1975 Bentley Corniche Reviews

The four-seater droptop has a 6.0-litre twin-turbo V12 engine and will cost more than $400,000. The GTC will feature alongside the latest Arnage T with 1000Nm, a Continental Flying Spur and a Diamond Series version of the Continental GT, which has the first carbon ceramic disc brakes used on a Bentley. The GTC will also join a cavalcade in the city on Wednesday. A dozen show treats will be led by a Chrysler 300C in Victoria Police colours and Melbourne Lord Mayor John So will ride in an Aston Martin DB9 Volante. The cavalcade will travel from the Town Hall to Federation Square, starting at noon. Action for the show is building. The Bentleys join an updated Lamborghini Gallardo, and Elfin is also coming, after its sale to Tom Walkinshaw, with a celebration for the company's 50th birthday. "It is great to see Elfin marking its anniversary at the show," motor show director Russ Tyrie of the VACC says. "We also have Porsche confirmed with the facelifted Cayenne, and EDAG is also tweaking a radical Cayenne for the show." Tyrie says the final arrivals will not be confirmed until just before the official opening, partly because of overseas shipping schedules and partly because carmakers work to provide surprises for showgoers. "We are cramped a little bit for space this year," he says. "The new development of the Convention Centre means we don't have as much space in the concourse. Still, we will have about 450 cars in total." This is expected to include newcomers from Suzuki and Honda, which are on the secret list, as well as details of the forthcoming Jeep Wrangler.The show opens at 5pm next Friday and closes at 6pm on March 12. It is open from 10am to 10pm each of the other days.

For then, we could be shipped, in a blink, to a German autobahn with no speed limit or an Italian autostrada where few obey the 150km/h signs.At 110km/h you have only just opened the Bentley’s performance envelope of 411kW of power and 650Nm of torque.Its six-litre W12 engine with twin turbochargers is good for a 0-100km/h time of 4.8secs and a top speed of 312km/h The Continental GT indeed lives up to its name. This is a high-speed cruiser designed to traverse Europe or America in comfort.It would do an equally great job here in Australia, too, if the relatively restrictive speed limits and thirsty fuel consumption failed to faze you.How thirsty? Weighing a hefty 2385kg (about the same as two Mazda MX-5s), the big Bentley returns about 17 litres/100km. But this is of little consequence when you slide behind the wheel, for the interior is an unparalleled fusion of modern style, traditional craftsmanship and Bentley detailing.Fire up the W12 (effectively twoV6s spliced together) and not even a near 2.4 tonnes can smother the acceleration which presses you back into the plush leather seat with serious intent.But the $379,000 (new, plus costs) Continental GT is not just a car built for straight lines. On open, flowing corners, its all-wheel-drive produces grip levels that belie a car of this size. This was borne out tackling the agricultural back roads west of the city.Here was an opportunity to snick the six-speed automatic transmission into Sport and shuffle up and down the gears by flicking the steering wheelmounted shift paddles.The Bentley adjusted without complaint from grand tourer to sports car, but on tighter corners, you were instantly reminded by the law of physics that this was one big car.The GT was up to stopping without fuss, but then it does have the largest brake disc of any production car at 405mm on the front and 335mm at the rear.My only moan about the Bentley was the weight of the driver side door. Opening it on a slight incline required a hurculean effort to get out.But then, this is a car where someone would usually open the door for you. Is it not?

