Bentley S2 Reviews

Ewan Kennedy road tests and reviews the Bentley Continental GT V8 S Convertible with specs, fuel consumption and verdict.

Los Angeles motor show: Range Rover gets a gun holder, new Toyota Mirai sedan fuelled by garbageThis year's Los Angeles motor show is an event with two extremes.In the home city of Pimp My Ride and chrome-covered car bling, gangsta rappers take posh luxury vehicles and modify them as if they were a Holden Gemini.But LA is also the spiritual home of the hybrid car – even though the technology was pioneered in Japan, the US embraced it in the millions – which is why clean energy shares the spotlight.With that in mind here are the highlights from both ends of the automotive spectrum – from the super frugal cars of the future that run on garbage to the super lavish cars of today that come with a leather-lined gun case.Range Rover by Holland and HollandGuns, fancy cars and LA seem to go hand in hand, or so Range Rover believes. It unveiled a special edition that comes with its own leather-lined gun case, to coincide with Los Angeles motor show.The Range Rover by Holland and Holland (the name of a famous British gun maker) is just like a regular Range Rover but with every option box ticked and a leather gun case in the boot. Without the guns in it, the maker helpfully points out.It also gets the gun's branding on the door handles and seats. You know, in case you want to ‘send a message'. Oh, and there are two DVD screens in the back for the kids.The most expensive Range Rover ever "benefits from a raft of Special Vehicles Operations-designed exclusive features to complement outdoor pursuits", the maker says.It costs the equivalent of $320,000 but you can put your guns away: it's not coming to Australia. Just 40 are being built globally per year over the next three years.Toyota MiraiIt may have a face like a catfish but the Toyota Mirai is genius. It can be fuelled by garbage, generates enough electricity to power your house for a week, and emits only water. Believe it or not, it'll be in showrooms next year.Almost 20 years after Toyota launched the first Prius – and more than 7 million hybrid sales later – the Japanese company has unveiled what it truly believes is the car of the future.The Mirai promises to be a hydrogen-powered car for the masses that takes over where the Prius leaves off.It has an unusual appearance because its hi-tech hydrogen system needs special cooling; sharp creases in the bodywork help it slip through the air more efficiently.Akio Toyoda, the grandson of the company founder, said the Mirai was a "turning point" that "redefines the (car) industry"."Imagine a world filled with vehicles that diminish our dependence on oil and reduce harm to the environment," said Mr Toyoda.Unlike pure electric cars, the Mirai can be refueled in less than five minutes and travel 480km on one tank, about the same as a regular car."Hydrogen can be made from virtually anything, even garbage," said Mr Toyoda, who added that the Mirai's on-board hydrogen system "creates enough electricity to power a house for about a week".There is, however, one significant hurdle. Hydrogen refueling stations are few and far between in the US, Japan and Europe – and there are none in Australia after an experiment with buses in West Australia was shut down seven years ago.The Mirai will go on sale in the US for $57,500 – or on a $499 per month lease deal – but it is not coming to Australia, at least for a few years, because there is nowhere to refuel it.Honda FCXWhile Toyota was unveiling a showroom-ready hydrogen car, Honda took the covers off its latest concept which uses the same technology and looks like a Storm Trooper.It's unclear whether the production version will share the concept's Star Wars looks when it goes on sale in the US and Japan in March 2016.Honda says its latest hydrogen car packs 60 per cent more energy into a fuel cell system that's 33 per cent smaller than before. It means it can travel 480km between refills, just like the Toyota.However, the Honda will be the first hydrogen car to package its entire fuel cell system under the bonnet like a conventional car, the company claims. Other systems take up space under the bonnet, cabin floor and boot.Honda was first to introduce a hydrogen-powered car in the United States, in 2002, as an experimental model in limited numbers.To date, though, fewer than 100 have been sold in the United States and Japan.Mercedes-Benz MaybachTake a close look at the new Maybach, the Rolls-Royce of Mercedes-Benzes, because we may not ever see one in Australia.The Maybach may be the preferred ride of US gangsta rappers, Middle East oil tycoons, and super-rich Chinese businessmen and women but, with a $1million price tag, just 13 were sold in Australia in the seven years from 2004.The Maybach brand was withdrawn from sale locally three years before it was axed globally.But now it's back as a stretched, super-long S-Class limousine powered by a 6.0-litre V12 (390kW/830Nm).The extra 200mm of leg room, unique styling, and hush-quiet interior will cost about $700,000 in Australia – $300,000 more than the dearest S-Class – but it's an order-only proposition. You'll have to fly overseas if you want to test drive one.Bentley Grand ConvertibleBritish brand Bentley has chopped the roof off its flagship Mulsanne sedan, added wood paneling to cover the convertible roof when it's stowed, and given it the price tag of a cruise boat whose styling inspired it.The new Bentley Grand Convertible is expected to cost close to $800,000 when it goes on sale in Australia next year.In the US, though, it costs roughly half as much, which is why LA's music stars and rich hangers-on can so easily afford to paint them fluro pink, slam the suspension and fit oversized chrome wheels.Or they could be buying it for the epic twin-turbo 6.75-litre V8 (for the tech geeks it has 395kW of power and 1100Nm of torque).BMW X5M /X6MSUVs are stealing sales away from sports-cars, says BMW. So it has an answer for that: a super-fast SUV.The X5M is BMW's answer to the Porsche Cayenne Turbo and promises blistering performance from a family-sized SUV, presumably to get the kids to school on time.The turtle-shaped X6M is an answer to a question no-one asked, but BMW says it designed it to appeal to younger buyers who don't like the look of the family-sized SUV.According to BMW marketing experts the X6M says "I'm single and don't have kids". With an X6M you may be single for longer than you think. Prices are yet to be confirmed but bank on them being close to $200,000.Ford Shelby Mustang GT350Ford has taken the covers off a road-legal, race-ready, 500 horsepower Mustang named after the late great racer Carroll Shelby.The exact power figures are still under wraps but Ford says the new 5.2-litre V8 (up from the Mustang's 5.0-litre) will pump out "more than 500 horsepower", or 373kW in modern terms, an extra 50kW on top of the standard V8.It also gets magnetically controlled suspension (the same technology used by Ferrari, Audi, Corvette, and Holden Special Vehicles), massive brakes and super-wide tyres.But Australians shouldn't get too excited about this one; a still-secret supercharged Shelby Mustang is due Down Under in about two years.In the meantime, the regular Mustang is due in Australian showrooms with a choice of four-cylinder and V8 power in coupe and convertible form in the second half of 2015 priced between $50,000 and $70,000.It's the first time in the 50-year history of the nameplate a right-hand-drive Mustang has been made on a Ford production line.Mazda CX-3And finally, something affordable that will be in showrooms soon. Pint-sized SUVs for the city are about to spread like wildfire.Japanese car maker Mazda released its long awaited CX-3 soft-roader, the smallest SUV in its line-up – and Australia will be crawling with them from early next year.The CX-3 is expected to fit between the top-selling Mazda3 hatch and CX-5 SUV in size and price, starting at about $25,000.It will join recently released five-seaters such as the Holden Trax, Ford EcoSport, and Suzuki S-Cross in the booming baby SUV market.There is not much detail about the new model except that it has "human-centric packaging". In other words, it's designed for humans.Translated this means Mazda has positioned the front wheels further forward than usual to give the driver extra legroom and a more natural seating position.Meanwhile, the rear seat is set taller than the front so back seat passengers have a better view and are less likely to get car sick.As expected, the CX-3 adopts the latest Mazda design language with sharp creases and a pointy nose.Perhaps torturing the design language, however, Mazda's media blurb says: "The front grille stacks seven fins with silver-painted front edges to create an expression of concentrated energy that flows horizontally. The signature wing is stout and three-dimensional. It forms the starting point for a powerful sense of speed that flows across the entire body."In other words: "we designed it to look fun and sporty".

