Bentley to unveil new Continental GT Speed Convertible at NAIAS

Billed as the world's fastest four-seat convertible, the new flagship performance will take its top down and show all at the 2013 North American International Auto Show in Detroit.

With a big 6.0-liter turbocharged W12 engine putting out 616 bhp through an 8-speed transmission, the new Bentley's top speed is 202 miles per hour - all with an open top and seating for four.

The new look for the Continental GT line is definitely much more muscular and sporting, showing that the staid British carmaker is returning to its roots at the race track. This convertible entry has a powerful, track-ready look with Bentley's signature luxurious style. From the race track to the highway to the 5-star hotel, the Continental GT Speed Convertible looks the part.

The convertible will sport exclusive 21-inch alloy wheels, dark-tint grilles, and rifled exhaust tail pipes. Inside, it features a Mulliner Driving Specification interior, making it pure Bentley to drive.

The Continental GT Speed Convertible will debut at the NAIAS show on January 14th, just a few weeks after its race-ready brother the Continental GT Speed was shown at the LA Auto Show.

The powertrain in these monsters of luxury is a world-exclusive 12 cylinder, twin-turbocharged W12 that gives the GT a 0-60 mph time of 4.1 seconds while emitting the low, beautiful baritone growl of Bentley's big engine line and free breathing exhaust. Nought to 100 is an impressive 9.7 seconds and peak torque (800 Nm) is achieved at only 2,000 rpm. Yes, that's 590 pound feet in only two thousand revolutions. It holds that through to 5,000. With the 8-speed transmission, that's an easy range to hold.

Bentley's new engine management system (ME17) performs over 180 million calculations per second and improves both performance and holds fuel economy in the Speed versus its predecessor, the Continental GT (15 mpg combined US). The transmission is a ZF 8-speed with Quickshift, Block Shifting and wheel-mounted paddleshift with a 40:60 all-wheel-drive rear bias.

Like its GT Speed coupe counterpart, the convertible has a lower, stiffer suspension with auto-leveling, making it 10mm lower than the 575PS Continental GT convertible. Torsional stiffness is a class-leading 22,500 Nm/degree, making this car a cornering dream.

This will be a car to look forward to at the upcoming NAIAS.