When you hear the word Bentley, the image that comes to mind is a hand-crafted luxobarge that's too heavy to be properly called a sports car. Early this year though, Bentley disproved that stereotype by establishing a new Ice Speed Record, aided by 4-time World Rally Champion Juha Kankunnen and witnessed by Guiness World Record representatives.
The tool used for this record attempt was a bio-fueled Bentley Continental Supersports Convertible, which was practically stock, except for some safety modifications. The ISR car used the OEM powertrain consisting of a 6-liter, twin turbo W12 engine, with an output of 631 horsepower and 590lb ft of torque. Drivetrain is Bentley's Quickshift six-speed automatic transmission, with the all-wheel drive system being controlled by a Torsen center diff. Additions to the car were limited to a fully-welded roll-cage, new front and rear spoilers, a bumper-mounted parachute, and Pirelli SottoZero II winter tires.
Performance calculations put 0-60mph in 3.8 seconds and 100 mph in 9.5 seconds. At the attempt made in the Bay of Bothnia in Finland, Juha drove the Bentley ISR to 330.695 km/h on a track 16.5km long, which was specially prepared for the occassion. Although the 4-time champion makes it look easy, driving more than 300 kilometers an hour on ice takes nerves of steel and a high level of natural skill. Source article is here.
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