Ewan Kennedy road tests and reviews the 2014 Bentley Mulsanne.

The luxury brand aims to double annual sales with a high-riding rival for Rolls, Maserati and Lamborghini.Bentley is promising to rewrite the rules for high-end SUVs as it readies an ultra-luxury flagship for the road.Rolls-Royce is planning a similar super SUV, most likely based on its $645,000 Wraith coupe, and Lamborghini and Maserati both have SUV plans in the works. Bentley is several years ahead with its contender.A camouflaged prototype is turning test laps at the Nurburgring in readiness for a public unveiling next year and company chief Wolfgang Durheimer exclusively reveals to CarsGuide that it breaks new ground on the SUV front."I'm convinced we have a game-changer. We will create a new layer in the SUV segment, right at the very top," he says."We are now in the final test phase. That is including a challenging off-road phase." Durheimer is serving his second stint in the top job at Bentley. He originally gave the green light to the SUV program - when it was only an ugly concept called the EXP 9 F - and says it has progressed as he planned."In only my third day back I was able to drive the first prototype. The company has moved on, in a good direction," he says.The Bentley boss has also served time at Porsche and can see parallels with the impact of the original Cayenne, Porsche's first SUV, on his current company."It's a step change in two directions. A situation we have never been in before. We have never had an SUV before and there has never been an SUV like this before." He predicts SUV sales of about 3000 a year, which would more than double Bentley's annual results.This year alone the company has logged a 25 per cent increase in global deliveries."The best years for Bentley are yet to come. We are again on the road to setting a new record." He believes Bentley has an untapped market for its SUV among the existing owners of its luxury sedans, coupes, and convertibles."Most have at least one SUV in the garage already," he says. Durheimer will not be drawn on engines or specifications, but gives a solid hint on pricing."It will be below the ($662,858) Mulsanne. We already have a flagship but, in terms of the market sector, it will be the SUV flagship."

