Bentley S2 Reviews

  

This new 2013 Continental GT Speed Convertible is one of the last models in Bentley’s Continental range to receive its mid-cycle update, with new versions of the Supersports and Flying Spur now the only models still under wraps. Though just a mid-cycle update, the changes that have been incorporated for Bentley’s latest Continental range are significant. They include slightly sharper styling, a revised interior, and a host of other upgrades under its skin. The GT Speed Convertible, like its hardtop cousin, gets a twin-turbocharged 6.0-litre W-12 engine rated at 460 kW and 800 Nm of torque. The mighty powerplant is matched to the latest ZF eight-speed automatic transmission and drives all four wheels via a Torsen center differential. Despite the slight bump in power and torque, Bentley claims a 15 percent improvement in driving range, fuel economy and emissions. Fuel economy is expected to be around 15.7L/ 100km for the combined cycle. The GT Speed hardtop gets simlar figures except it's a bit thirstier in city driving. The 0-100 km/h sprint takes around 4.1 seconds, just 0.1 of a second off the pace of the hardtop, while the top speed is 325 km/h, making this the fastest four-seat convertible in the world. Not bad considering the vehicle has a curb weight of 2495 kilograms and can comfortable seat four in ultimate luxury. Boot space is a reasonable 260 litres. For the chassis, Bentley engineers have increased the width of the track, sharpened up the steering and lowered the suspension by 10 millimeters compared to the outgoing model. The suspension consists of double wishbones up front and a multi-link setup in the rear, all with self-leveling air suspension and anti-roll bars. The all-wheel-drive settings have also been made rear-biased. The wheels are a unique set of 21-inch alloys and come shod with Pirelli P Zero ultra high-performance tires. The brake discs are steel, though Bentley offers a carbon silicon carbide set as an option. Inside, the Continental GT Speed Convertible gets the Mulliner Driving Specification (first shown on the Mulsanne in Geneva this year) as standard equipment, along with soft-touch leather hides, an extensive range of wood veneers, cool-touch metals and deep-pile carpets. One special touch for the Continental GT Speed models is Bentley’s dark tint aluminum ‘engine spin’ finish, inspired by the dashboards of the automaker’s Le Mans winners of the 1920s. The infotainment system features Bentley’s latest software upgrades, which vary from region to region but include refinements such as point of interest mapping, optional satellite landscape imagery, live traffic data and, where the infrastructure supports it, digital radio. The system features 15 GB of available music space, as well as the facility to play music via an iPod, MP3 player, the car’s own six-disc CD changer or SD card. Stay tuned for the car’s debut in Detroit on January 15. www.motorauthority.com  

The Russian widow claims late husband, Alexandre Anisonian, was wrongfully killed in his Bentley Continental GT because the vehicle’s side curtain airbags failed to deploy.She is suing Bentley through their Brooklands Moscow dealership for 60 million roubles (about $1.9m). Mr Anisonian died on February 8, 2012 when his Continental GT was hit by a large truck that ran a red light."Since the accident, we have run several tests that all conclude the strong impact should have set off the car's side curtain airbags," Mrs Anisonian’s lawyers said in a statement.Bentley has responded to the lawsuit by denying any blame, but stating that it is cooperating with Russian authorities.The luxury carmaker – owned by auto giant Volkswagen Group – said it takes safety very seriously and its vehicles meet the strictest crash test standards in the world.Overseas media reports have suggested the court hearing scheduled for January 14 will be told Anisonian’s Bentley was travelling at high speed when the accident occured. 

At last week’s 2012 Paris Auto Show Bentley unveiled a race car concept based on its luxury-oriented Continental GT. Simply labelled the Continental GT3, the one-off concept is confirmation of Bentley’s interest in returning to motorsports, which could include a new one-make racing series for the Continental coupe similar to what rivals such as Maserati and Lamborghini currently do with some of their cars.  While Bentley concedes the concept provides a solid foundation for the automaker’s “long-term” motorsport plans, to keep interest alive in the shorter term, we could see a road-going version of the car. In fact, as early as October of last year we reported that Bentley could launch a track-focused version of its Continental GT, perhaps as a replacement for the Continental Supersports model. Now, Autocar is reporting that this track-focused version could be a production Bentley Continental GT3. With pricing similar to the range-topping Continental Supersports, somewhere close to $553k, the production Continental GT3 would be the most potent model in the Continental range. This means that output from its twin-turbocharged 6.0-litre W-12 engine would likely be turned up to around 522 kilowatts. However, the lighter and more responsive twin-turbocharged 4.0-liter V-8 may be offered instead. Going into the future, Bentley will be positioning its 12-cylinder engines at the prestige end of the market, while the V-8s will be aimed at performance buyers.  Though the race concept featured a rear-wheel drive chassis, the production version would likely remain all-wheel drive for safety reasons. Other changes would likely include a more subtle exterior and a plusher cabin -- it's still a Bentley after all. If given the green light, expect the production Continental GT3 to go on sale in 2014 at the earliest. Numbers will be limited, so perhaps only around 300 examples will see the light of day. www.motorauthority.com  

   

The outrageous and outrageously expensive SUV has won a go-ahead for the road after an overwhelming response from super-rich buyers.

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.