The state's allocation of three $659,000 Lamborghini Murcielago LP640 supercars have all been spoken for.Audi Centre Brisbane dealer principal Greg Willims, who deals with brands such as Audi, Lamborghini, Ferrari, Alfa Romeo and Maserati, said premium car sales were continuing to rocket this year after a successful 2006.Standing in front of a $399,500 pale blue convertible Bentley Continental GTC at the show yesterday, he said Queenslanders last year bought 28 of the stately English marque."This year it will be 36," he said.Mr Willims also expected to sell three Bentley Azures at $650,000 each."Two people have already put in an order from the Gold Coast," he said."In premium cars, interest is evenly divided between Brisbane and the Gold Coast, but in the convertibles there is more interest from the Gold Coast."Audi also yesterday unveiled its first mid-engined supercar, the R8, which will arrive in September, costing between $250,000 and $300,000.Mr Willims said there were already eight orders in Brisbane for the 309kW V8 supercar capable of going from standstill to 100km/h in 4.6 seconds.Audi confirmed there were 34 orders across the nation and 13 from Queensland.The show continues until February 11 in the Brisbane Convention Centre, featuring 311 new cars from 40 manufacturers.

Members of the P1 performance club get the pick of some of the world's hottest and most expensive supercars, including brands such as Ferrari, Aston Martin and Lamborghini. P1 Australia director Peter Dempsey says the club has 12 cars and plans to add one new car for every extra five members."With our collection they can take any car out that suits them," he says. The cars are divided into five categories, the top one featuring the most expensive cars, such as a Ferrari F430 Spider and soon a Scaglietti, an Aston Martin DB9 Volante and Vanquish and a Lamborghini Murcielago.Other cars in the mix include a Bentley Continental GT, a Ferrari F430, Aston Martin V8 Vantage and various Porsches. The lower categories might not be quite as impressive, but they'll still turn heads. A BMW M5 and Z4 M Coupe, a Range Rover Sport and a Lotus Exige S2, add to the list.Dempsey says a Hummer H2 will be next to arrive, dressed with a leather package. He is also expecting the arrival of the Audi R8. But getting to drive your dream cars doesn't come cheap."There's a joining fee of $5000 and then there are three different levels of membership, $27,000, $32,000 or $36,500," Dempsey says.Top-end members have a possible 70 driving days a year, with the cheaper membership offering 50 days a year.The company originated in England six years ago, and was co-founded by former Formula One world champion Damon Hill.After two months of operation, the Sydney branch has 50 members. "In Sydney, we cap it at 150 members," Dempsey says. "That's a reflection of the sizeof commercial property that is available to store the cars."The founding British club has 74 cars, including a Ford GT and an Aerial Atom. But Dempsey says they haven't been able to bring these models, as the Atom isn't road legal in Australia and customs won't allow the GT in as it is a left-hand drive. "(But) we're the only ones doing it with the supercars, brand new cars," he says.And it seems that it's not just the usual suspects, the wealthy bankers, lawyers and financiers, who are getting on board.Dempsey says members come from all walks of life and include a greengrocer and a professional golfer. Doctors, dentists, solicitors and barristers are also taking up the chance to get behind the wheel of some amazing cars.The youngest member is a 22-year-old refrigeration engineer from western Sydney.The club takes care of all insurance, maintenance and storage fees and Dempsey says one of the main benefits is that members don't have to worry about huge depreciation on the vehicles."With high taxation, people understand that they're better off putting half a million dollars in an investment and getting to play the field (with) the cars," he says.And while the majority of those taking up the membership are male, Dempsey says women are also driving them as a memberships include two names as drivers."Often guys show the interest and then bring their wives on board as the second name driver," he says.The cars can be taken out for as little as a day, or it can run into months -- depending on members' wants and needs.Dempsey says the weather often forecasts what vehicles will be popular, with the convertibles a hit on the sunny weekends.A second British branch of the club opened in 2004 in Manchester.The Australian section will expand in March, when a Melbourne club is opened, with Formula One driver Mark Weber in attendance again. And Dempsey says that P1 International is also looking towards expanding into Dubai and Hong Kong.

