| Bentley already specifies the largest diameter brakes of any production car for its Continental GT model. The 2.4 tonne coupé uses a twin turbo 12-cylinder engine to reach 198 mph, so the brakes really have their work cut out.
The limited edition Diamond Series model, built to commemorate 60 years of production at Crewe, goes further with even bigger, carbon ceramic rotors.
Made from carbon-silicon carbide by SGL, the cross-drilled front discs measure Ø420 x 40mm, and are clamped by massive eight-piston aluminium callipers supplied by Alcon. The move from cast iron to ceramic rotors cuts 23 kg from the rotating unsprung mass from the front axle. Rear discs are Ø356 x 28mm.
Bentley says it is a given that brakes are the easiest components to abuse on any car, so the new carbon ceramic brakes offer further resistance to heavy use while providing greater component longevity. In normal road use, it says the rotors will last the life of the car, with brake pad life double that of those used with the iron rotors.
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