USA - Mulsanne Extended Wheelbase and Flying Spur V8 S make US show debuts at Monterey Auto Week.

• Mulsanne Extended Wheelbase and Flying Spur V8 S make US show debuts at Monterey Auto Week
• Luxurious saloons joined by most powerful production Bentley ever – the Continental GT Speed Black Edition
• Bentayga showcases new luxury lifestyle feature, towing a Bowlus Road Chief – Limited Edition Lithium+

The most luxurious Bentley model ever, – the Mulsanne Extended Wheelbase, makes its US debut at the Monterey Auto Week.

The pinnacle luxury limousine is designed for those who prefer to be driven, and provides a first class air-travel experience for the road. The Mulsanne Extended Wheelbase will be appearing at the Quail: A Motorsports Gathering on Friday 19 August, and will also be in position on the Concept Lawn at The Lodge on Sunday 21 August.

The newly launched Flying Spur V8 S also makes its US debut at Pebble Beach. Taking its place between the Flying Spur V8 and flagship W12 in the range, the V8 S is tuned for power and performance, with increased engine output and revised suspension offering a more focused, precise driving experience.

The most powerful production Bentley ever, the Continental GT Speed Black Edition, will also be in attendance throughout the event. The revised Continental GT Speed raises the bar even further in terms of exclusivity and performance, delivering a top speed of 206 mph (331 km/h) and even more power and torque.

Drawing a Luxury Lifestyle

For the first time in Bentley’s 97-year history a tow bar has been created as a lifestyle option for the Bentayga and will be in action at Monterey Auto Week.

A Bentayga will ‘draw’ a Bowlus Road Chief to Turn 10 at the Laguna Seca circuit, where the Bentayga-Bowlus tandem will be the feature of a brand display. Bowlus Road Chief is a California-based company which specializes in hand-crafted, light-weight luxury trailers.

The Bentayga will also be partnered with the Bowlus Road Chief – Limited Edition Lithium+ trailer at the Quail and at the British brand’s Pebble Beach Signature Party on Saturday night.

Michael Winkler, President and CEO, Bentley Motors, Inc. said: “The Monterey Auto Week always sees a remarkable gathering of Bentley customers and enthusiasts, and is a great occasion to celebrate the past and present of this iconic brand. We are fast approaching our centenary in 2019, and our newest vehicles on display at Pebble Beach this year point to an extraordinary future.”

Heritage on Display at Prestigious Auctions

Bentley’s illustrious heritage will be on display during the various auctions at Pebble Beach and on the lawn at the Concours d’Elegance.

Several auctions held during the event feature vintage Bentley vehicles, including two with pre-auction estimates reaching more than $1.3 million

RM Sotheby’s Auctions

• 1926 Bentley 3-4½-Litre Tourer; in the style of Vanden Plas, built in the style of ‘Old Mother Gun’ on the Bentley 3-Litre chassis number 911. Pre-auction estimate: $600,000 - $750,000.
• 1932 Bentley 8-Litre Tourer by Vanden Plas; this example was the eighth from last 8-Litre built, and one of just 35 on the 12-foot ‘Short Chassis’. Pre-auction estimate: $2,500,000 - $3,000,000.
• 1939 Bentley 4¼-Litre Sports Coupe ‘Honeymoon Express’ by Park Ward; claimed a third in class at Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance in 2015. Pre-auction estimate: $750,000 - $900,000.
• 1954 Bentley R-Type Continental Fastback Sports Saloon by H.J. Mulliner; this is a rare factory left-hand-drive, automatic-gearbox example. Pre-auction estimate: $1,300,000 - $1,700,000.

Gooding & Company

• 1927 Bentley 3-Litre Speed Model Sports Tourer; a Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance class winner in 2001. Pre-auction estimate: $650,000 - $800,000.

Russo and Steele

• 1965 Bentley Exhibition Chassis Club Racer; chassis #2 S.S.S. C-2, a conversion from prototype chassis to a finished, alloy-bodied race car.

GOODWOOD - Bentley to showcase it's first SUV, the Continental GT3 race car, and a stunning Blower 4.5 Litre.

The GT Speed was unveiled in early 2016 with the handcrafted Bentley raising the benchmark for bespoke interior quality and unparalleled performance and power. The new Continental GT Speed is the fastest-ever Bentley produced, reaching speeds of 206mph.

Lining up alongside the GT Speed is Bentley’s first ever production SUV, the Bentayga. 

Built in Britain, the Bentayga interior and all-new Bentley W12 petrol engine bring traditional Bentley comfort and performance to the luxury SUV class.

Completing the trio of UK debuts at Festival of Speed is the Flying Spur V8 S. The most refined V8 performance sedan in the world showcases Bentley’s trademark comfort and dynamics, delivering effortless driveability with enhanced engine performance and intuitive in-car technology.

