2013 Bentley Continental GT Speed hits 205 mph

The range-topping 2013 Bentley Continental GT Speed is the fastest production model ever from Crewe, England. Barely. Capable of 205 mph (with a little rounding) it noses out the Continental Supersports by less than 1 mph.

Still, it is the fastest, and it's a formidable entry set to face off against another British rival, the Aston Martin Vanquish, and, to a lesser extent, the Ferrari F12 Berlinetta. At the heart of the Speed is a significantly more powerful twin-turbo 6.0-liter W12 making 616 hp and 590 lb-ft of torque. It works with an eight-speed automatic and permanent all-wheel drive and can sprint to 60 mph in four seconds. All of this muscle allows the Speed to nose out the 204-mph top speed of the Continental Supersports, Bentley claims.

The Speed also gets uprated hardware in the air-sprung suspension and a stiffened chassis for tauter handling and improved agility. The ride height is lowered, the steering is retuned for driver feedback and grip is enhanced by 275/35-R Pirelli rubber mounted on standard 21-inch wheels.

Styling updates are subtle and focused on a dark-tinted mesh for the main grille and lower air intake and a rifled finish for the dual exhaust tailpipes. Inside, Bentley upped the spec of the Speed to make the top-level Mulliner Driving Specification standard. The car arrives this fall.

By Julian Rendell