Bentley Continental GT Le Mans Collection revealed

This year marks 100 years of the Le Mans 24h endurance race, an iconic competition of reliability, endurance and speed famous for turning victorious manufacturers and drivers into legends of motorsport. It’s a race that Bentley has a long and proud association with, so the brand has revealed a new Le Mans Collection version of its Continental GT to celebrate the inaugural event – in which Bentley both competed and set fastest lap. Handily, the cars also mark 20 years since Bentley’s last overall victory at Le Mans back in 2003.

A total of 48 Bentley Continental GT Le Mans Collection models will be produced, each with a selection of bespoke add-ons by Bentley’s in-house Mulliner personalisation program. The list starts with the Verdant green paintwork, contrasted against a painted Moonbeam stripe and corresponding number ‘7’ stencilled onto the black mesh grille - referencing the #7 Bentley Speed 8 that took the 2003 victory. 

Mulliner’s carbon fibre Styling Specification – itself incorporating a subtle front lip, side skirts, and rear diffuser garnish – is fitted as standard, joined by a black-painted ‘horseshoe’ area on the boot lid and lower front bumper. The wheels are the 22-inch five-twin spoke set that have already debuted on the V8 S, painted here in gloss black to match the contrasting bodywork sections. 

Inside, Bentley’s iconic rotating infotainment screen has been given a quite unusual addition, with Mulliner replacing one of the analogue dials with a small window displaying half of an engine valve taken from the #7 Speed 8. This is joined by a new digital clock with a 24-hour face replacing the standard GT’s analogue unit, and a walnut/carbon dual-finish veneer inscribed with Bentley’s six Le Mans wins. Similar design elements are found throughout the interior, including the polished stainless steel sills which also feature the Speed 8 racer’s iconic silhouette. 

All cars will be powered by the iconic twin-turbocharged 6-litre W12 engine, which in the Le Mans Collection produces 650bhp and 900Nm of torque. With help from a sharp-shifting eight-speed dual-clutch transmission and an active all-wheel drive system, it’ll hit 62mph in just 3.6 seconds and go onto a monstrous 208mph top speed. 

As with the W12-powered GT Speed, on which the Le Mans collection models are based, it rides on a complex triple-chamber air suspension system with active anti-roll bars, rear-wheel steering and an electronically-controlled limited-slip differential. Both Coupe and Convertible body styles are available, but no more than 48 units will be built in total.

Bentley has not revealed an indicative price for the Le Mans Collection, but with so few available and such a direct link to the iconic endurance race, expect a hefty up-weight over the Speed’s near-£220,000 base price. 

Now take a look at the fastest Nurburgring lap times set by production cars...