Oftentimes, we dismiss the claimed top speed of high-performance sports cars. A number which is unreachable in the overwhelming majority of environments is not necessarily something we look for in a car. However, outside of a closed racetrack, there are three unrestricted roadways on which a car is only limited by the amount of power coursing under the hood. Bentley, taking a page out of Porsche’s 217-mph playbook, set out on one of these unrestrictred byways to reach the top speed of a 2016 Bentley Continental GT Speed.
To reach the top speed of 206 mph, Bentley brought the supercoupe to a derestricted 120-mile stretch of Stuart Highway, deep in the heart of Australian outback. With a 6.0-liter twin-turbo W-12 engine pushing out 626 hp and 607 lb-ft of torque, the Bentley has the power to match the high aerodynamic forces at high speed.
A car is only as good as the driver, so Australian racing icon John Bowe climbed behind the wheel of the Continental to reach this extremely high speed goal. Bowe has made a name for himself in the Australian racing circuit, with six Bathurst 1,000 titles to his name. Bentley also had the cooperation of the local police, who shut down the stretch of road during the high-speed run.
After a quick staging session, Bowe launches the Continental, and effortlessly reaches 206 mph in a little over one minute.
Take a look at the video below to see the 2016 Bentley Continental GT Speed reach over 200 mph through the Australian outback.
