If you're in the market for a luxurious cabriolet and cost is no object, England's automakers have got you covered. Do your tastes veer towards the stately? We might suggest the Rolls-Royce Phantom Drophead Coupe. Something more dynamic? Try the Aston Martin DB9 Volante. Something more compact? Jaguar can help you with the XK convertible. But if you're looking for the fastest four-seat cabrio on the market, look no further than the new Bentley Continental GT Speed Convertible.
Its 616-horsepower, 6.0-liter twin-turbocharged W12 engine is the same found in the GT Speed coupe, only without the roof, you and three of your closest can enjoy the roar of all twelve cylinders all the way up to 202 mph.
Further distinguishing the Speed version from the “ordinary” Continental GT Convertible are unique 21-inch wheels, a more robust suspension, sportier styling, rifled exhaust tips and upgraded brakes, available in optional carbon-silicon carbide to keep all those horses in check.
Bentley added a lot of structural reinforcement to keep the luxury convertible as stiff as the coupe. That means the GT Speed Convertible tips the scales at 5,500 lbs, but with 590 lb-ft of torque on tap, it still reaches 60 mph from a standstill in 4.1 seconds – just one tenth behind the coupe version.
The new Bentley Continental GT Speed Convertible will make its public debut at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit on January 14, after which Bentley dealers around the world will begin taking orders from interested customers. Pricing has yet to be announced, but the model it replaces retailed for $236,000.
