Performance Review: Bentley Continental SuperSports 6.0 W12 - [2009]

Figures & Specs Summary:

Bentley Continental Performance Review.

Introduction:

This edition of the Bentley Continental SuperSports 6.0 W12 is the 6 speed / Auto version and was first brought out in 2009. This was at around the same time as the introduction of the 2010 Hennessey Venom GT 6.2L V8 and the 2010 Bugatti Veyron 8.0 litre W16 Super Sport.This particular Bentley Continental has a 5998cc Twin Turbo Petrol powerplant with 12 cylinders in a W formation.

Alternative Petrol W12's includes the 2017 Bentley Continental Supersports 6.0 W12 Bi Turbo

The Continental shares its Petrol W12 engine configuration with the likes of the 2017 Bentley Continental Supersports 6.0 W12 Bi Turbo and the 2017 Bentley Continental GT 6.0 W12 Turbo. If you're looking for other fast cars which share the Continental's All Wheel Drive, Coupe combination then how about the or the .

Power and Weight:

Weighing in at 2240 kgs (4938 lbs) this makes the Bentley Continental SuperSports 6.0 W12 in the same weight category as the 2022 Aston-Martin DBX 707 4.0 V8 Twin Turbo or the give or take 50kg.

The Bentley Continental shares the same bhp with the 2023 Ferrari Roma Spider 3.9 V8 Turbo (611 bhp)

In terms of power the 5998cc 48V W12 engine produces 621 bhp (463 kW) @ 6000 rpm similar to the 2023 Ferrari Roma Spider 3.9 V8 Turbo (611 bhp) or the 2023 BMW X5 M Competition 4.4 Turbo F95 (616 bhp).

The Twin Turbo W12 throws out 590 lb-ft (799.9 Nm) @ 1700 rpm placing it with cars of similar torque performance figures such as the 3996 Bentley Continental GT 4.0 V8 Turbo Convertible (568 lb-ft) or the 2023 McLaren 750S Spider 4.0 V8 Twin Turbo (590 lb-ft).

Power to Weight:

If one combines the weight with power or torque performance for the Bentley Continental you can get a better idea of it's real world performance.

The 2019 BMW 8 Series M8 Coupe 4.4 V8 Turbo F92 (302.0 bhp per ton) has similar Bhp Per Ton stats as the Bentley Continental.

The Bentley Continental has a Power to weight ratio of 277.2 bhp per ton and 263.3 lb-ft per ton. Bhp Per Ton figures of the 2009 Continental competing with the 2019 BMW 8 Series M8 Coupe 4.4 V8 Turbo F92 (302.0 bhp per ton) or the 1993 TVR Chimaera 5.0 (301.8 bhp per ton).

Power to Weight(cont.):

If you agree with the late great Carroll Shelby then arguably an even better indicator of potential performance, Torque. Use weight as well and you end up with - Torque per ton, with the Bentley Continental generating around 263.3 lb-ft per ton. If you're curious as to what other cars have as much torque to weight then look no further than the 2006 Porsche 911 Turbo 997 (288.3 lb-ft per ton) or the 2013 Alfa-Romeo 4C 1.8 Turbo (288.2 lb-ft per ton).

Acceleration:

With a 0-60mph time of 3.80 secs or a 0-100km/h (0-62mph) of 3.9 secs, this made the Bentley Continental SuperSports 6.0 W12 as fast as the 2023 BMW X5 M Competition 4.4 Turbo F95 (3.80 secs) the 2022 Porsche 911 Carrera T 3.0 Turbo PDK 992 (3.80 secs) the 2021 BMW i4 M50 (3.80 secs) the or the 2021 Mercedes SL Class 55 4Matic+ 4.0 V8 Twin Turbo (3.80 secs). This Bentley Continental SuperSports 6.0 W12 is also faster than the 2022 Volkswagen-VW Golf R Performance 2.0 Turbo (3.90 secs) the 2022 BMW 2 Series M2 3.0 Twin Turbo G87 Steptronic (3.90 secs) the 2022 Porsche 911 Sport Classic 3.7 Turbo 992 (3.90 secs) the and the 2021 Porsche Taycan 4S Cross Turismo (3.90 secs).

Quarter Mile time is a close race between the Continental and the 2017 BMW 2 Series M2 F87

When talking about the performance of the Bentley Continental on the drag strip it can reach a quarter mile in an estimated 12.14 secs @ 112.7 mph. Similar performance down the quarter mile can be found with the the 2017 BMW 2 Series M2 F87 (12.08 secs), the 2016 BMW 1 Series M140i xDrive F20 (12.09 secs), and the 1998 Porsche 911 Carrera 4 996 (12.11 secs).

Top Speed:

Modern performance cars are often artificially restricted to 155mph. The 2009 version of the Bentley Continental SuperSports 6.0 W12 has a maximum speed of 204mph.

Top Speed of the 2009 Continental equals the 2006 Ascari A10 5.0 V8 (215 mph)

If maxing out your car on the AutoBahn is your thing and you're wondering what's faster than the 2009 Bentley Continental SuperSports 6.0 W12 then how about the 2006 Ascari A10 5.0 V8 (215 mph), the 2017 Ford GT 3.5 V6 Bi-Turbo (216 mph), or the 2023 Lamborghini Revuelto 6.5 V12 Petrol Hybrid (217 mph).

Related Links:

2009 Continental Rivals List.

A Brief History of Bentley

Car Comparison