Bentley of Britain will launch a full-scale two-car attack on Bathurst next year.The ultra-luxury carmaker has just confirmed a factory entry in the Bathurst 12-hour sports car race in February, fielding a pair of its Continental GT3 racers.It is not expecting to win but has already achieved victories in Europe and the USA in the first season with its production-based competition car, which is powered by a 4-litre twin-turbo V8 engine producing up to 600 horsepower.“We are coming with the factory team to the Bathurst 12-hour. We decided last week at our headquarters in Britain,” the chairman and chief executive of Bentley Motors, Wolfgang Durheimer, revealed exclusively at the Paris motor show today.“It will be two cars. The program will be run from our headquarters in Crewe.”Durheimer also reveals that the effort in 2015 will be the start of a multi-year program for Bentley and he’s not expecting to win at the first attempt.“We know that we are in the underdog position because we have a new car and no track data from the race, but we will do our best to give a good impression,” he said“We are extremely pleased to bring the Bentley brand to a very knowledgeable audience and an outstanding historic racetrack in Australia. I have only heard and read about about Bathurst, but I believe it is the Australian Nurburgring.“I am thrilled to do one lap on my own. Yes, I am hoping to get to the race.”The Bathurst 12-hour has become a major international event in recent years, attracting a number of European entries including the Mercedes-Benz gullwing that finished second this year to a Ferrari 458 crewed by Craig Lowndes and John Bowe.But it is at the heart of a major confrontation with V8 Supercar racing, which has scheduled its pre-season test at Sydney Motorsport Park on the same weekend in a decision that reflects clashes between rival television networks and the availability of marquee drivers including Lowndes and Shane van Gisbergen.Durheimer said the lead car in the Bentley team will be shared by factory drivers Guy Smith, Steven Kane and Andy Meyrick but there had been no decision on the second car.“For the second car, we didn’t decide yet. Applications are still possible,” he smiled.Durheimer is promising much more than a race entry, even though factory motorsport personnel will soon travel to Bathurst to collect data and logistics information on the event and track.“We do it entirely as a factory team, but I’m absolutely sure we will get connected to our dealer body. And the guys in Australia will support us as much as possible."We will do a major activation. GT racing, for us, is about getting access to the pits, to the team, to the strategy. We are absolutely approachable,” he said."We build very exclusive cars and we like the prestigious approach, but in terms of racing activities we have both feet on the ground and don’t intend to be the high fliers.“We let the parents and the kids get involved.”Durheimer said the program is already in top gear to make deadlines for the February event.“My guys will come in the European winter time to asses the data. I don’t think it will be a one-off event for us.“We know we need to be extremely humble to approach this track and these experienced drivers. Luckily we have scored a victory in the US in our first racing season and we were second in the Blancpain endurance season in Europe for teams and drivers.” 

Craig Duff road tests and reviews the Bentley Continental GT V8 S, with fuel consumption, rivals and specs.

In the case of the Bentley Continental GT Speed Convertible, an apartment in a desirable upmarket suburb.

GPS tracking devices have been used by a car theft ring in the UK to steal vehicles, largely targeting those parked at airports. The gang used an insider member at the airport and cloning devices to replicate 'keyless entry' transponders for the cars, attached the trackers, and then stole the vehicles weeks or even months later.Police had for some time been left "scratching their heads" over the crimes, a court heard during the trial of members of the ring, according to a report in The Telegraph.The thieves also targeted vehicles in traffic, causing minor damage to them and then directing them to a repairer who was part of the ring, and who would clone the car's key -- and also fit a tracking device that would allow the theft to take place some time later.Targeted vehicles included an expensive McLaren and Bentley Continental, but were largely mid and upper-level premium brands, including more common Mercedes-Benz, Jaguar, Range Rover and Land Rover models.The gang was uncovered after police became suspicious about the repairer, and fitted up a 'Trojan' vehicle with recording devices and their own tracking unit, then took it to the body shop. The thieves discovered part of the tracking unit in the undercover vehicle and reversed their attempts to clone its keys. But unbeknownst to them the recording devices were still monitoring all their conversations, including discussions of the Trojan vehicle.The court was told more than 100 of the vehicles stolen were tracked as having been shipped to East Africa for sale. Only one has been recovered.This reporter is on Twitter: @KarlaPincott 

