The Bentley Continental GT may be sold as a second-generation model since 2011, but its platform is actually 13 years old as of 2016. Sure, it received numerous upgrades throughout the years, but at the end of the day, the Continental GT->ke3108 rides on some of the oldest underpinnings on the market. Despite this, the British coupe is still a popular choice among wealthy customers in need of a car that's both luxurious and powerful. And proof of that is that Bentley keeps launching limited-edition->ke2041 models, one of which is the Black Speed.

Based on the range-topping GT Speed, the Black Speed was created with help from Mulliner, the brand's bespoke division. It features a unique livery that highlights the GT Speed's sportier body kit and an interior that no longer has the Continental's traditional wood veneer. That's not exactly big news considering that Mulliner has crafted stone veneers for the Conti GT in the past, but Black Speed is the first to feature aluminum instead of wood.

Developed specifically for Australia and New Zealand, the Black Speed follows in the footsteps of the Continental GT Concours, a special-edition model with blacked-out chrome that was extremely popular in Australia in 2015. Only 10 Black Speeds will be sold and Bentley->ke15 insists none will be offered outside Australia and New Zealand.

“We talked to some of our customers last year at the Grand Prix about doing something bespoke for Australia, something unique for this market. In the past we had the Concourse edition, where we blacked-out all the chrome and did a black finish for the first time on one of our cars... that was extremely popular in Australia. People want the aggressive version of the manufacturer car," said Bentley Asia-Pacific sales manager David Simpson. “I talked to the factory and said that I want to do something bespoke and something unique. I want to do a run of 10 cars just for our market. That's when we came to Black Speed.”

Continue reading to learn more about the Bentley Continental GT Black Speed.

2016 Bentley Continental GT Black Speed

Specifications
  • Make: Array
  • Model: 2016 Bentley Continental GT Black Speed
  • Engine/Motor: W-12
  • Horsepower: 626
  • Torque: 607
  • [do not use] Vehicle Model: Array

What makes the Bentley Continental GT Black Speed special

The first thing that catches the eye when looking at the Black Speed is the black paint with red accents. Although the glossy black paint works well with the chrome on the window trim, side mirrors, above the side skirts, and the B-shaped vents on the front fenders, Bentley added red highlights for a flashier contrast. The bright color adorns the front grille and splitter, the side skirts, and the rear diffuser, but the coupe also sports thin red stripes on its waistline and rear haunches. To round off the aggressive exterior, the Brits replaced the standard wheels with chrome alloys and tinted the headlamps and taillights.

While it looks unique, the Black Speed's exterior shares most of its features with the "Monster By Mulliner" Continental GT. Built in collaboration with audio equipment manufacturer Monster Inc. for the 2016 Consumer Electronics Show, the concept car had an identical livery, without the thin body stripes on the sides.

The black and red theme continues inside the cabin. The main highlight here is the red aluminum trim that replaces the traditional wood finish on the dashboard and center console. Even the Breitling clock in the center stack has a red ring for a matching finish. It certainly gives the interior a race-inspired look. The seats are wrapped in black, diamond-quilted leather with red stitching and red inserts on both the seating area and the back. The headrests feature "Black Speed" lettering in red. More red accents can be seen in the door panels, the steering wheel (including a 12 o'clock stripe), and the floor mats.

Under the hood, the Black Speed is identical to the Continental Speed it is based on, but that's not something customers will complain about. Motivation comes from a massive, 6.0-liter W-12 rated at 626 horsepower and 607 pound-feet of twist, which hit the wheels through a quick-shifting, ZF eight-speed automatic. The oomph is enough to push the coupe from 0 to 60 mph in only four seconds and from 0 to 100 mph in nine ticks. Top speed is rated at 206 mph, figures only a handful of supercars wearing Ferrari and McLaren badges can brag about. While everything is standard in this department, Bentley does offer an optional carbon-ceramic brake package from the hardcore Continental GT3-R.

Pricing for the Black Speed starts from AUD$525,000, which converts to around $398,700 as of March 2016. Only 10 units will be made, all sold in Australia and New Zealand.

Bentley Continental GT Speed

The second-generation Continental GT Speed was launched in 2012, one year after the redesigned coupe arrived in dealerships. At launch, the 6.0-liter W-12 was rated at 616 horsepower and 590 pound-feet of torque, a 49-horsepower and 74-pound-feet increase over the standard GT W12 model. In 2014, Bentley upgraded the mill to 626 horses and 605 pound-feet of twist. On top of being the most powerful Continental GT to date, the Speed is also the quickest, needing only four seconds to hit 60 mph from a start and topping out at an impressive 206 mph. For 2016, the coupe received a facelift consisting of a revised front grille, redesigned front bumper, a more sculpted trunk lid, and a reshaped rear diffuser.

Read our full review on the Bentley Continental GT here.