Bentley S2 Reviews

Like the latter, however, the four door is due for a thorough facelift......copping an array of new details and accents and a new (cough, splutter) “entry-level” variant with Audi's twin-turbo V8 engine to sit beneath the blown W12.

British luxury brand Bentley is known for expensive handmade cars just about large enough to sleep in. So it’s no stretch to see them teaming with New York’s landmark St Regis hotel for an ultra-prestige suite. The 108-year-old hotel built by John Jacob Astor IV – who went down with the Titanic – already has several special suites at the kind of eye-watering tariffs only shrugged off by royalty and A+ list celebrity. The Tiffany, Dior and Orient Suites will set you back just short of $10,000 per night, and join them this month will be the Bentley Suite, designed in collaboration with the British marque. The 158sq-metre suite – roughly three times the size of your average small flat – will “be outfitted in the defining accents of the luxury automotive brand” according to the Bentley announcement. That means the signature burled wood of the Bentley dashboard has been put to service for a king-sized sleigh bed, while the floors are covered in black leather tiles. The suite comes with a complimentary car: a $662,857 Bentley Mulsanne for your personal use, but only within a 10-block radius of the Manhattan hotel. That might sound a bit limited, but New York blocks are massive, and the hotel probably expects the Mulsanne to return from forays with its massive boot crammed with high-end shopping bags.

The car valued at just over $1 million Australian dollars was unveiled to mark at the gala opening of one of the world's largest Bentley dealerships in Beijing. Designed by the craftsmen and women of Bentley's Mulliner division, the creators of the State Limousine presented to Queen Elizabeth II in 2002, just 60 examples of the Mulsanne Diamond Jubilee Edition have been created with each car representing a year of Her Majesty's reign. Most of these cars are expected to find home in China. These very special Bentleys are distinguished by a range of exquisite, handcrafted features paying tribute to the Jubilee. These include bespoke embroidery to all four headrests using gold stitching, veneered picnic tables in the rear cabin decorated with a gold overlay depicting a royal carriage used for great occasions of state as well as luxurious, hide cushions featuring the same motif. Two beautiful, highly-polished stainless steel treadplate plaques featuring the famous `Bentley Mulliner, England' script and `Diamond Jubilee Edition' have also been commissioned for these Mulsanne models.  

A REGAL 1930 Bentley four-litre saloon that had spent most of its life in NSW is heading overseas after selling for $462,000 at Shannons' auction in Sydney last week. Still wearing its original Freestone & Webb fabric coachwork, the Bentley was pursued by a number of bidders and this developed into a telephone duel between two overseas enthusiasts. It sold for more than $100,000 above its pre-sale estimate. The Bentley came from the estate of the late sewing machine importer Alan Mingaye, from Mosman, who found the car lying partially disassembled under a tree in Turramurra in 1957. It received a full body-off-chassis restoration in 1980, but because of Mingaye's ill health, had not been driven regularly since 1988. Another auction highlight was a 1971 Chrysler Valiant VH Charger E38 R/T coupe finished in trademark hot mustard, selling for $75,000. The Charger was fully restored three years ago and is believed to be correct in all details, including its 208kW straight-six engine, big fuel tank and a rare optional two-spoke steering wheel. A 1970 early-build Holden LC Torana GTR XU-1 finished in yellow dolly was chased by four floor and phone bidders before selling well above its pre-sale estimate for $71,000. The Torana had recently had a bare metal restoration after 23 years in storage and had travelled only 93,600 miles, just 1500 of them after its restoration. A trophy-winning 1884 HDT Commodore Group 3 sold for $38,450 and a 1977 Holden HX Kingswood Deluxe sedan fetched $10,000.  Also a red 1971 Jaguar E-Type Series 3 V12 Roadster in restored condition sold for $76,000, a right-hand drive 1929 Buick ``6 Wheel Equipped'' Roadster sold for $52,500, a 1989 French Racing Blue Morgan 4/4 four-seater Roadster sold for $45,000 and a right-hand drive 1988 Citroen 2CV6 Dolly sold for $18,500.  

