- Filed under: Convertible, Performance, Geneva Motor Show, Bentley, UK, Luxury
2011 Bentley Continental Supersports Convertible - Click above for high-res image gallery
Although Christmas was many months ago, we're guessing that the fine folks at Bentley specified the paint on their Bentley Continental Sports Convertible show car some months ago. How else to explain the scrumptious eggnog metallic finish and interior piping? Perhaps it was the droptop's yuletide bounty of power (621 brake horsepower and 590 pound-feet of torque) from its force-fed W12 engine that inspired them. Or the fact that at over 200 mph, this would make for one hell of a sleigh.
Either way, we believe that this flex-fuel droptop will finally complete the automaker's already expansive Continental lineup (we expect to see the next-generation model very soon), but admittedly, we've figured that Bentley's volume car didn't have any more derivatives left in it before, and here we are.
[Source: Bentley]Continue reading Geneva 2010: Bentley Continental Supersports Convertible is a belated holiday treat
Geneva 2010: Bentley Continental Supersports Convertible is a belated holiday treat originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 03 Mar 2010 10:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | Comments - Filed under: Sedan, Performance, Bentley, Luxury
2011 Bentley Mulsanne - Click above for high-res image gallery
Bentley just issued a press release, finally detailing all of the specs on their new Mulsanne sedan...and it's a big one. That applies to both the release itself and to the car, which will topple the scales at nearly three tons. The Bentley Mulsanne's curb weight is listed at 5,700 pounds, or roughly three Lotus Elises.
Pulling all of that luxury will be a twin-turbo 6.75-liter V8 producing 505 horsepower at 4200 rpm and a stump-pulling 752 pound-feet of torque at a very low 1750 rpm. There's an 8-speed ZF automatic doing delivery work, helping the Mulsanne glide from 0 to 60 in 5.1 seconds, to 100 in 11.6, and on to a top end of 184 miles per hour. Fuel economy is seldom a concern for owners of such vehicles, but the big Bentley has been rated at 16.7 mpg on the combined EU cycle.
No doubt about it, this is one big sedan. For a similar curb weight the Mulsanne ends up being about seven inches longer than the outgoing Arnage, an inch wider, a tenth of an inch taller, and a half foot more expansive between the axles. That's pushing it almost into Maybach levels, easily distancing it from top sedans from BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Jaguar and Audi. Only the Rolls-Royce Phantom Coupe bests it, with the Phantom Sedan in a whole 'nother league. For those who buy their luxury by the pound, those kind of things matter. Follow the jump to read all of the details, and we do mean all of the details on this 2011 Bentley Mulsanne.
[Source: Bentley]Continue reading Bentley Mulsanne specs finally revealed in detail
Bentley Mulsanne specs finally revealed in detail originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 02 Mar 2010 14:51:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | Comments - Filed under: Performance, Wagon, Geneva Motor Show, Europe, Bentley, Luxury
Touring Superleggera Flying Star - Click above for high-res image gallery
The majority of auto journalists are car freaks by nature. One of the many defining characteristics of a car freak is an undying, unadulterated love of any sort of shooting brake. If you're not a car freak, or just don't know the term, a shooting brake is a two-door station wagon. Why is this bodystyle so beloved? Many reasons, but let's just chalk it up to the impracticality of a sports car mixed well with the practicality of a station wagon. What can we say, it's a boat floater.
For Geneva, Italian car maker Touring Superleggera showed us freaks their new, stunning Flying Star. Built at the request of a customer and with the full cooperation of Bentley, the Flying Star is a shooting brake built from the Bentley Continental GTC. Honestly, there's not all that much to tell. Underneath the new skin sits... a Bentley Continental GTC, complete with its 560-horsepower, 479-pound-feet-of-torque twin-turbo 6.0-liter W12. Or, if you insist, Touring Superleggera will build you a GTC Speed-based Flying Star with 610 hp and 553 lb-ft of torque. Oh, and there's a support structure between the rear shocks that acts as both a hard structure for the new roofline and an integrated roll bar.