Michael Schumacher retired with seven world championships, but 007 is up to 21 movies — with six different macho men in the role — and still going hard.During the past quarter-century and in 21 official films, Bond has been the target of more bad guys on wheels than anyone else in cinema history, yet he has always managed to escape without a scratch.And he has often pulled a nifty U-turn on the opposition with some sort of car trickery, from concealed machine guns on a 1960s Aston Martin to an '80s Lotus Esprit that morphed into a submarine — and even a remote-controlled BMW 7 Series in the '90s.Now he's back for the noughties, and doing it again in the remake of Casino Royale, which opened in cinemas just before Christmas. And he's back in an Aston Martin, just like the early days.The hype for the new 007 movie got me thinking not only about Bond's wheelwork in the latest British supercar, but also the dream car of my childhood: a scale model of the Aston Martin DB5 Bond drove in the 1960s.It came with all the Bond gear — revolving number plates, concealed machine guns, tyre-slashers, a bulletproof rear shield and even an ejector seat.In 1965, Corgi released its scale model of the gadget-laden DB5, and by 1968 nearly four million copies had been sold.It remains Corgi's best-known model, and I couldn't afford it.The release of the 21st-century Casino Royale has triggered a lot of talk about 007 and cars and movies.The model-making machine is already rolling again, with scaled-down copies of the DBS and even re-done — but de-gadgeted — replicas of the original DB5. And this time, there was a tiny Aston in my Christmas stocking.It's worth looking at what Bond cameos have done for car companies.BMW experienced plenty of benefit when it signed a multi-movie deal that began with its baby Z3 convertible. The world saw the car first when it was driven on the big screen by Bond. That deal continued with the Z8 convertible and the controversially styled 7, and even a BMW motorcycle.But then Britain bounced back for the last of Pierce Brosnan's appearances as Bond, when he slid back into an Aston and the baddies strapped into a rocket-equipped Jaguar.This time around, Agent 007 is driving a gorgeous new DBS, and there's even a special appearance by an original DB5.A poll has been conducted for the television series Top Gear on the most popular car chase in Bond movie history. And the winner is ... no, not the Aston. Not a Jaguar, nor the Lotus, nor even one of the BMWs.First choice was a crazy little Citroen 2CV that suffered all sorts of punishment — including being cut in half — when it was driven by Roger Moore in the 1981 film For Your Eyes Only. The four-wheeled co-stars:Dr No (1962): Sunbeam Alpine, Chevrolet Bel AirconvertibleFrom Russia With Love (1963): Bentley Mark IVGoldfinger (1964): Aston Martin DB5, Rolls-Royce, Mercedes 190SL, Lincoln Continental, Ford Mustang convertible, Rolls-Royce Phantom IIIThunderball (1965): Aston Martin DB5, Ford Mustang convertible, BSA Lightning motorcycle, gyrocopter1967 You Only Live Twice: Toyota 2000 GT, BMW CSOn Her Majesty's Secret Service (1969): Aston Martin DBS, Mercury Cougar, Bentley S2 Continental, Rolls-Royce CornicheDiamonds Are Forever (1971): Ford Mustang Mach 1, Triumph Stag, moon buggyLive And Let Die (1973): double-decker London bus, Chevrolet Impala convertible, MiniMokeThe Man With The Golden Gun (1974): AMC Hornet and Matador, Rolls-Royce Silver ShadowThe Spy Who Loved Me (1977): Lotus Esprit, Wetbike concept, Ford Cortina Ghia, Mini MokeMoonraker (1979): Bentley Mark IV, Rolls-Royce SilverWraithFor Your Eyes Only (1981): Citroen 2CV, Lotus Esprit Turbo, Rolls-Royce Silver WraithOctopussy (1983): Mercedes-Benz 250 SE, BMW 5 Series, Alfa Romeo GTVA View To A Kill (1985): Renault taxi, Ford LTD, Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud II, Chevrolet Corvette C4The Living Daylights (1987): Aston Martin DBS and V8 Vantage, Audi 200 QuattroLicence To Kill (1989): Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow, Kenworth petrol tankerGoldenEye (1995): BMW Z3, Aston Martin DB5, Russian tank, Ferrari 355Tomorrow Never Dies (1997): Aston Martin DB5, BMW 750iL, BMW R1200C motorcycleThe World Is Not Enough (1999): BMW Z8, Rolls-Royce Silver ShadowDie Another Day (2002): Aston Martin Vanquish, Jaguar XKR, Ford Thunderbird convertibleCasino Royale (2006): Aston Martin DBS and DB5, Jaguar E-type roadster, Fiat Panda 4x4, Ford Transit, Ford Mondeo

