Bentley Continental News

Yet another ‘most powerful’ brand record is broken, this time by the 2025 Bentley Continental GT Speed plug-in hybrid. Although exciting, it marks a sad end to Bentley’s unique W12 engine configuration after production ceased at Crewe in April 2024. The revised cross-plane single-turbo 4.0-litre V8 petrol engine is allied to a 140kW/450Nm electric motor integrated into the eight-speed transmission. The system punches out 575kW and 1000Nm, enough to get the grand tourer from rest to 100km/h in 3.2 seconds. For the first time, the Continental GT hardtop is launched alongside its rag-top GTC relation – excitingly available with tweed as a material choice for the hood. Though visually similar to the car it replaces, Bentley's muscular fourth-generation Continental GT features 68 per cent all-new componentry. The Continental GT is the first mainstream non coach-built model since the 1959 S2 to feature single headlights; modern Matrix LED items, naturally. An active anti-roll system powered by the 48-volt electrical system, new ESC programming and a rear-axle active eLSD help harness all the punch. Mounted behind the rear wheel, the larger 25.9kWh battery allows 81km of electric-only driving range (WLTP) and can charge in two hours and 45 minutes at 11kW (AC). Bentley claims a ‘perfect’ 49:51 weight distribution for the all-wheel drive grand tourer. To show off the new powertrain’s capability, Bentley set a unique ‘underwater speed record’ using the world’s longest tunnel. The two-door hit 335km/h in the 14.4km long Ryfylke undersea road tunnel in Norway, running on renewable biofuel and green electricity. To haul up the Continental GT Speed, steel brakes are standard though Carbon-Silicon-Carbide brakes with 440mm front and 410mm rear rotors are optionally available. Inside, luxury and personalisation is the name of the game for the four-seater. The Continental GT has 20-way power-adjust seats with quilted leather upholstery, 'Auto Posture Adjust' and automatic heating plus ventilation.The Continental GT gets a 650-watt stereo as standard with both 16-speaker 1500W Bang & Olufsen or flagship 18-speaker 2200W Naim sound system with 'Active Bass Transducers' available. Australian pricing and specification is yet to be confirmed for Bentley’s Porsche Panamera, Aston Martin DB12 and Ferrari 12Cilindri rival.

Bentley has overnight touted its enviable financial position, posting its best third quarter profits ever, while also announcing increased sales in regions across the world.The British marque, based in the town of Crewe in central England, has sold 11,316

Bentley Motors is expecting to have its biggest year on record in 2021, as it delivers on pent-up demand for its Bentayga SUV, Continental coupe and Flying Spur limousine.Speaking to Australian media at a local drive of the facelifted Bentayga, Bentley Mo

Bentley Motors believes its long-running W12 engine will finally wind down production by 2026, around the same time the brand plans to roll-out its first battery electric vehicle (BEV).Speaking to Australian journalists at the launch of the new Bentayga,

Bentley’s W12-powered Continental GT has been crowned fastest production car at Pikes Peak, following a record-setting run at the famous hill climb on Sunday, 30 June.Pikes Peak veteran Rhys Millen piloted the British coupe to the chequered flag in 10 minutes and 18.4 seconds, shaving eight seconds off the previous record, and averaging 112.4km/h.Millen was suitably pleased following the record drive: ''This is an amazing finish to a wet, snowy 2019 run at Pikes Peak,”“We came here with one goal in mind, and that was to be the fastest production car up the mountain and set a new record.“Today was a challenge with what Mother Nature threw at us, but the Continental GT held strong all the way to the top, and we are now number one.”The 156-bend, 20-kilometre hill climb was made particularly difficult this year due to poor weather conditions, and as always, the high altitude put the pressure on drivers and vehicles alike.With the start line positioned 2800 metres above sea level, the air density on the mountain is reduced by a third, forcing the Continental GT's 6.0-litre twin-turbocharged W12 to work extra hard.At ground level, the big coupe produces 473kW and 900Nm, and can sprint from zero to 100km/h in 3.7 seconds.Last year, Millen set the outright record for a production SUV on the Pikes Peak course, steering a Bentley Bentayga up the hill in 10 minutes and 49.9 seconds.

