That component would look embarrassing on the most economical of modern econoboxes, and despite Bentley's rightful claim to a sort of charming anachronism, the genteel brand shouldn't be obviously outclassed in the modern-amenities department by a Honda Civic.This is the most powerful production Bentley ever built, delivering truly astounding performance for a four-seater car. Yes, the car overflows with the expected Bentley touches like couture-quality leather, inviting wood veneers, jewel-like brightware, and quicksand-deep floormats, but the infotainment interface is dated to the point of uselessness, simple conveniences like adaptive cruise control are conspicuously absent, and a pop of the glovebox reveals the same appendage-like iPhone adapter that's been the Bentley workaround basically since the first iPhone debuted.

Notwithstanding model-specific updates both lovely (checkered carbon-fiber dashboard panels) and odd (the overwrought three-color seats, which look like two-color seats wearing bathrobes), the overall feeling is, well, aged-and not only of the cellared-claret variety that is a Bentley core competency. Despite its Methuselah-like 14 years, the body still looks fit and youthful, though the same cannot be said of the interior. Otherwise, this is a car that looks remarkably similar to the Continental GT that debuted when 'Friends' was still on the air, back in 2003. These stoppers are not just big, they're incredibly durable, able to withstand temperatures of up to 1,000 degrees Celsius-the same temperature as lava. These are fitted with massive cross-drilled carbon-ceramic brakes-up front, in fact, you'll find the largest brakes, at 16.53 inches, fitted to any production car anywhere, with 14.01-inch units in the rear. (Note that the front carbon-fiber splitter has two variants, optimized either for winged- or deployable-rear-spoiler cars, and that the 205-mph convertible likewise has its own, bespoke front aero.) There are huge, 21-inch forged alloy wheels that save 44 pounds over the standard rims across four corners.

(Blacked-out or otherwise darkened details abound here.) Most noticeable by far is the monumental carbon-fiber rear wing, a piece of kit more befitting the brand's bellicose GT3-R and one that can, thankfully, be left back in the factory at Crewe. It's more perforated, certainly, given the car's massive oxygen thirst, with hood vents finished in carbon fiber, new side sill extensions, and revised-for-aggression front air intakes sitting below the blacked-out grille. Some of the tweaks necessary to hit these numbers are obvious from the approach.

2019 bentley continental supersports