Even a few decades ago, the sight of a car saleswoman may have sent male buyers spinning on their heels.Now, Belinda Woodward is one of Audi Australia's best sales people.Kim Trevena is the business manager for Audi Centre Brisbane and Sue Young is in charge of public relations and marketing for Bentley, Ferrari and Maserati and also assists with the sales of Bentleys.Saleswomen are not uncommon in most dealerships and this emergence is being mirrored by buyers, with more women taking the dominant role in buying a car, be it for the family or themselves.Women are doing the research, picking the vehicle and negotiating the price.Women are not afraid to buy a car for themselves and they are enjoying it.Audi Centre Brisbane, Alfa Romeo Brisbane, Euromarque; Ferrari, Maserati and Bentley principle Greg Willims said when it comes to buying "things of the heart", buyers prefer dealing with women."If you were going to buy a house today, what is the probability you would deal with a female sales assistant? Very high," he said."People warm to a female salesperson. They feel comfortable and at ease with them."It's a bit unnerving, females are here in what was in historically a male dominated business and they know equally about the motor cars and the features as any male would."At Willim's dealership, two of the four service advisers and 20 per cent of salespeople are female."In finance, the sale of finance and insurance, it's the other way around. All three who sell finance and insurance are female," he said.Willims said women were involved in the decision process of buying cars as much as men."We see a large number of professional women and young women coming through and the decision is theirs," he said."Women make a very good, rational and responsible decision in what they buy."I believe women look for style, they like to see a car that suits their look."They examine carefully the economy of operation and service back-up. They like to know when they come to service time they will be looked after very well."Also they choose the colour. Performance isn't as important, but they do look responsibly to a car that suits; lifestyle, functionality, design, economy, ease of operation, reliability and functionality."Brisbane Denmac Ford's managing director Chris Allen said women are becoming "more the primary buyer" and admits this is "a bit of a change"."The demographic of a husband and wife and the kids coming in to buy the car is not necessarily how we live our lives and that is being reflected in how we buy cars," he said."A lot of surveys say many women are involved in the decision and we are seeing a lot of women there negotiating the transaction."Many women come in without a partner or father figure. It's normal to see women coming in and picking out a car. They seem very well informed, they have done more formal research."A lot of men are more naturally aware of all the different models and the pricing because they seem to be more car oriented. A lot of the women do more formal research through the internet or magazines."Allen said Denmac Ford receives more inquiries from women for SUV vehicles than men."I think in most cases they are the primary driver (of SUVs). They are doing the hard miles."Pickles Auctions manager Paul Cottrell said five years ago one woman would buy a car at most auctions.Today, he sees about three to five."It's probably due to the financial status of women. There are more women in the workforce with more disposable income and taking a greater responsibility in the choice of the family car. Women have more of a say now," he said.The RACQ's Jim Kershaw said any buyer can benefit from having an older person to help with the purchase of a car."If you have done your homework, you will be OK. We are approached equally by both sexes for help with buying cars."Women are earning better pay now and they want wheels. Our society is changing."