The real story, however, is being told by your eyeballs. Many of us have never been all that enthused by the shape of the Continental. But the Flying Star, well, it completes the design. How good? Four of us Autobloggers were gathered around a single laptop gasping at admiring Touring Superleggera's handicraft work. So yes, we think this is a very wonderful looking car. 100-percent picture perfect? No, as the tailgate's not quite... something. But let's not be petty, the Flying Star is fantastic looking.
Useful, too, as you can fit four golf bags in the rear. You might be wondering why a two-seat vehicle would need to carry four golf bags, but if you look closely you'll notice two additional seats in back. They of course fold down, allowing the Flying Star to swallow even more golf bags (no official word on exactly how many).
Besides the Flying Star's overall shooting brakeness, our favorite part has to be the woven leather "boot carpet," i.e. a beautiful material that covers the rear cargo area, the back of the rear seats and the rear floormats. Have we ever been excited about carpet before? No, never. And we doubt we ever will be again. That said, we doubt we'll be seeing any coachbuilt cars that get us as excited as the Flying Star. Now word on price (think: expensive!) but Touring Superleggera will be building just under 20 examples per year. Go car freaks, go. Full press release after the jump.
Live Photos: Jonny Lieberman / Copyright (C)2010 Weblogs, Inc.
[Source: Touring Superleggera]Continue reading Geneva 2010: Touring Superleggera Flying Star is our kind of coachbuilt wunder car
Geneva 2010: Touring Superleggera Flying Star is our kind of coachbuilt wunder car originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 02 Mar 2010 10:08:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | Comments - Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Videos, Bentley, Nissan, Luxury
GT-R vs. Continental Supersports - Click above to watch video after the jump
Motor Trend's infatuation with the Nissan GT-R (who can blame 'em?) continues, this team manifesting itself in a quarter-mile shoot out comparison between Godzilla and the Bentley Continental Supersports. Sound like a strange pairing? Well it is and it isn't. Though the Bentley does weigh over 1,000 lbs more than the Nissan (4,993 lb vs 3,885 lb), its twin-turbo W12 engine puts out a lot more horsepower (621 vs 485). Combine those two stats and you get the same power-to-weight ratio of 8 lb/hp for both vehicles. At that point, it's up to traction, transmissions and the god given nature of each engine to claim a winner. We won't spoil it for you, though. Check out the vid in full after the jump.
[Source: Motor Trend]Continue reading Video: MT pits GT-R against Bentley Continental Supersports
Video: MT pits GT-R against Bentley Continental Supersports originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 17 Feb 2010 12:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | Comments - Filed under: Convertible, Performance, Geneva Motor Show, Bentley, Luxury
2011 Bentley Continental Supersports Convertible - Click above for high-res image gallery
Bentley has dropped the details on its newest creation ahead of its unveiling at the Geneva Motor Show, and claims that it's produced the world's fastest four-seat convertible and the quickest drop-top Bentley in the automaker's history.
The 2011 Bentley Continental Supersports Convertible is the soft-top sibling to the marque's latest coupe, packing the same twin-turbocharged 6.0-liter W12 as the hard-top and putting out 621 horsepower and 590 pound-feet of torque. Also like the fixed roof variant, the Supersports Convertible can run on either gasoline or E85, returning a 0-60 mph run of 3.9 seconds and a top speed on 202 mph no matter what fuel you choose to top up with.
Other carryovers include the all-wheel drive system and ZF-sourced six-speed automatic that sends power to four, 20-inch, 10-spoke wheels shod in high-performance Pirelli rubber (275/35Z R20). However, unlike the hard-top, the rear seats remain, along with carbon fiber buckets and matching trim, Alcantara and a host of interior amenities.
Bentley hasn't released pricing on the Supersports Convertible yet, but considering the coupe starts around $270,000, you and three friends can share the $300k tab when it goes on sale this summer. Press release after the jump.