Bentley will showcase several legendary models on Goodwood’s famous hill climb, with the iconic Team Blower Le Mans 24 hours car from 1928 sure to thrill the crowds. Other dynamic appearances include:

• The Bentayga driven by Bentley Brand Ambassador, Derek Bell
• The GT3 race car driven by Bentley Boy, David Brabham
• The luxurious new Flying Spur V8 S

The Ultra luxurious Bentley Bentayga achieves the SUV of The Year from Robb's Report Best Of The Best 2016.

• Bentayga receives top honours from leading luxury title
• Crewe-built SUV combines speed, performance and craftsmanship
• Creation of new ultra-luxury segment recognized by Robb Report

Bentley Motors is today announcing that the new Bentayga has been named SUV of the Year by Robb Report.

As part of its annual Best of the Best Awards, Robb Report unveiled its list of hotly anticipated products among the luxury sector, with the Bentayga taking top honours in the guide to the world’s finest automobiles.

“This outstanding acknowledgement from Robb Report is a testament to the continued momentum of the Bentayga,” said Michael Winkler, President and CEO of Bentley Motors Inc. 

“The Bentayga has created a new category of SUV that redefines the luxury category and offers a breadth of performance, design and technological abilities. This go-anywhere vehicle is changing what it means to drive an SUV.”

In high demand since launch, the Bentayga has attracted new customers to the Bentley brand from around the world, offering a true Bentley driving experience and showcasing technological innovation, luxury features and a powerful all-new W12 engine.

Robb Report’s editor-in-chief, Brett Anderson, added: “Choosing among the most exceptional products, services, designs, and destinations to be found anywhere in the world is certainly no mean task for the editorial staff. 

The process began a year ago, and in the end our final decisions are guided not only by our obsessive passion for absolute quality – that’s a given – but also by the people, places and creations that speak to our imaginations in a language uniquely their own.”

TMW - The New Bentley Coupe and the Grand Mulsanne, which if either will be produced? or maybe both !

The all new Bentley that made it's debut last year was a tentative preview of what possibly could emerge after the launch of the Bentayga, well, now that car has been launched and we wonder with bated breath what Bentley has up it's sleeve for the next all new model.

The EXP 10 Speed 6 Concept was slightly criticised for being too "Aston" like, but in my opinion that is not a problem, Aston makes some of the most beautiful cars in the world, so for Bentley to have a few design cues that mimic, loosely, the Aston, this can only be seen as a positive point.

CEO Wolfgang Duerheimer has stated "We are readying the concept for decision" and that "It would come as a two-door coupe and a roadster as well, and would be launched after the next continental", the new Conti is pencilled in for a launch of 2017, so the new Bentley could make a preview slightly after that launch, and on sale late 2018.

However, Bentley is in a quandary, they have Four models currently, The Continental, The Flying Spur, The Bentayga and Mulsanne, so space is slightly limited at the Crewe facility, and yet they have two models that are fighting it out between themselves for full scale production, the EXP and the Mulsanne based convertible, or the Grand Convertible as it is currently being named.

The Mulsanne will gain a convertible on it's next generation but thats not for upwards of five years, so, would it be worth the investment to have it now, against the new coupe that would slot below the Continental, and be a rather large seller, and with it a big income earner, no brainer, or is it !

Mulliner is capable of building the Grand Convertible, freeing up space at Crewe, they could build 20-30 units at a price that would make even Roman Abramovich wince, but it would be so rare and so wanted by those with the wedge to afford it, that it would make financial sense, and the profits from this car could go someway to productionise the new car, so, a no brainer again, maybe !

The only downpoint to the Mulsanne is that the old beast of an engine that can trace it's lieage back to the 1950's will no longer be usable, and will be replaced by the W12 unit, which Bentley is now in sole control of, and will build engines for all the VW Group that will require this stonking power plant, but the old girl will not be the same, it's like giving your nan a new heart, you know she is just as good, if not better, but she is not the same, this engine, like the original Mini and the Defender are icons of motoring past that lived way past their sell by date, but we clung on to them until the last possible second, and for Bentley the time is running out.

JON MOWER

USA - Bentley Motors unveils four new revised models, the GT Speed and Black Edition, in both coupe & Convertible.

• Debut of the most powerful Bentley models ever offered
• Four revised models for 2017 MY
• US pricing starts at $240,300 MSRP

Bentley Motors unveiled the most powerful Bentley vehicles ever offered for sale here this week during an exclusive event in New York City. These four revised models to the Bentley Continental line up are the 2017 model year GT Speed, GT Speed Convertible, the GT Speed Black Edition and the GT Speed Convertible Black Edition.

These GT Speed models can reach a top speed of 206 mph. The vehicle is propelled by the iconic 6.0-litre twin-turbocharged W12 engine. 

The W12 produces 642 PS, up from 635 PS, while twisting force is raised to 840 Nm, a 20 Nm increase. Continuous maximum torque delivery is available from 2,000 to 5,000 rpm. The GT Speed is capable of sprinting from 0-60 mph in just 3.9 seconds (0-100 km/h in 4.1 secs).

