2010 Bentley Continental Overview

There are plenty of Continentals for the Bentley fan to choose from. The base models are the Continental GT coupe and GTC convertible, and the Flying Spur is a 4-door Continental. All of these models have been given the Speed treatment, which ups their performance significantly. At the top of the line sits the Continental Supersports supercar, a coupe capable of running on gasoline, biofuel or any combination thereof. As it's the fastest car Bentley has built to date, it doesn't have a Speed version.

All of these cars start with Bentley's 6.0L W12 engine. In the base GT coupe and GTC convertible, it's got 552 hp and 472 lb-ft of torque available. The GT Speed and GTC Speed have turbocharged versions of that engine, which means they offer 600 hp and 553 lb-ft of torque. The Flying Spur's engine has the same capabilities as the GT and GT Speed, but with its heavier 4-door body, it's a tad slower. The new Supersports, however, has no problems with sluggishness, thanks to its 621 hp and 590 lb-ft of torque.

The Supersports deserves its own consideration, as it has a new Quickshift transmission that cuts shift times in half and allows double downshifts, plus a lower, sportier front suspension, continuous damping control, 20-inch Pirelli tires, and the largest carbon ceramic brakes ever fitted to a production car. Even its central computer is programmed to make the most of the engine and driving assistance systems for the highest performance.

Once you've decided on a body type and how fast you want to go, the standard features and options list for all models of the Bentley Continental are similar. Keep in mind, though, that Bentley offers near infinite customization of any model. But your basics include bi-xenon headlights with washers, LED taillights, heated power mirrors, rain-sensing windshield wipers, 19-inch wheels, and your choice of 16 standard paint colors. The GTC models have a choice of five fabrics for the cloth top.

The interior has paddle shifters, a start/stop button, burr walnut veneers, navigation system, Sirius satellite radio, Bluetooth, 4-zone climate control, and 17 standard leather colors for the upholstery. Some models also come with standard park distance control, heated massaging rear seats, and more. Options are really icing on the cake, and include 20-inch wheels, carbon ceramic brakes, heated steering wheel, premium audio system designed for Bentley by Naim, iPod interface and adaptive cruise control.

The Supersports comes with lightweight sport seats with carbon fiber rear panels. The upholstery is still leather, with Alcantara for further weight reduction, but the wood veneers have been replaced in this model with carbon fiber panels. Even the rear seats have been removed and replaced with a carbon-fiber luggage shelf. The Supersports also has four exclusive paint colors, two pearlescent whites and two matte grays.