Continue reading Geneva Preview: 2011 Bentley Continental Supersports Convertible
Geneva Preview: 2011 Bentley Continental Supersports Convertible originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 16 Feb 2010 19:49:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | Comments - Filed under: Aftermarket, Coupe, Performance, Bentley, Luxury
Onyx Bentley Continental Platinum GTO - Click above for high-res images
GTOs come, and GTOs go. Although the Pontiac GTO may be long gone, Ferrari is working on a new 599 GTO. Now Irish tuning house Onyx Concept - which previously worked up the Range Rover Sport and Vogue - is releasing a GTO of its own.
Based, as you can see, on the Bentley Continental GT, the Onyx Continental Platinum GTO packs a host of visual and performance modifications in an effort to take what is widely known as the "Camry for rich folks" to GTO levels of performance. That includes boosting the power from the W12 engine from 553 horsepower to beyond 640, although Onyx hasn't disclosed exactly how that's been done. The suspension has also been dropped to the ground like the pants on an American Idol contestant. 22-inch matte black alloys compliment a body kit comprising of a new front bumper with LED daytime running lights, wider wheel arches and carbon fiber splitter, decklid spoiler and rear diffuser.
Onyx says the Platinum GTO will be available beginning next month. Along with the pair of images (which we've posted to the gallery below), those are all the details available at this point in the press release after the jump.
Gallery: Onyx Bentley Continental Platinum GTO
[Source: Onyx Concept]Continue reading Onyx gives the Bentley Continental the Platinum GTO treatment
Onyx gives the Bentley Continental the Platinum GTO treatment originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 12 Feb 2010 10:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments - Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Geneva Motor Show, Hatchback, Bentley, Specialty, Luxury
Earlier this month, we heard rumors that coachbuilder Carrozzeria Touring Superleggera planned to introduce a new bespoke version of the Bentley Continental GT. Now we've got confirmation that the firm will indeed introduce an shooting brake based on the GT at the Geneva Motor Show early next month.
Only 20 three-door estates are planned, and they'll reportedly be built atop the buyer's choice of a regular Continental GT or an uplevel Continental GT Speed. This will be the company's first product based on a vehicle from Bentley, though past models included the likes of Ferrari, Aston Martin and Lamborghini.
We don't have many details other than the teaser sketch above and that the GT will have two rear seats that fold independently, making for what we can only assume will be the World's Most Luxurious Six-Foot Luggage Parcel. An electrically operated folding tailgate is also on the menu.
[Source: Classic Driver]Coachbuilder Carrozzeria Touring Superleggera to launch Bentley Continental shooting brake in Geneva originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 09 Feb 2010 17:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments - Filed under: Etc., Bentley, Luxury
Tibaldi for Bentley Mulsanne pen - Click above for high-res image gallery
Their pricing might be different (by order of magnitude), and their vehicles might be radically different as well, but Bugatti and Bentley largely cater to the same cadre of elite clientele. The two auto marques - both subsidiaries of the Volkswagen Group and both managed by the same CEO - share a common branding approach as well, so it should hardly come as any great surprise that, following Bugatti's collaboration with Italian pensmiths Ferrari da Varese, Bentley's gone a similar route with Tibaldi.
Fact of the matter is, like the timepiece collaboration with Breitling, Bentley and Tibaldi have been working together for several years already. We reported on one of their previous collaborations a few years ago, and now the Italian pen-maker has released their latest in honor of the new Bentley Mulsanne.
The Tibaldi for Bentley Mulsanne pen series includes roller-balls and fountain pens crafted in sterling silver and 18-karat rose gold. They feature knurled metal grips and wood trim in any of Bentley's three veneers: dark stained vavona, burr oak or burr walnut. With a clip reminiscent of Bentley switchgear and an emblem styled after the car's starter button, you can bet the Mulsanne pens have a feel to them as weighty as the car they're designed to compliment. And just to gild the lily, each comes in a specially crafted wooden box to match. Have a look for yourself in the gallery below and read the details in the press release after the jump.
