Bentley Supersports: FULL SEND — When British Luxury Went Sideways
The automotive landscape is often divided into rigid silos: extreme sports athletes dwell in the world of dirt, roll cages, and shattered fiberglass, while historic British marques reside in the realm of walnut veneers, hand-stitched hides, and whispered elegance. However, on January 22, 2026, those boundaries were obliterated with the release of ‘Supersports: FULL SEND.’ This film represents the most ambitious and dynamic marketing effort in Bentley’s 107-year history. By partnering with Travis Pastrana—a man whose name is synonymous with the death-defying "Gymkhana" series and Nitro Circus—Bentley has signaled a radical shift in its brand identity. No longer content to be viewed solely as the purveyor of comfortable grand tourers for the elite, Bentley is aggressively asserting its engineering prowess. The film serves as a high-octane proof of concept for the new Supersports, a vehicle that exchanges the brand’s traditional all-wheel-drive safety net for a raw, rear-wheel-drive configuration. Filmed entirely at the "Dream Factory" in Crewe, England, the production transformed a sober manufacturing site into a high-speed playground, proving that even a 2.5-ton symbol of status can be danced on the edge of physics with enough power and a fearless driver.
The Engineering Behind "Mildred": Customizing for Chaos
While the production version of the Bentley Supersports is already a formidable machine, the specific car used for ‘FULL SEND’ underwent significant surgical enhancements to survive Pastrana’s punishing style. Developed within the on-site Engineering Technical Centre, the project was internally codenamed "Mildred." This name is a deliberate nod to Bentley’s storied past, specifically honoring Mildred Mary Petre, a "Bentley Girl" of the 1920s who broke land, air, and water speed records. To allow Pastrana to initiate the massive "slip angles" seen in the film, technicians installed a bespoke hydraulic handbrake. Mounted prominently beside the steering wheel, this lever allows for instantaneous locking of the rear axle, a feature usually reserved for purpose-built drift cars. Furthermore, the chassis and transmission software were re-coded to permit "power braking." In a standard luxury car, applying the brake and throttle simultaneously triggers a safety override that cuts power. For "Mildred," this restriction was removed, allowing Pastrana to use the brakes to pivot the car mid-slide while keeping the 4.0-liter twin-turbocharged V8 pinned at full boost. These modifications turned a luxury coupe into a precision instrument of tire-slaying destruction.
Technical Superiority: 666 PS and the Rear-Wheel-Drive Shift
The heart of the new Supersports is a powerhouse that demands respect, producing a devilish 666 PS (666 metric horsepower) and 800 Newton meters of torque. In a departure from the Continental GT’s standard all-wheel-drive layout, the Supersports sends every ounce of that fury exclusively to the rear wheels. This mechanical choice is the defining characteristic of the model, allowing for the sustained donuts and high-speed slides showcased by Pastrana. Performance statistics remain staggering despite the shift in focus: the car can sprint from 0 to 62 mph in just 3.7 seconds and reach a top speed of 192 mph. However, as Pastrana noted after the three-day shoot, the car’s true surprise lay in its agility. For a production-based car without a racing clutch or modified steering angles, the Supersports demonstrated a level of poise that contradicted its substantial footprint. The highly developed aerodynamics package and revised suspension geometry ensure that while the car is capable of being "unruly" for the cameras, it remains a sharpened tool for the road. It is a dual-threat vehicle, capable of crossing continents in absolute silence or vaporizing its rear tires at the pull of a hydraulic lever.
A Cinematic Tribute to the Crewe "Dream Factory"
‘Supersports: FULL SEND’ is as much a love letter to Bentley’s manufacturing home as it is a showcase for the car. The film takes viewers on an "ultimate tour" of the Crewe campus, which has seen massive self-funded investment over the last five years. Pastrana’s route through the factory grounds—dubbed "Pymkhana" in reference to the site’s location on Pyms Lane—was designed to highlight the intersection of heritage and high-tech future. The cinematography captures the Supersports drifting past the solar panel car park and sliding between buildings that have stood since 1938. The production involved scores of Bentley colleagues who volunteered their time to witness the "Full Send" in person, creating a communal atmosphere during the three days of filming. By using the actual production site as the backdrop, Bentley emphasizes that their cars are born from an environment of precision. Seeing a 666 PS beast smash through the literal production line of the upcoming luxury urban SUV provides a visceral, "behind-the-scenes" feel that traditional commercials lack. It humanizes the brand, showing that the people who build these multimillion-dollar machines have a sense of humor and a deep-seated passion for the limits of automotive performance.
