Most powerful Bentley convertible revealed

DETROIT–Luxury automaker Bentley on Sunday rolled out what it describes as its most powerful convertible, the 6-liter, 12-cylinder Continental GTC Speed that boasts 600 horsepower and speeds up to 200 mph.

To get to 200 mph, Bentley Motors says drivers will have to keep the top up on the twin-turbocharged GTC Speed. It can go from zero to 60 mph in 4.5 seconds, and from zero to 100 mph in 10.6 seconds.

With the top down, it can get up to 195 mph. Bentley already offers a GT Speed coupe version of the car.

The convertible made its debut at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit. The GTC Speed is scheduled to be in dealerships starting in June with a starting price of $231,400.

Bentley also is offering a standard GTC model, which offers 552 horsepower.

The introduction follows a difficult sales year for Bentley, which sold 2,860 cars in North America and 7,600 worldwide. The company says that's down 32 per cent in North America and 24 per cent overall from 2007.

Bentley says it expects "tough" market conditions in 2009 and isn't making sales predictions. It already has cut production by about 15 per cent and has an extended Christmas shutdown.

"We do expect to maintain our reduced production levels throughout the first part of this year," the carmaker said. "This will allow us some flexibility to cope with a possible further decline in the market, perhaps of 10 to 20 per cent.''

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