[Source: Tibaldi]Continue reading Write Hand Redux: Bentley Mulsanne pen by Tibaldi
Write Hand Redux: Bentley Mulsanne pen by Tibaldi originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 06 Feb 2010 09:23:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | Comments - Filed under: Motorsports, Marketing/Advertising, Videos, Bentley, Ford, Porsche, Rolls-Royce, Motorcycle, Russia
The Autoblog Weekender - Click above to find out what you missed
In February's first Weekender, NASCAR already has its Car of Tomorrow and now Indycar is planning its car of 2012. Dallara has designed three sample chassis, and while they might not make IRL any more fun to watch, they could make it far more interesting to look at. In other lands, the Alfabeast is what you get when you cross a 2.5-liter V6 and a hardtail motorcycle, Ford says "No" to manatees and monkeys, Bentley shows you how to make a Mulsanne, the new Porsche Cayenne interior looks hot as cayenne, and did you hear the one about the guy who ate a bowl of chili and crashed into a house? Yeah, neither had we. Follow the jump for all those stories and more...Continue reading Autoblog Weekender: IRL, Making Mulsannes, a Russian Hummer Tractor Thingy, IRL, the Alfabeast ... and more IRL
Autoblog Weekender: IRL, Making Mulsannes, a Russian Hummer Tractor Thingy, IRL, the Alfabeast ... and more IRL originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 05 Feb 2010 21:17:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | Comments - Filed under: Concept Cars, Convertible, Geneva Motor Show, Bentley, Specialty, Design/Style, Luxury
Bentley Continental GTZ by Zagato - Click above for high-res image gallery
If you were enticed by Zagato's take on the Bentley Continental GT (pictured above), rumor has it Carrozzeria Touring Superleggera has a version of its own in the works.
Anticipated to be unveiled at the upcoming Geneva Motor Show in two months' time, Touring's coachbuilt Bentley is slated to be based on the convertible Continental GTC, and could borrow its underpinnings from the upcoming GTC SuperSports.
Like Zagato's Continental GTZ, the second coachbuilt Continental reportedly received support from Crewe. Since its revival, the Carrozzeria gave us such Maserati-based creations as the A8 GCS and Quattroporte Bellagio Fastback, and was recently rumored to be working on a custom Ferrari design as well.
[Source: Autoblog.nl]Carrozzeria Touring reportedly to unveil coachbuilt Bentley Continental GTC in Geneva originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 02 Feb 2010 08:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments - Filed under: Coupe, Bentley, UK, Design/Style, Luxury
Royal College of Art design students work with Bentley - Click above or below for high-res image gallery
Seems like everybody and their cousin wants to design cars. But even with the right training, it can still be tough for an aspiring auto stylist to break into the field. Bentley, however, is giving a handful of transportation design students a crack at working in its design department.
The program is being held in conjunction with the graduate Vehicle Design Course at the Royal College of Art in London. Eighteen students spent the last few months under the tutelage of Crewe's lead exterior designer Raul Pires, with the four top candidates - Marten Wallgren (Sweden), Mikka Heikkinen (Finland), David Seesing (Germany) and Bora Kim (South Korea) - shortlisted for further collaboration.
Each has penned a novel, futuristic take on the Bentley design ethos, and from among them one will be selected for a job in Bentley's design studio. Click on the thumbnails below to view their designs, and follow the jump for details in the press release.
[Source: Bentley]Continue reading RCA design students collaborate with Bentley on the Flying B of the future
RCA design students collaborate with Bentley on the Flying B of the future originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 01 Feb 2010 18:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | Comments - Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Bentley, Reviews, Luxury
2010 Bentley Continental Supersports - Click above for high-res image gallery
In the superluxe world, we're used to this maneuver: add a few horsepower, shave a tenth or two, sew in a few extra threads, name your exclusive new interior color something like "Algerian Beet" and voilà, a 50-percent price premium for three-percent more car. On the surface, the Bentley Continental Supersports is a GTC Speed that has gone on The Biggest Loser, Extreme Makeover, and Alter Eco. But you know what they say about the proof and the pudding, so the question is whether the Supersports is a nameplate special or a genuinely higher evolution of the baller's favorite steed. We spent a day in the wilds of New Jersey and upstate New York, along with a few hours at Monticello Raceway to find out. Ladies and gentlemen, allow us to introduce you to the first Continental you can feel.
