seats.
Under The Hood:
The 2011 Bentley Continental Supersports Convertible gets its power from a 6.0 ltr W12 engine that generates maximum power of 621 bhp and maximum torque of 590 lbs-ft of maximum torque. The standard transmission here is a 6 speed automatic transmission and standard drive terrain here is all-wheel drive.
Safety:
The standard safety features for the 2011 Bentley Continental Supersports Convertible includes traction and stability control and antilock carbon-ceramic disc brakes.
Verdict:
The 2011 Bentley Continental Supersports Convertible surely delivers impressive performance, but all that performance comes at a price, both exactly and metaphorically.