Hidden Gems and Heritage: The Film’s Easter Eggs
Bentley utilized the film to flex its historical muscles, populating the background with icons from its Heritage Collection. Eagle-eyed enthusiasts will spot the 2003 Le Mans-winning Speed 8 and both generations of the Continental GT3 race car resting in the Engineering Technical Centre. Even the elusive, W16-powered Hunaudières concept car from 1999 makes a rare appearance. As Pastrana slides through the solar park, he is "chased" by the Pikes Peak-record-holding Bentayga and Continental GT, linking the brand’s modern racing successes to the new Supersports. Perhaps most impressively, the film features five pre-war Bentleys, led by the legendary 1929 Team Blower #2—arguably the most valuable Bentley in existence. These cameos aren't just for show; they reinforce the narrative that the Supersports is the latest entry in a century-long bloodline of "unstoppable" performance. The film even teases the future, with Pastrana drifting past a camouflaged prototype of Bentley’s upcoming luxury urban SUV, which is slated for launch later this year. This blending of the 1920s, the 1990s, and the future creates a cohesive timeline, positioning the Supersports not as an outlier, but as a central pillar of the Bentley legend.
Global Premiere and Market Exclusivity
The film made its world debut at a lavish event in Dubai, UAE, attended by 400 of the brand’s most prominent customers and guests. The choice of Dubai for the premiere underscores the importance of the Middle Eastern market for Bentley’s high-performance tier. Despite the adrenaline-pumping nature of the video, it serves as a "victory lap" rather than a sales pitch, as the new Supersports is already officially sold out. All 500 units were reserved before the film’s public release, with production scheduled to begin in the fourth quarter of 2026. Deliveries will commence in early 2027, reaching exclusive markets across the UK, Europe, North America, and the Middle East. For the 500 lucky owners, ‘FULL SEND’ acts as a digital manual of what their car is truly capable of achieving. For the rest of the world, the film is a reminder of Bentley’s dominance in the luxury-performance space. The specific "Mildred" stunt car will not be sold; instead, it will be retained by the company as the 50th member of its Heritage Collection. It will spend the remainder of 2026 touring global events, allowing fans to see the tire-scarred reality of Pastrana’s performance up close, before retiring to its permanent home in the Crewe vault.
Pastrana’s Perspective: Luxury Meets Limits
Travis Pastrana is no stranger to high-performance machinery, but his reaction to the Supersports suggests that the Bentley offered a unique experience compared to his usual rally-spec Subarus. In his post-filming comments, Pastrana admitted to initial concerns about driving a heavy, production-based car without the usual modifications like a racing clutch or extreme steering angles. "I was happily surprised by how nimble and fun it was to drive," he stated, emphasizing that the car exceeded his expectations for a "Full Send" video. Pastrana’s involvement is a significant coup for Bentley; following his final official Gymkhana film, ‘Aussie Shred,’ his endorsement carries immense weight with a younger, performance-oriented demographic. His ability to manipulate the 666 PS coupe with "precision drifting" through tight factory corridors proves that the car’s chassis is as communicative as it is powerful. The collaboration represents a "perfect combination of luxury and performance," a sentiment that Bentley has spent years trying to perfect. Pastrana’s smile at the end of the film isn't just for the cameras; it’s the genuine reaction of a professional driver finding joy in an unexpected place—the driver’s seat of a leather-lined, twin-turbocharged British powerhouse.
Conclusion: The New Era of the "Bentley Boy"
The release of ‘Supersports: FULL SEND’ marks a definitive end to the era of Bentley as a "stodgy" brand. By embracing the "Full Send" culture and allowing a daredevil like Travis Pastrana to treat their factory as a skid pad, Bentley has successfully modernized its image without sacrificing its heritage. The inclusion of Frank-Steffen Walliser, Bentley’s Chairman and CEO, in a final cameo cleaning up tire marks, signals that this "skiddy silliness" comes from the very top of the organization. The 500 customers who secured a Supersports are buying into more than just a car; they are buying into a legacy of rebellion that dates back to the original Bentley Boys and Girls of the 1920s. As the automotive world pivots toward autonomous driving and electrification, Bentley is using the Supersports to scream one last defiant, 9,000-rpm (in Singer's case) or V8-thumping (in Bentley's) message: driving still matters. Whether it is the artisanal perfection of the Singer "Sorcerer" or the tire-shredding audacity of Pastrana’s Bentley, the events of January 22, 2026, prove that the pursuit of automotive thrills is more alive than ever. The "Mildred" handbrake may not be on the options list, but the spirit of "Full Send" is now standard equipment in every Supersports that leaves the Crewe gates.
