At Bentley's Detroit auto show press conference, board member for sales and marketing, Stuart McCullough, acknowledged the economic downturn (the brand's sales were down 24% last year, 32% in the USA). But still, it was full Speed ahead—Continental GTC Speed convertible specifically. The third member of the Continental/Flying Spur family to get the Speed treatment, the GTC convertible will reach 200 mph, just like its coupe and sedan siblings.

Still, one might wonder whether the convertible really needs the Speed treatment, with its 600-hp W-12 engine, largest-in-the-industry carbon ceramic brakes, and lowered suspension. The answer, also from Mr. McCullough, is that two-thirds of GT coupe sales last year were the Speed model, which "confirms the fact that it's new model introductions which buck the downtrend." Clearly, for Bentley buyers, the latest and greatest is still the way to go.

To read more about the 2010 Bentley Continental GTC Speed convertible, go to our 2009 Detroit auto show coverage. All the latest blogs from the Editors of Automobile Magazine can be found HERE. We've got our whole staff wandering the floor at Cobo Hall bringing back live photos and more information about all the new debuts from Detroit.