The Bentley GT is an imposing machine with long and broad and muscled body, W12 up front for spirited touring and premium interior for comfort. Customers wanted more of the same, wanted the same character of the first GT from 2003 with a few tweaks. Customers wanted the two-door car to move forward in style and technology without diverting from the heritage drive.So the Bentley crew drew up a new body, a little wider and cleaner with sharper creases, stiffened the front end, revised some mechanicals and found a little more cabin room for the four-seater. The result remains one of the grandest of tourers, a car of style and substance with similar lines and performance to the first of these Continental GTs, Bentley's most successful car series to date. From 1919 to 2003 the British marque sold 16,000 cars. Worldwide the GT - in coupe, convertible and supersport styles - has sold 23,000 since 2003; around 250 of those in Australia. The new GT is 'an evolution of the revolution', carrying on that successful relaunch - the renaissance of the brand - that these first GTs brought to the Volkswagen-owned Bentley.VALUEAt $405,000 the Bentley Continental GT is out there in a paddock of some mighty exotic machinery. It carries individual style, luxurious interior and excellent engineering; as do all in this bracket. The GT does not carry some of those techno driver aids - lane assist for instance - of many in this class. Bentley boys and girls are 'goers not showers' we're told; they like to look after their own driving. Value here is in the seat of the pants, in the distinctive style and engineering. It is said Bentleys' resale values outstrip those for the likes of Mercedes-Benz and BMW at about 80 per cent for a five-year old GT.TECHNOLOGYThe twin turbocharged W12 engine now produces more power (423kW) and torque (700Nm), will run an E85 ethanol fuel mix and can push the GT to 318km/h. A 4 litre V8 option, arriving in late 2011, aims to reduce C02 emissions by 40 per cent.All-wheel drive is now split 40:60 where the previous car was 50:50 and the six-speed auto has been revised and strengthened. There's stability control and a console-mounted switch for four suspension settings.DESIGNIt took three and a half years to remake this bolder GT inside and out. Key to new lines was 'super forming', a panel-making process which allows those sharp creases Bentleys once had when bodies were hand-hammered, profiles lost with factory tooling. It also allowed designers to dispense with some lines, in particular shut-lines on front guards.For a more dynamic, wider style, there's an extra 40mm in width, an 'eyebrow' line over the front guards, higher waistline, plus more upright grille and boot lid. There's a crease running from over the front wheels (reminiscent of the 1954 R Type)  to sculpted haunches. Simpler design lines and "Bentliness" are carried inside, witness the oval brake pedal with big B imprinted. Moving the seat belt from the front seats to the body saved 46mm rear seat space and 25kg; more sculpted door trim allowed more stowage.  SAFETYThe Bentley is stacked with airbags, front for driver and passenger plus individual side bags for all passengers and a knee airbag for the driver. All-wheel drive and well-balanced chassis, great brakes, continuous damping control all make for first-class primary safety. DRIVINGThe waft of the W12 exhaust behind, a clear alpine road ahead and the GT is in its element. Driver and passengers cosseted in a lake of leather-clad luxury.Left to its own devices and D for drive, the coupe moves off at more than reasonable pace, aided and abetted by 700Nm arriving at a low 1700rpm. Visibility front, side and rear is good, the car is always quiet and confident though some tyre noise may intrude on coarse chip surfaces.But shift into S mode, start using those steering wheel paddles behind the steering wheel for changes into and out of turns, and the Bentley delivers more. Sharper responses and a smooth, moon-shot linear rush to the next turn. Best of the experience are those smart downshifts, electronics allowing engine blips and sublime responses.Big and ventilated disc brakes provide great feel and stopping power, speed-sensitive steering is docile around town and sharper as speed rises while suspension would appear best left one or two spots north of the comfort setting.But while this 2011 GT may be 65kg lighter than its predecessor there's still 2320kg and almost 5mx2m of machine to shift from corner to corner on tight mountain roads. Important here to provide a little throttle to help the front end combat understeer. It is, at the end of the day, grand tourer in the best traditions of the genre.VERDICT An every day supercarBentley Continental GTPrice: $405,000Resale: 82 per cent over five yearsSafety: Seven airbagsEngine: 6 litre, twin turbo W12: 423kW @ 6000rpm/ 700Nm @ 1700rpmTransmission: six-speed automaticThirst: 16.5l/100km; CO 384g/kmBody: Two-door coupeDimensions: 4806mm (l) 1944mm (w) 1404mm (h) 2764mm (wb)Weight: 2310kg

