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Bentley has unveiled its fastest soft-top ever, the Speed version of its Continental GTC convertible.
The luxury carmaker took the covers off the new model at Detroit as part of a continued effort to attract younger buyers to the brand.
Like the GT Speed coupe and the four-door Continental Flying Spur Speed before it, the GTC Speed has a turbocharged W12 engine that delivers 450kW and about 720Nm of torque.
The top speed of 315km/h with the roof down makes it the fastest Bentley convertible ever.
Since the GT Speed coupe debuted in 2007, it has become the top-selling GT model worldwide. Bentley expects the GTC Speed to account for up to two-thirds of GTC sales in its first year of production. The GTC Speed goes on sale in the US in July as a 2010 model.
Bentley also refreshed the standard GTC this year, giving it low-friction dampers for improved ride comfort. Both GTC models get a more upright radiator grille with a more pronounced square edge and a lower air intake.
Two new options are available on both GTC models: carbon-ceramic brakes and an adaptive cruise control system that uses a long-range radar sensor to monitor traffic ahead.