If you think the car looks good on paper, in reality it absolutely screams luxury, wealth, elegance and style. At $399,500 you wouldn't expect anything less.The gorgeous sky-blue convertible was on hand for the Australian launch last week and you can't help but feel your confidence level rise as you slip into the cream pure leather interior and get comfy in this dream car. Let's cut to the chase, it's definitely a car you can't help but show off in peak-hour traffic.And that I did.With the roof down, my hair flying uncontrollably, and I mean in the Bridget Jones sense, not an attractive shampoo commercial way, I'm reasonably sure I made a lasting impression on Sydney roads.OK, so I didn't do much to raise my cool status, but the Bentley surely did.With its long body, smooth surfaces and stunning looks, it was love at first sight and not just for me behind the wheel. This attention magnet drew glances from all angles.The Continental GTC is Bentley's soft-top 2+2 convertible. And it is so much more than just looks. She has brains, beauty and power as well. With a six-litre, W12 twin-turbocharged engine, you won't be short on excitement. And the goosebumps creeping on the top of your skin prove it. It generates a massive 411kW at 6100rpm and 650Nm at a low 1600rpm and despite the extra 110kg it carries over the Continental GT coupe, the convertible still races from 0-100km in 5.1 seconds. To put it simply, the 2495kg GTC is a lot of fun to drive.There were roads to conquer, and its weight was not a hindrance. With its tight grip, smooth sailing around corners and the new rear suspension giving a refined yet sporty performance, the soft top is pure luxury — heaven on wheels.The three-layer fold-away roof takes just 25 seconds to disappear and it can do the job while travelling at up to 30km per hour. And there's no need to worry, it has plenty of space in the boot for golf clubs or shopping bags or hey, why not splurge on the pricey, but must-have Bentley matching luggage? It's only a couple of grand, or more, extra.The inside complements the exterior, with its handcrafted wood, leather and polished metals and the air ventilation system has old-fashioned push-pull levers. A nice touch.While the GTC may have been the trendy stunner, it was nicely balanced out with a ride in the more conservative, elegant 2007 Arnage T model. Let me get something straight, conservative by no way indicates less, as is evident from the price.It is rather a sophisticated and mature performer. Its 6.75-litre, V8 twin turbo engine pumps out 372kW and, wait for it, an enormous 1000Nm of torque.Effortless is really the best way of describing this $545,000 car. Royalty is the first thing that pops into your mind and this time, I mean the Buckingham Palace kind.The Arnage T has lavish leather seats, a solid, wide stance on the road, a high seating position, and glides with ease. On narrow roads around Kuring-gai Chase National Park, you really notice the grandeur of the vehicle, but mixed in with busy Sydney roads, the excellent driving dynamics take over and you barely notice its large dimensions.Silver and black were the main colours adorning the interior, adding to the classy character of the model.The large, trademark Bentley grille on the front exudes dominance and contributes to the powerful stance of the Arnage. A smaller, similar grille sits on the GTC.Bentley sells about 100 vehicles overall in Australia a year, so there won't be too many of these new models on our roads.The combined cost of the two cars I drove was nearly one million dollars. So you can see why they are so elite.Putting that into perspective, we're talking houses, a yacht, a big holiday ... let's just say I don't see these Bentleys as being a permanent part of my future. But, hey, a girl can dream and for one afternoon, I even got to pretend.