... rival the prices on the BMW options' list for things like salad and spuds.So it's no surprise that the top end of town calls the shots at the Palexpo alongside Geneva Airport as Europe's carmakers go head-to-head for the first time in 2012. Ferrari and Lamborghini battle for go-faster bragging rights as Rolls-Royce and Bentley get serious about family motoring for the ultra-rich, while Infiniti pitches an new exotic coupe and even Ssangyong of Korea goes upmarket with a new concept. There are also dozens of one-off dream machines and hotrod tuner cars in Geneva, a show that is traditionally dominated by European design stars including Pininfarina and Giugiaro. But there is plenty, too, for ordinary car buyers as the Fiesta ST brakes cover, Hyundai updates the i20 and teases with the Veloster Turbo, Jaguar confirms an XF station wagon, Audi and Mercedes-Benz previews their A3 and A-Class, and Ford even updates its box-boring Transit workhorse. Picking the best of the best is tough with so much gorgeous stuff on the stands, but Alfa Romeo is the winner for 2012 and edges out the Infiniti Emerge-E with its Disco Volante.The pretty little red coupe is dreamy without being stupid and is already confirmed for production, although the slightly-retro body will be draped over Alfa's existing 8C Competizione chassis - 4.7-litre V8, 335kW, 0-100km/h in 4.2 seconds - which means it's no chance for Australia with only left-hand drive.The Ferrari F12 is exactly what you expect from the fastest car to wear the badge - 340km/h and 0-100km/h in 3.1 seconds - including a swoopy body that taps the past as well as the influences that created the California convertible, but Lamborghini goes even better with an Aventador J preview car that is snapped up for a rumoured $2.8 million ahead of genuine production of an open-topped Aventador supercar.Rolls-Royce updates the Phantom with a new nose that still demands respect, as well as tweaking its colour choices with a two-tone approach that triggers memories of cheap seventies vinyl roofs, and Jaguar gets serious for families with an XF Sportbrake that will still struggle in a world of SUVs.Further down the food chain, the Audi A3 looks good but not as edgy as an A-Class that must break away from the bus pass generation into something closer to the Y-Gen futurists, and Volkswagen previews a more car-like Tiguan crossover with its Cross Coupe.Hyundai has a preview of a new flagship coupe called the i-oniq - did it mean ironic? - Kia shows a Track'ster that will become the new Soul, Honda shows the CR-V design that's coming to Australia, and the pocket rocket Ford Fiesta ST breaks cover with a confirmation for Australia.The action and excitement at Geneva goes on and on, and that is - really - the best thing about the show. Detroit in January hinted that the word's carmakers are finally emerging from the austerity and fear of the global financial crisis and the big-spending effort in Geneva confirms it, with good news for almost everyone from Euro billionaires to ordinary Aussie families.PG PICKS:1. Bentley EXP 9 F.Only one word fits - Ugly. With a big capital U. The hulking British bulldog might tick the boxes for cashed-up families, but this SUV makes a LandCruiser look elegant, and subtle.2. Giugiaro Brivido.Exactly what you expect to see in Geneva, as designers go all-out to impress the crowds - and each other. Not for production but a great looker with huge gullwing doors.3. Range Rover Evoque Convertible. A certainty for production as Land Rover milks its most successful design - ever. This one will never go bush but is being fast tracked for Double Bay and Toorak.4. Ssangyong XIV-2. Who knew the South Koreans could trump the Euros with a design that combines SUV practicality with a coupe-convertible body? A big surprise.5. Toyota FT-Bh: Just when you thought the uglies were done, Toyota lobbed with this. If it's the future for hybrid cars then sales will be slow. Very slow.

