The launch event on the Dubai shoreline marked the Supersports’ first public appearance across Europe, the Middle East and Africa. The occasion brought together brand ambassador Lucien Laviscount, motorsport icon Travis Pastrana, and senior leadership including chairman and CEO Dr. Frank-Steffen Walliser and Board Member for Sales & Marketing Christophe Georges.
The venue was the gardens of Sheikha Sanaa Bint Mana Al Maktoum’s former royal palace, which provided a spectacular backdrop overlooking the water. Guests assembled as the launch car, finished in Jetstream Matte with Arctica and Portofino livery details, took centre stage in its ‘Daybreak’ specification. At 21:00 local time, screens worldwide simultaneously premiered Supersports: FULL SEND, whilst attendees watched the film on a 12-metre display.
As the final frames played, Pastrana drove the modified car from the film directly into the venue, to considerable applause from the crowd. It was a fitting entrance for a car that pushes the boundaries of what a Bentley GT can be.
Pastrana at Work
Supersports: FULL SEND takes a refreshingly different approach to showcasing a new model. Filmed entirely at the Crewe factory campus in September last year, the production demonstrates what happens when you combine a modified Supersports with one of motorsport’s most accomplished stunt drivers.
Pastrana drifted and slid his way around the factory grounds in a gymkhana-style demonstration that’s been dubbed ‘Pymkhana’, which was a reference to the site’s address on Pyms Lane, where the company has manufactured cars since 1938. The film lets the car’s capabilities speak for themselves, showcasing 666 PS and rear-wheel drive across the very tarmac where every Bentley takes shape.
The September shoot highlighted how rear-wheel drive changes the driving dynamic. Where previous models prioritised all-weather traction through four-wheel drive, the Supersports pursues a more focused approach: driver engagement through mechanical precision. Pastrana’s control of the car through the technical sections of the factory site demonstrates how the improved aerodynamics work alongside the chassis development.
Engineering meets performance
The 666 PS output delivers substantial performance for a luxury grand tourer. The engineering team has developed a comprehensive chassis package to ensure the car remains composed when that power reaches the road through the rear wheels alone.
The aerodynamics play an important role. Development work has produced bodywork that generates meaningful downforce whilst maintaining the visual character expected from Crewe. It’s a careful balance to achieve high-speed stability without compromising the elegant proportions that define the brand.
The result occupies new territory for the manufacturer. Previous flagship models offered immense capability with four-wheel-drive security. The Supersports takes a different path, removing that safety net to deliver greater driver involvement for those willing to explore its potential.
Filming at the Crewe site provided an opportunity to showcase the facility itself, which has benefited from considerable investment over the past five years. The factory where W.O. Bentley’s vision first became reality now houses modern production capabilities, though the emphasis on hand-built quality remains unchanged.
More than 4,000 colleagues design, engineer and build each of the five current models: Continental GT, Continental GT Convertible, Flying Spur, Bentayga and Bentayga EWB. The skills required for this work have been refined across generations, creating knowledge that defines the company’s approach to manufacturing.
Christophe Georges described the Dubai event as evidence of the company’s evolving approach. The focus now shifts to personalisation. Each Supersports customer will work with the company’s specialists to specify their car from an extensive range of options.
“The event in Dubai was not only a celebration of Supersports, but a reflection of our new brand strategy in action, we combined authenticity, new ambassadors, our extraordinary customers and unexpected product stories into one remarkable evening.” Christophe Georges, Board Member for Sales & Marketing, Bentley Motors
This bespoke process remains central to the ownership experience, allowing buyers to create something genuinely individual rather than selecting from predetermined packages.
The Road Ahead
Orders open in March, with production scheduled to begin in Q4 2026 ahead of first deliveries at the start of 2027. The model will be available across UK, Europe (EU27 plus Switzerland and Turkey), USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Malaysia, Japan, Oman, Bahrain, UAE, Qatar and Kuwait.
The decision to limit availability acknowledges both production capacity and the desire to maintain exclusivity for the nearly 100 customers who attended the Dubai premiere.
The Supersports arrives as the company pursues its Beyond100+ strategy, which promises exclusively electric production from 2035. For now, 666 PS from a developed petrol powertrain demonstrates why traditional performance engineering continues to resonate with enthusiasts. And if Pastrana’s demonstration around Crewe indicates anything, it’s that the Supersports delivers that performance with considerable character.