2009 Bentley Continental GTC Speed

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What is it?
2009 Bentley Continental GTC Speed

What's special about it?
We can't really imagine what it must be like to pilot a roofless vehicle at 195 mph. Those little windscreens between the seats have their limits, you know, and the 2009 Bentley Continental GTC Speed is sure to surpass them with its heroic top speed.

The third member of Bentley's family of high-performance Speed models, the Continental GTC Speed piles an extra 48 horsepower on top of the standard model's 552 horses. Torque is up, too, totaling 553 pound-feet compared to the 479 lb-ft of the standard GTC.

It's enough extra push to get the monstrous soft top from zero to 60 mph in 4.5 seconds, according to Bentley. And with the top in place, it'll blow by 195 mph right up to an even 200 mph.

Slightly more boost for the twin turbos and a reprogrammed engine control computer give the GTC Speed its additional power. A retuned suspension that lowers the GTC Speed almost a half inch helps deliver the higher top speeds, not to mention a more sporting ride. Like its coupe and sedan counterparts, the GTC Speed rides on standard 20-inch wheels with high-performance Pirelli P Zero tires.

Not to be mistaken for the standard GTC, the Speed adds dark grille inserts, wider exhaust pipes and a trunk-mounted spoiler to the exterior. The upgrades to the interior are equally subtle — a three-spoke steering wheel, drilled alloy pedals, a chrome and leather gearshifter, and diamond-quilt leather on the seat faces.

Both the standard GTC and GTC Speed offer adaptive cruise control, carbon-ceramic disc brakes and two new colors for 2009.

Inside Line says: With its odd exterior lines, the GTC is our least favorite Bentley. The GTC Speed is now our least favorite 200-mph Bentley. — Ed Hellwig, Lead Senior Editor