Photos by Jonathon Ramsey / Copyright (C)2010 Weblogs, Inc.Continue reading First Drive: Bentley Continental Supersports is a whiter lighter shade of pale awesome
First Drive: Bentley Continental Supersports is a whiter lighter shade of pale awesome originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 27 Jan 2010 11:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | Comments - Filed under: Detroit Auto Show, Convertible, Coupe, Bentley
Bentley Continental Series 51 Continental GTC - Click above for high-res image gallery
Bentley was the only ultra-luxury marque to have a stand-alone display at the Detroit Auto Show and the British brand came strong with its upcoming Mulsanne flagship in the flesh and this special edition Continental to pique our interests. The Continental is already a stunner in its "base" trim, but not everybody is content with an "ordinary" Bentley.
The ultra-exclusive Continental adds a new Series 51 trim for 2010, named after Bentley's first official styling department in the 1950s. Series 51 trim will be available for the entire Continental lineup and offer exclusive exterior design cues and a unique color palette. We're talking three-tone leather with contrasting piping and stitching here, folks. Check the Series 51 box and you'll also get 14-spoke, 20-inch wheels and a Series 51 badge on the front wings.
The new trim, which will be available throughout the Continental lineup, starts at $192,750 for the GT coupe. Click below to peruse our high resolution gallery of the Series 51 Continental GTC and hit the jump to read over the Bentley press release.
Photos by Drew Phillips / Copyright (C)2010 Weblogs, Inc.Continue reading Detroit 2010: Bentley Series 51 Continental GTC
Detroit 2010: Bentley Series 51 Continental GTC originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 12 Jan 2010 12:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | Comments - Filed under: Spy Photos, Convertible, Performance, Bentley, Luxury
Really, it was only a matter of time before spy photos of the Bentley Continental GTC Supersports made the rounds. After all, there was never any doubt that the German-owned maker of high-end luxury cars would eventually cut the top off its latest sportster -- in this case powered by the most powerful production version of the automaker's 6.0-liter W12 powerplant.
For those that like to keep track of such things, this would be the eighth derivative of the Continental platform - the others being the GT coupe, GTC cabrio, Flying Spur sedan, Speed versions of each and the Supersports coupe. If it does indeed see the light of day, expect the GTC Supersports to boast a similar weight reduction as the coupe (243 pounds, although it's sure to gain a few when the top comes off) along with carbon ceramic brakes and the deletion of the rear seats. Oh, and flex-fuel capability... at some point.
[Source: ThumbSnap]Spy Shots: Inevitable Bentley Continental GTC Supersports spotted originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 29 Dec 2009 16:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments - Filed under: Bentley, Design/Style
Zai for Bentley 'Zai Supersports' skis -- Click above for high-res image gallery
Swiss firm Zai makes high-zoot skis. When the company teamed up with Bentley, the result was an even higher-zoot ski kit called Zai Supersports, composed of handmade skis and poles, and a ski bag.
The skis themselves feature a special carbon fiber material called "Zaiìra" on top, with a natural rubber core, chromium-steel-infused carbon fiber for the twisty bits, and Reinforced Thermoplastic Composites to round out your lust for exotic materials. The poles use the ExoGrid tech usually associated with the world of golf clubs.
There will only be 250 pairs made, and because you knew they wouldn't be cheap you won't be surprised by the $9,800 purchase price. Get all the facts in the press release after the jump, and pretty pictures in the high-res gallery below.