Not wanting to be left behind in the SUV craze, iconic British prestige marque Bentley has joined the fray.  The Crewe coach builder reveals its EXP 9 F all-wheel drive luxury Sport Utility Vehicle concept at the Geneva Motor Show this week. However it's turned out to be an awkward design project that -- if blinged-up not a great deal more -- could become the ostentatious bad taste icon of rap royalty. Bentley Motors boss Wolfgang Dürheimer says they know that many Bentley customers already own SUVs. "With EXP 9 F, Bentley is making a clear statement of intent that we have both the expertise and desire to meet and exceed their expectations,'' he says. It wouldn't be a Bentley without the full monte of luxury touches. Open the two-piece tailgate and there is a luxury picnic hamper set including silverware and pewter champagne flutes. Inside are silk wool floormats and handcrafted elements in wood and leather from their Crewe craftsmen. The interior trim also features polished aluminium, bronze and gunmetal. It's a five-seater, although it's best suited to four as the rear armrest lifts to reveal a cooled compartment for champagne and glasses. The EXP 9 F is powered by a six-litre, twin turbocharged W12 engine married to an eight-speed transmission although the new four-litre, twin-turbocharged V8 or a hybrid drivetrain are also expected to be offered. Although the company is not yet saying what will drive all wheels, it should be expected to use a 4Motion system from its parent company Volkswagen. Design boss Dirk van Braeckel says the EXP 9 F retains Bentley style cues such as the matrix grille, round lamps and muscular haunches. However, there is little they can do to disguise that fat back, even with that famous "B'' badge and ultra-wide built-in chromed exhausts. Without the badge, it could easily be mistaken for a Touareg from the rear. Design themes include the shape of turbine fans in the day-time running lamps and 23-inch alloy wheels, and fighter jet engines in the rear lights. Bentley Motors Australasia spokesman Ian Churchill says they are “keen to gain public reaction”.  “This will determine the car’s future in the Bentley line up,” he says. “Unfortunately there are no plans just yet to bring the concept car to Australia post the Geneva show.”

Kids aren’t usually a factor in Car of the Year judging.  But child friendliness rates highly with women buying cars – and with women judging cars.The countdown has been kicked off to decide the Women’s World Car of the Year, and the kid factor is one the judges pay a lot of attention to.“Statistics show that women drive children in cars significantly more often than men – and that means women need to take that into account, both when buying and as judges of cars,” WCOTY president Sandy Myhre said from New Zealand.“Any woman who has grappled constantly with child seats and belts and children considers those things when looking at buying a car.  Men might too but the fact is, women drive children in cars more than men.“Women would not consider that aspect in a Porsche 911 more than a bloke. The point is, it can be considered in these awards - and that is one of the points of difference in these awards.”Myhre points out that significant research into buying habits show that in addition to buying for themselves, women have a major influence in household purchase decisions for big ticket items.Ford Australia, for example, says their research shows that women are behind the majority of purchases of the Territory SUV – either as single women buying one, or in influencing the joint decision with their partner. “A report from Mattingly & Associates in Australia concluded, in part, that businesses that didn't understand this influence would be hard-pressed to stay in business.  That report was aptly called 'When I've Made Up Our Minds',” Myhre says.However, the kid factor is just one of the criteria by which the 2012 Women’s World Car of the Year will be judged.There are four categories in the Women's World Car of the Year – Family Car, Luxury Car, Sports Car and Economy Car. Points are allocated to each of ten criteria: driveability, engineering, comfort, child friendliness, style, interior, storage, dashboard efficiency, carbon footprint and colour range.The 20 judges from eleven countries have submitted their own personal short list and more than 300 cars were suggested. These individual choices were then whittled down to form a master list of 32 in terms of popularity. Judges will now allocate points for these cars from a criteria list.The announcement of the winning cars in each category and the supreme winner will be made before the end of March. The supreme award trophy and category certificates will be presented to the car companies concerned at the Mondial de l’Automobile 2012 – the Paris Motor Show – in September. The supreme trophy will this year be made in The Netherlands. Category-winner certificates will be designed at Peartree Studios in Colerne, UK.The first winner of the Women's World Car of the Year was the Jaguar XF in 2010 and the trophy made in South Africa was presented at the Jaguar boutique showroom in Knightsbridge, London. In 2011 there was a dead-heat between the Citroen DS3 and the BMW 5 Series. The two trophies made in India were presented at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September 2011. 

