Bentley’s Absurdly Powerful Continental GT Ready To Be Unleashed

The new Bentley Continental GT Speed was unveiled a short while ago with a powerful plug-in hybrid V8 that outmuscles the outgoing W12 and hurtles the Bentley along at a rapid pace. The sumptuous GT car will make its official public debut at the Goodwood Festival of Speed this weekend, where both the coupé and convertible will go up the hill twice daily from Thursday until Sunday.

A third car will be displayed in a unique setting, with Bentley celebrating the GT Speed’s unique underwater speed record. As a reminder, the Continental managed to reach its 208 mph top speed in the Ryfylke tunnel in Norway, a nine-mile-long tunnel that lays claim to being the deepest sub-sea and longest road tunnel in the world, with the lowest point being 958 feet below sea level. The run was conducted using renewable biofuel, and even the hybrid battery was charged with Bentley’s solar panels, reiterating the brand’s new sustainability goals.

Plenty Of Prep Work Needed For Record Run

Setting the unofficial record wasn’t as simple as driving down a tunnel at high speed. The run, which happened on April 18, required 13 months of preparation to make possible. Extra precautions were needed to get the Bentley to its top speed in the tunnel. For a start, Bentley simulated the top speed run using Computational Fluid Dynamics and discovered that the aerodynamic drag would be 11% higher in the Ryfylke tunnel due to the shock waves and “wake of the car bouncing off the tunnel walls.”

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Bentley engineers found that driving in the tunnel’s center was vital to a successful run. Moving closer to either side would accelerate airflow between the wall and the car, creating a suction that would pull the Bentley even closer to the wall. The vehicle used for the run was equipped with a roll cage and bucket seat, but the engine and suspension remained unchanged. Interestingly, the automaker x-rayed 22-inch Pirelli tires to ensure zero defects or inconsistencies. The run was conducted at 1:00 AM local time, with former British rally champ Mark Higgens accelerating to 208 mph in a brief 33 seconds.

To celebrate the underwater speed record, an example of the GT Speed will be displayed in a bespoke ‘FOShtank’ based on Bentley’s ‘Toy Box’ display units that the automaker uses at the Dream Factory campus. However, the tank has been adapted to include a custom fish tank, a humorous nod to the underwater run.

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A Tourmaline Green-colored Continental GT Speed will be placed in the fish tank, containing 368.9 gallons of water, goldfish, and gorgeous Shubunkin fish, known for their distinctive shimmering appearance. 3.1-inch thick acrylic sheets keep the water safely contained within the tank. For those concerned with the welfare of the fish, the tanks are flow-rated and filtered, while an aquarium specialist will look after the finned occupants.

Aside from Bentley, there are plenty of things to look forward to at this year’s Goodwood Festival of Speed. This includes the European debut of the Honda Prelude Concept, the first-ever electric Mini JCW, and the one-off Pagani Huayra Epitome, among other exciting projects like a McLaren-based rotary-powered drift car from Kiwi drifter Mad Mike.