Bentley reveals 200mph roadster

It's unlikely that any of the new Bentley GTC Speed models' owners will ever come close to reaching their 200mph maximum speed, but just knowing you could is sure to be enough. The new Bentley Continental GTC Speed heads up a revised Continental GTC range, Bentley's open-topped Continental model getting the same revisions its coupé and saloon relatives received last year.

The GTC range now consists of two models - simply the Continental GTC and the Continental GTC Speed. Both come with the styling revisions debuted on the coupé, these including a revised, larger front grille, chrome surrounded headlamps and a wider choice of interior and exterior colours. The Speed builds on the styling revisions with a dark tint to the grilles up front, a unique alloy wheel design, a boot lip spoiler, wider sports exhausts and a black lower bumper valance. Inside, the Speed gains sporting additions such as a three-spoke steering wheel and drilled alloy pedals.

Underlining the Speed's name is a revised version of the 12-cylinder engine that delivers 600bhp. This allows the GTC Speed to reach 62mph in just 4.8 seconds and onto a 200mph maximum. That's only if you've got the roof up though as top down the Speed 'only' manages 195mph. The standard GTC makes do with just 552bhp, though that's still enough to see it sprint to 62mph in 5.1 seconds and onto a 195mph top speed.

Under the skin of both models there's revised steering and damper settings, the Speed gaining lower suspension and higher intervention levels for the electronic safety nets when the driver selects the Dynamic Mode. As ever Bentley offers plentiful options for its new models, so owners can specify the new GTC with Bentley's massive carbon-ceramic brakes for instance. They'll add significantly to the £129,700 or £146,100 Bentley is asking for the GTC and GTC Speed respectively, but once you're in this sphere of spending you're unlikely to care - credit crunch or not.

Kyle Fortune