Expected to become the firm's most popular model, the SUV was previewed by the EXP 9 F concept car at the 2012 Geneva motor show. But the concept sparked controversy after its styling didn't 'click' with potential customers, so the Bentley designers revisited the model 's styling.The teaser image reveals a redesigned front bumper that integrates four headlights in signature Bentley fashion rather than the concept 's two. The overall profile also appears rounder than the concept 's with fewer sharp and visually challenging lines and more soft curves. Essentially, it looks more closely related to the Continental range than the Mulsanne.The SUV will ride on the Volkswagen Group 's new large car platform which will be shared with the next generation Audi Q7 and Porsche Cayenne, plus Lamborghini 's Urus SUV. Engine options will likely mirror those of the Continental initially, including the 4.0-litre twin turbo V8 and 6.0-litre twin-turbo W12, with hybrid and possibly diesel variants becoming available later in the model 's lifecycle.The new model will be built at Bentley 's Crewe facility in England. The factory is being upgraded to the tune of $1.45 billion over the next three years in preparation for the 3000 SUVs Bentley expect to build annually from 2016 onwards.

THE price tags at Nick Theodossi's North Melbourne prestige car showroom would plunge dramatically if calls for the scrapping of the 5 per cent tariff on imported cars and the luxury car tax are taken up by the government.As Joe Hockey yesterday confirmed the government would consider dropping the imposts after the departures of Ford, Toyota and Holden left no carmaking industry to protect, car buyers were contemplating savings of more than $10,000 on a $93,000 BMW 335i sedan, and significantly higher price cuts on six-figure vehicles.Dealers like Mr Theodossi, who have long opposed the protection given to the local car manufacturing industry, were cautiously welcoming the possibility that high-end brands such as BMW, Audi and Land Rover might soon be within reach of mainstream buyers. Mr Theodossi, 62, said he was yet to be convinced the government would follow the recommendation of leading economists and scrap the luxury car tax, but it would be a massive boost for the industry -- and consumers -- if it happened."I can't see the government scrapping it, but it would be fantastic if they did," he said. "Everybody could buy a Mercedes." After the Australian Automotive Association this week called for the scrapping of the tariffs on imported cars in the wake of the demise of the Australian car manufacturing industry, the Treasurer said yesterday the idea would be considered."The car industry is not going until 2017, but this is something that will certainly be considered by our review of taxation, which will occur in the next 18 months or so, and certainly before the next election," Mr Hockey said. The import tariff raises about $900m a year, and the luxury car tax about $400m a year.While the removal of the 5 per cent tariff on imported passenger cars could cut several hundred dollars or more off the cost of a mid-range car such as a Mazda 3, expensive cars that attracted the tariff and the luxury car tax could fall by thousands of dollars. Mr Theodossi said he thought consumers rather than dealers would be the main winners if the tax was abolished.His most expensive car in stock is a 2013 Bentley Continental Coupe, which although he can sell it for less, retails for $500,000 excluding GST. With fuel consumption of 9.9L/100km, it does not meet the government's fuel efficiency threshold of 7L/100km, and is taxed at a rate of 33 per cent on the portion of the price of the car above $60,316, making the luxury car tax (LCT) component of the price $145,095. The scrapping of the LCT would therefore reduce the price of the Bentley from $500,000, to $354,904. Trade Prestige Cars dealer Stephen Curtain said he believed the case for abolishing the imported and luxury car taxes was compelling."If they're charging the tax to try to protect Australian car manufacturers and there are now no Australian car manufacturers, it makes no sense to keep it." Mr Curtain predominantly deals in used luxury cars, but said he expected sales of new high-end cars to increase significantly if the tax was scrapped. "No doubt if someone knocks $8000 or $10,000 off the price of a car, that will drive up sales of luxury cars."Ateco Automotive executive chairman Neville Crichton, whose Sydney-based group owns dealerships that sell vehicles ranging from the Chinese-made Chery to Italy's Maserati, said he had no doubt that tariffs and the luxury car tax should be scrapped."The luxury car tax was put in place to protect the local producers with the (Holden) Statesman -- they don't make those cars any more," Mr Crichton said. "It's become a revenue situation rather than a protectionist tariff. I think the luxury tax is extremely unfair."He said car prices would plunge if they were scrapped. "Right now, if you look at a $600,000 Ferrari, close to 30 per cent of that is going to the luxury car tax. It doesn't take Einstein to work out that suddenly that $600,000 car becomes a $400,000 car," he said."It'll open the market up considerably." But he said BMW and Audi would be the big winners. "The brands that would certainly benefit would be Land Rover, BMW, Audi, Mercedes, Maserati. There's still only a limited amount of people who would want to own a Ferrari or a Lamborghini. It would bring a lot of the BMW and Audi range into a normal car bracket again."ADDITIONAL REPORTING: SID MAHER, DARREN DAVIDSON, MARK SCHLIEBS