The Koreans starred, the Japanese mounted a comeback, and One Ford hit the headlines with an extended family of Focus-based newcomers that it is certain to make a big hit in Australia. But it was one car and the commitment of its company chief that made the most impact as America fought back on the opening day of the 2011 North American International Motor Show. Bentley’s bi-turbo V8 engine sets a new, downsized standard for the company as Detroit previews two cars with its new powerplants. The Volkswagen-owned luxury car maker claims slicing off four cylinders from its W12 engine - Bentley is the UK’s biggest 12-cylinder engine manufacturer - has resulted in a 40 per cent fuel saving and emission reduction. Yet the 4-litre V8, which is related to the family’s Audi 4.2-litre engine, pumps a hot 373kW and 660Nm. The engine debuts this week at the Detroit motor show in the Continental GT and the convertible version, the GTC. The W12 engine will remain an option. Features of the V8 are direct injection, two turbochargers and intercoolers, and the ability to switch to become a V4 when coasting to reduce fuel use. It is bolted to a new close-ration eight-speed automatic transmission and drives to all wheels. Bentley says: “The arrival of the new V8 Continental models fulfils Bentley’s environmental commitment to produce a new powertrain that delivers a 40 per cent improvement in fuel efficiency and CO2 emissions.’’ “The instantly recognisable growl of the new 4.0 litre V8 engine sets it apart from its Bentley stablemates.’’ The V8 models of the Continental are distinguished by a black grille with chrome frame and centre bar, a red enamel Bentley ‘B’ badge, and a black matrix three-segment lower front bumper divided by body-coloured strakes. At the rear, the pair get chrome “figure eight’’ exhaust tailpipes, a dark lower valance and red enamel ‘B’ bootlid badge. Both models have 20-inch alloy wheels as standard with an optional 21‑inch six-spoke design which is available in dramatic Diamond Black (exclusive to the Continental V8) or Diamond Silver finishes. Inside the cabin, an Eliade cloth headlining, new contemporary Dark Fiddleback Eucalyptus veneers, optional two-tone leather colour split and short centre console continue the fresh, sporting design theme. Since the launch of the original GT in 2003, the W12-engined Continental range has recorded over 50,000 sales worldwide.

The cars will be unveiled at Detroit's North American International Auto Show in Detroit on January 9. The new 4.0 litre, twin turbocharged V8 Continental GT coupe and GTC convertible offer impressive power-to-emissions in the high luxury sports car sector. This new Bentley V8 engine delivers maximum power of 373Kw at 6000rpm and an strong peak torque of 660Nm which is available across virtually the entire rev range from 1700 to 5000 rev/min. The combination is said to provide exhilarating performance and effortless power delivery. Combined with a new close-ratio 8-speed automatic transmission, this translates into a sub-5 second acceleration time for the 0-100km/h sprint and a top speed of over 290km/h. At the same time, the new V8 Continental models achieve outstanding levels of fuel efficiency and CO2 emissions for the luxury performance sector and are capable of travelling over 800km on a single tank of fuel. The arrival of the new V8 Continental models fulfils Bentleys environmental commitment to produce a new powertrain that delivers a 40 per cent improvement in fuel efficiency and CO2 emissions. The new V8 engine features variable displacement with a highly sophisticated engine management system, ensuring a seamless and imperceptible transition from V8 to V4 mode under light throttle load. The high-technology V8 also features high pressure direct injection, low friction bearings, thermal management, energy recuperation via the charging system, and innovative turbo charger packaging for greater efficiency. The instantly recognisable growl of the new 4.0-litre V8 engine sets it apart from its Bentley stablemates. The new V8 engine will be available in two models; the Continental GT and the Continental GTC.