Bentley teases rear-wheel drive V8-powered Continental performance model

The first image of the rumoured Bentley Continental Supersports super coupe, sporting a lot of go-fast addenda, has been released by the luxury British automaker.

From the teaser image we can see the new Supersports will have a large spoiler mounted on the boot. This is complemented by a redesigned rear bumper with large strakes coming out of the rear wheel-arches.

Down low there’s a prominent rear diffuser flanked by air pair of exhaust outlets on both sides. There’s also gloss black alloy wheels clad in ultra-low-profile rubber.

CarExpert can save you thousands on a new Bentley. Click here to get a great deal.

Stills from a teaser video also show the Supersports has a heavily modified front fascia with large air intakes under the headlights, below which is a large splitter.

However, according to a report from Autocar, the new performance variant of the big British coupe will be a lighter vehicle focussed more on agility than outright power, with a 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 driving the rear wheels via an eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission.

If the British magazine is correct, it would mark the return of pure petrol power to the Continental range. Since the facelifted Continental was unveiled last year, the large coupe and convertible have been available solely with V8 plug-in hybrid (PHEV) drivetrains.

The target weight for the Supersports is reportedly less than 2000kg, or a reduction of at least 450kg from the Continental PHEVs. Removing the battery pack and electric motor will no doubt play a large part in the loss of mass.

Other weight-saving measures reportedly include carbon-fibre panels and components, lightweight front seats, and the deletion of the rear bench seat.

To make up for the lack of electric motivation, Bentley has turned up the wick on the Volkswagen group-sourced 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8, which is said to develop around 475kW on its own. The extra 35kW or so, combined with the reduced weight, means the next Supersports might be able to match the GT Speed’s claimed 0-100km/h time of 3.1 seconds.

Supersports production will be limited to a few hundred units, and the new Continental flagship is expected to cost a pretty penny, with prices reportedly set to start at around £400,000 (A$815,000) in its homeland. The Supersports will likely debut later this year before burbling into driveways around the world from 2026.

MORE: Explore the Bentley Continental showroom