Mention that magic number, and it's a cinch the majority will mentally conjure some form of real estate: an over-restored box with marginal views of the big blue, or maybe a McMansion in Nouveau Moneyville.Last Tuesday lunchtime at Rose Bay (where a million bucks might just get you an inside toilet), there was a rather more eloquent demonstration of affluence to be ogled.Having been steered down from Palm Beach - where lots of zeroes on the realtor's price tag are de rigueur - were two examples of what remains one of the final frontiers of elite auto ownership.A 2007 model Bentley Arnage and a Continental GTC befitted a backdrop of exclusive waterfront, swooping seaplanes and $50 main courses.That said, it's sad that, for many who acquisitively aspire to such trappings, Bentleys are mere status symbols. A bit like monstrously overpowered Hermes handbags.An all-too-brief shared drive in each, however, confirmed to this Bentley neophyte that there's much more to the fabled marque than hand crafted wood panelling and a smug label.If the $539,000 tag on the Arnage T (unoptioned and sans government charges and dealer delivery, mark you) isn't enough to induce caution when pulling away from Barrenjoeys, the other-wordly feel of the thing surely is.Amid a field of silver knobs and buttons and luxury accoutrements, the driving position is aptly high and mighty, almost in keeping with an SUV.As is the sheer heft of the mega-luxury conveyance as it wafts on the comfort setting of its air suspension.Yet, as initial jitters are overcome and the setting switched to sport, the Arnage T's 2585kg kerb weight scarcely troubles smart progress, even through the 35km/h bends of the Kuringgai Chase National Park.The last car I drove through here was an Audi TT. The Arnage is, in its rarefied way, more fun.Turn-in is amazingly adroit, utterly belying expectation.The only discernable noise comes from its 6.8-litre, twin turbo V8, which growls with the sort of refined menace that only 875Nm can command.As with the Continental GTC - the outrageously attractive convertible version of the GT coupe - the Arnage now benefits from a six-speed automatic transmission with sport and manual modes.One blushes at having so carelessly used the word "seamless" to describe other six-cog autos - the Bentleys define it.The roofless Continental, a mere snip at $399,500, is about as far departed from the Arnage as two cars boasting the same badge could possibly be.With 411kW and 650Nm from its six-litre twin turbo W12, the all-paw droptop is possibly the more impressive. That its on road dynamism belies its near 2.5-tonne kerb weight proves the Arnage is no fluke.Our drive comprised but the merest taste from this impossibly rich table, but enough could be discerned of the GTC to see that the lack of supportive pillars represents no problem. Indeed, the torsional rigidity achieved here is a miracle of cross membering..Perhaps more pertinently, as we whiled through Wiley Park to the M5 en route to the Bentley's natural habitat of the eastern suburbs, there was scarcely a head unturned by the azure GTC, its blindingly blonde upholstery and slightly unfortunate blue leather-trimmed steering wheel and dash exposed to the summer sun.Some may be wondering by this point what possible use there is in filling a page with such auto exotica, given that few of us could so much as fill the Arnage's 100-litre tank without taking a second mortgage.Well, if you have the least interest in cars beyond the one that fills your garage, be glad there remain things so uncompromised as these Bentleys.There are no priced-down versions with lesser spec. There'sno under-powered model with a smaller engine. There's no diesel. And, praise heaven, there's no populist SUV.They are what they unapologetically and utterly are. And for that, car-lovers can be grateful.

And the orders and interest in prestige and luxury brands has continued with stand managers claiming an increase in figures, despite a slight decline in overall attendance.The Mercedes SL500 was bought by a customer who was part of a group of VIP guests and has since sold four more models."We're generally generating around 45 to 50 leads of interest every single day during the motor show," Mercedes Benz spokesman Peter Fadeyev said.The new Bentley GT Continental Convertible has also generated a lot of interest with its first appearance at the Darling Harbour event.Bentley spokesman David Jackson said up to six orders have already been taken for the $400,000 car."We generate a huge proportion of enquiries from the motor show and we sell a lot of cars as a result of it," he said yesterday.Two Ferrari 599 GTBs, worth $700,000 each, have been sold while on display in Australia for the first time.Audi spokeswoman Anna Burgdorf said there has been a lot of interest in its R8, with 10 strong leads and major interest in the much-anticipated new TT model.BMW has already sold two cars from its stand and has generated a lot of interest in the coupes and M6. What's on today* The third nightly fashion parade features Sydney designer Nicola Finetti, noted for high fashion and cocktail wear. There will be two shows at the Saab stand at 6.30pm and 7.30pm.* When: 10am-10pm* Where: Darling Harbour Exhibition Centre* Tickets: Adults $17, 5-16 $10.50, under 5 free, family (2 adults and 3 children) $42* Follow the show online at the official Australian Motor Show website

Alfa Romeo stepped up straight after the Peugeot unveiling of a woman, I mean a car. A 207 apparently.