Bentley dealers across the US are taking orders now with deliveries beginning this summer. Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Pricing (MSRP) for the GT Speed models starts at $240,300, including/not including destination, taxes, etc. MSRP for each model is:

• GT Speed: $240,300
• GT Speed Black Edition: $253,235
• GT Speed Convertible: $264,300
• GT Speed Convertible: Black Edition: $277,235

AUTOCAR AWARDS - The Bentley Bentayga takes the Game Changer award, & this is one big change for the brand.

• Bentley’s sector-defining Bentayga recognised for its unique combination of luxury, performance and versatility
• ‘Game Changer’ award marks new SUV out as unique in the automotive world
• “The only, and by definition, best luxury 4x4”, according to Autocar

Autocar magazine has recognised the Bentley Bentayga as a defining moment in the automotive world, awarding Crewe’s latest model the Game Changer Award.

The accolade, which honours cars for setting new standards and defying convention, was bestowed on the Bentayga due to its unique combination of luxury and go-anywhere ability.

Autocar Editor, Jim Holder, said: “The Bentayga proves that luxury, performance and SUV versatility can go hand in hand. It is the only, and by definition, the best luxury 4x4 and it would take an impressive car to beat it.”

Wolfgang Dürheimer, chairman and chief executive of Bentley Motors, said: “From day one, we made a commitment to create an extraordinary new Bentley, with no compromises.  The Bentayga delivers a genuine Bentley driving experience in any environment and this award recognises the dedication and skill we have at our headquarters in Crewe.”

Designed, engineered and built in Crewe, the sector-defining Bentayga provides effortless Bentley performance, unrestrained by climate or terrain. It combines ultimate luxury with sporting ability, demonstrating its unique capabilities both on and off road. 

Holder continued: “Bentayga’s launch is a testament to the visionary conviction of the men and women at the head of the company who are now reaping the rewards of bulging order books.”

Bentley Follows Rolls Royce with their version of the "Black Edition", but they do it far FAR better.

• Continental GT Speed increases power and torque
• Bold new Black Edition joins GT family
• New and unique styling cues handcrafted to perfection at Bentley’s Crewe factory

Bentley unveils today the revised Continental GT Speed, raising the bar even further in terms of exclusivity and performance. The fastest production Bentley ever, with a top speed of 206 mph (331 km/h), now delivers even more power and torque, and a striking new Black Edition model joins the Speed family.

Engineers at Bentley in Crewe have developed even more muscle from the Continental’s iconic 6.0-litre twin-turbocharged W12 engine. 

The GT Speed now produces 642 PS - up from 635 PS - and 20 Nm of extra torque, bringing its total to a forceful 840 Nm. 

This additional torque is applied through the entire rev range via careful reoptimisation of boost control, raising the Grand Tourer’s renowned “torque plateau” of continuous maximum torque delivery from 2,000-5,000 rpm, and bringing even greater acceleration performance. As a result, the 0-60 mph sprint time has dropped to just 3.9 seconds (0-100 km/h in 4.1 secs).

Bentley is also introducing the Continental GT Speed Black Edition which celebrates the rich and striking depth of the GT’s sporting character. 

Available as both coupe and convertible bodystyles, the customers’ choice of body colour is complimented by a high gloss black finish to the exterior brightware, including the window openings and lamp bezels. All-black 21” five-spoke directional wheels cover distinctive brake calipers, which can be specified in red or black finishes.

To add a further unique and striking twist, the Black Edition also features contrast colours to the front splitter, side skirts and rear diffuser in four different shades: Hallmark, Beluga, St James’ Red and a new shade, Cyber Yellow. Customers can also choose to colour-match the door mirrors as a final exterior accent.

Inside, the mix of dark tones and vivid highlights continues. Carbon fibre adorns the fascia, centre and roof consoles to create  a dark opulent ambiance while a dedicated Black Edition colour split sees the seats and centre console bordered by contrasting leather, available in Porpoise, Beluga, Pillar Box Red or new Cyber Yellow to match the exterior styling accents. Corresponding contrast stitching accentuates the diamond quilting of the doors and Mulliner GT Design seats.

Paul Jones, Product Line Director for Continental GT, comments: “We have developed the GT Speed Black Edition to meet demand from customers for a model in the Continental line that offers both increased sporting capabilities and instantly recognisable styling cues. The Black Edition has a subtle but purposeful look that is backed up by exceptional performance.”

It takes 110 hours to handcraft each and every Continental GT at the Bentley factory in Crewe, Cheshire. The upgraded W12 engine applied to all Continental GT Speed models is entirely assembled by 30 dedicated Bentley colleagues over 12½ hours. 

Meanwhile, the sumptuous and technically complex unique interiors are handcrafted by the experts in Bentley’s Leather and Trim workshop. Each hide is carefully checked by hand and eye before being stitched, shaped and finished entirely by hand, rivalling the quality of the finest furniture and precise tolerances of jewellery and watch craftsmanship.

The new GT Speed and GT Speed Black Edition models are available to order now, with customer deliveries this summer.