[Source: Zai]Continue reading Bentley and Zai launch Supersport skis
Bentley and Zai launch Supersport skis originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 19 Dec 2009 08:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Archive for the 'BENTLEY' Category
Saturday, October 13th, 2007
Filed under: Aftermarket, Tuners, Convertibles, Bentley
German tuning house MTM is creator of the schnellest Audi RTT and the sickness-on-wheels RS4 K540. It follows up those two acts with a tastefully-tuned Bentley called the GTC Birkin Edition. (Sir Henry Ralph Stanley “Tim” Birkin, 3rd Baronet, was one of the original Bentley Boys of the 1920’s.) It is wonderful to see a tuner take an already beautiful car and forgo visually mad modification for jet black understatement.
In fact, the only exterior mod, other than the 21″ Bimoto wheels, is the rear apron and staggered pipes. Frankly, we like those better than the elliptical versions on the standard car. The real fettling has taken place on the engine and suspension. Two kits are available, one that ups the HP from 560 to 635, with a jump in torque to 575 lb-ft. The second kit raises that again to 650 HP and 585 lb-ft. The German oomph will get you to 62 in 4.2 seconds, a 0.6-second improvement over the “basic” Bentley GTC.
MTM has also added a proprietary, stainless steel exhaust that includes a center and end muffler with throttle control. To top it off, the suspension’s been lowered, which always helps even the baddest Bentley boy look that little bit badder. Click through the jump to read the full press release, and check out the gallery of hi-res images below.
[Source: 4 Wheels]
MTM Bentley GTC Birkin Edition
Posted in World Cars, Tuning Cars, Automotive News, BENTLEY | No Comments »
Thursday, June 22nd, 2006
Details info: Alternative names:
Eight/ Mulsane/ Turbo/ Brooklands
(1980 - 1999)
Sales Company:
Available version:
Previous version:
Variation:
Rolls-Royce (United Kingdom) Silver Spirit/ Silver Spur/ Flying Spur
Jankel (United Kingdom) Rolls Royce & Bentley Conversion
Info: Eight, Mulsane, Mulsane S, Turbo R, Turbo S, Brooklands,
Donors:
Rolls-Royce - Silver Spirit/ Silver Spur/ Flying Spur
Posted in BENTLEY | No Comments »
Thursday, June 22nd, 2006
Details info: Alternative names:
Bentley Continental Coupé 2d
Sales Company:
Available version:
Personal Commission T - 6.75 V8 Turbo aut.
R - 6.75 V8 Turbo aut.
T - 6.75 V8 Turbo aut.
Previous version:
Continental
(1991 - 2003)
Variation:
Info:
Although for many years the actual power of a Bentley engine was never declared as anything but “adequate”, we now realise that the T model develops around 420-450bhp, depending on application (greater power in the saloon), which affords it a top speed in the region of 170mph. The Continental is a beautiful design that shocks with its phenomenal turn of speed.
Donors:
Posted in BENTLEY | No Comments »
Thursday, June 22nd, 2006
Details info: Alternative names:
Bentley Azure Cabrio 2d
Azure
(1995 - 2003)
Sales Company:
Available version:
6.75 V8 Turbo aut.
Previous version:
6.75 V8 TwinTurbo aut.
Variation:
Info:
Based on the fractionally smaller platform of the Arnage, the Azure is the ultimate means of travel in places such as Monaco and, unsurprisingly, the Cote d’Azur.
Donors:
Posted in BENTLEY | No Comments »
Wednesday, June 21st, 2006
Details info: Alternative names:
Bentley Arnage L - LWB
Arnage
(1998 - 2004)
Sales Company:
Available version:
RL - 6.75 V8 Turbo aut.
Previous version:
Variation:
VG (United States of America) Shooting Brake
Info:
Fractionally smaller than its predecessor, the Arnage was designed initially to use the same BMW 4.4-litre V8 engine and gearbox as the BMW M5. The V12 BMW engine was reserved for the smoother and less fussy Rolls-Royce model. However, VW invested in bringing the former 6.75-litre V8 up to a standard, where it could pass exhaust emissions legislation. Therefore, it is now the base engine in three states of tune.
Donors:
Posted in BENTLEY | No Comments »
