Skip advert
Advertisement

Bentley Continental Supersports ISR

We get a taste of record-breaking convertible

Overall Auto Express rating

4.0

How we review cars
Find your Bentley Continental GT
Compare deals from trusted partners on this car and previous models.
Or are you looking to sell your car?
Value my car
Fast, no-nonsense car selling
Value my car

Few other cars would have had the power, traction and stability to pull off the 205mph ice speed record. And those lucky enough to have ordered a Continental ISR will be getting a car with the same huge punch – and one that’s as luxurious as a Bentley should be. What’s more, exclusivity is guaranteed: not only because a mere 100 models are available, but also as each is priced at £189,300.

Advertisement - Article continues below

Juha Kankkunen has the icy stare of someone who is no stranger to going quickly. And although he is simply tackling a run up the hill at the Goodwood Festival of Speed, the Finn is approaching it with the same focus as his last blast in the fastest-ever Bentley Continental. 

Back in February, Kankkunen broke his own world ice speed record, getting up to 205mph in a modified Continental Supersports Convertible on a frozen stretch of the Baltic Sea. Now, that car has been driven across Europe to take part in the West Sussex event – and Auto Express climbed aboard for an exclusive passenger ride.

To celebrate the record, Bentley is building 100 roadgoing Continental Supersports ISR (Ice Speed Record) models. Each has the same 631bhp 6.0-litre W12, as well as a host of visual tweaks including 20-inch alloys and red detailing throughout. But the actual record-breaking car is a very different machine.

Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement - Article continues below

Used - available now

Continental GT

2020 Bentley

Continental GT

16,676 milesAutomaticPetrol6.0L

Cash £104,990
View Continental GT
Continental GT

2021 Bentley

Continental GT

33,950 milesAutomaticPetrol4.0L

Cash £134,995
View Continental GT
Continental GT

2024 Bentley

Continental GT

23,900 milesAutomaticPetrol4.0L

Cash £127,990
View Continental GT
Continental GT

2014 Bentley

Continental GT

26,650 milesAutomaticPetrol6.0L

Cash £43,995
View Continental GT

“It’s all about being stable in very slippery conditions,” Kankkunen told us. “Driving on ice is so sensitive that you need to balance the weight perfectly – even adding ballast to the passenger side to counterbalance the driver. At speed, it’s trying to slide all the time, so the suspension has to be very soft to cope with the bumpy surface.” 

There’s also a parachute to slow the car down – although we won’t need that at Goodwood. 

Stunning

On the move, it’s predictably fast. And in Kankkunen’s hands, very fast. At the start line, he holds the big Bentley on the brakes, then floors it and unleashes 800Nm of torque to all four tyres. The Continental makes a stunning baritone roar and rockets away. ISR models will get a new exhaust system, together with an additional 20bhp over the standard Supersports. This helps to give 0-60mph in 3.8 seconds – that’s one-tenth quicker than the regular 621bhp car. 

In an instant, Kankkunen has flicked the lever of the six-speed Quickshift automatic box twice and we’re deep into third gear. The enormous carbon ceramic brakes wash off speed easily, and we dive into the first corner with surprising agility, all four wheels slipping into a stable drift. 

Yet this car isn’t only about straight-line pace, and as we cross the finish line, Kankkunen looks at us. His icy stare has been replaced by a huge smile.

Skip advert
Advertisement

New & used car deals

Bentley Continental GT

Bentley Continental GT

RRP £163,445Used from £104,990
Kia Sportage

Kia Sportage

RRP £28,065Avg. savings £2,233 off RRP*Used from £12,420
Skoda Kodiaq

Skoda Kodiaq

RRP £38,140Avg. savings £3,019 off RRP*Used from £13,895
Vauxhall Corsa

Vauxhall Corsa

RRP £18,725Avg. savings £4,199 off RRP*Used from £15,337
* Average savings are calculated daily based on the best dealer prices on Auto Express vs manufacturer RRP
Skip advert
Advertisement

Most Popular

New Kia PV5 Passenger MPV undercuts the VW ID.Buzz by a huge £25k
Kia PV5 Passenger - show front

New Kia PV5 Passenger MPV undercuts the VW ID.Buzz by a huge £25k

New entry into the electric people carrier market undercuts the VW ID. Buzz by a significant margin
News
29 Apr 2025
Car Deal of the Day: BMW’s ultimate luxury SUV at an unusually low price
BMW X7 - front

Car Deal of the Day: BMW’s ultimate luxury SUV at an unusually low price

German firm’s flagship SUV could never be called cheap but it is exceptional value at £735 a month – making it our Deal of the Day for Sunday 27 April
News
27 Apr 2025
New 2025 Kia PV5 van starts from a tempting £22,645
Kia PV5 Cargo on display at Commercial Vehicle Show - front 3/4

New 2025 Kia PV5 van starts from a tempting £22,645

All-new entry into the van market promises competitive pricing and comes with a range of up to 247 miles
News
30 Apr 2025