On Monday, Bentley unveiled the one-of-a-kind Continental GT Speed convertible to the SagerStrong Foundation, which was founded by late sports athlete Craig Sager and his wife Stacy to fund blood cancer research.
Expected to go up for auction early next year to fund that research, the convertible sports an eye-catching color scheme inspired by Sager’s colorful wardrobe. Bentley says the floral pattern is based on an outfit he wore to the 2016 ESPY Awards, one of his last public appearances.
SagerStrong Foundation Bentley Continental GT Speed
Bentley’s retail marketing director, Scott Reynolds, said: “Our interpretation of the ‘clothes’ Craig wore honors him and the vibrant, positive spirit that endures and elevates. his spirit”.
The custom work is handled by Bentley’s Mulliner personalization department, which is more concerned with recreating noisy clothing patterns. In keeping with the market trend towards greater personalization options, Mulliner has begun offering a broader palette of colors to Bentley customers, including Heritage Paints dating from the 1930s.
SagerStrong Foundation Bentley Continental GT Speed
The Continental GT Speed is Bentley’s current performance flagship. Packing a 650-hp, 664-lb-ft version of Bentley’s 6.0-liter twin-turbo W-12, it can accelerate from 0-60 mph in 3.6 seconds in convertible form, as well as reaching a top speed of 208 mph. Power is sent to the road through an eight-speed dual-clutch transmission and all-wheel drive with a rear electronic limited-slip differential.
The Speed is part of the recently expanded Continental GT lineup that also includes a more luxurious orientation Mulliner model, as well as Azure and WORLDWIDE variations. That’s in addition to a choice of coupe or convertible body styles and the availability of a 4.0-liter twin-turbo V-8 on select models.