The Bentley Continental Supersports is the world's fastest four-seat car, and ten lucky well-off Aussie buyers will spend a minimum of $569,522 for the pleasure of driving the missile.

The Toyota HiLux has claimed the number one spot for October ahead of its arch rival, the Ford Ranger.

NSW Police Force bring some serious toys out to play at the Bathurst 1000

Plans for a one-make series to rival or surpass the Ferrari 458 Challenge are well under way at Bentley's home in Crewe, the company's chief reveals to CarsGuide."For the future we are at present evaluating the potential of a luxury one-make cup, and this could take place on four continents, for about 25 entries," Wolfgang Durheimer, CEO of Bentley, says at the Goodwood Festival of Speed."We organise everything. We do everything. They have high-performance racing with high-performance cars."We want to be the number oneDurheimer says the Bentley racers would be positioned midway between the company's road-going Continental and the GT3 racing version of the same car, which challenged for victory in this year's Bathurst 12-Hour race and is returning to Mount Panorama in 2016.He says air-conditioning will be essential in the cars, since he expects the series will attract well-funded 'gentleman' drivers without the skill or fitness of full-time professionals.But he is keen on the championship and what it can bring to Bentley buyers who want more than just a road car."Once you are signed in you have luxury track time in a high-performance car. I hope that we come to a good conclusion."Durheimer also confirms for the first time that the Continental GT3 program will continue beyond the original three-year commitment, which has now seen 19 cars built for racing."Don't assume we stop next year. Racing is part of our DNA. We are already evaluating the potential of the next car," he says."Emotionally, it can drive our company to new horizons. Internally, it helps us to work in a very discipled way and to be competitive and win."We want to be the number one and we intend to be the winner in the luxury performance game. We like to do the extraordinary things, not what everybody does."

Salmon is a Sydney hotelier and online entrepreneur, while Baumgartner is best known as the crazy Austrian who parachuted from the edge of space.But both of them fit right in at the Bathurst 12-Hour, a race that takes Mount Panorama back to its showroom roots.It's not your everyday showroom, as exotics brands such as Mercedes-Benz, Lamborghini, Ferrari, Aston Martin, Bentley and McLaren dominate the entry list, but these are still cars that are far closer to the real world than any V8Supercar.Best of all, they all look and sound different. And, since they have different strengths and weaknesses, there is constant track action as they swap places around Mount Panorama. And that's without worrying about the tail-end tiddlers in cars such as the 1-Series BMWs who contribute to the healthiest starting grid since the 1980s."Why do I race? I caught the bug and I cannot get it out of my system," Salmon tells CarsGuide."I'm a gentleman driver, not a professional, but I can still compete here with some of the best blokes in the world.The 12-hour includes some of the world's best long-distance racers"I'm 55 next week, so I have a few things to tick off the Bucket List. This is one."Salmon owns his Audi R8 racer but Baumgartner, a world- class and world-renowned thrill seeker, is at Bathurst as a guest of Audi. He's in an R8 to satisfy his need for speed."This is fun. Just great," he says.The driver lineup for the 12-hour includes some of the world's best long-distance racers, and former V8Supercar runners John Bowe, Warren Luff and Greg Crick, but the current stars have been banned from the action by a clashing touring car test at Sydney Motorsport Park.No-one is remotely surprised that Craig Lowndes and Rick Kelly would prefer to be spending the weekend at Bathurst, or that the 12-Hour telecast comprehensively trumps the broadcast numbers for the rival event in Sydney.The 12-Hour is a wacky race, from the drivers to the cars, and the Mercedes-Benz pacecar is called out a record 20 times after some sort of on-track incident.But the cars are fast and spectacular and it's easy to tell them apart. Especially when you see a brutal Benz SLS going head-to-head with an exotic Ferrari 458 and a giant-but-gentlemanly Bentley Continental.There is a respectable crowd at the 12-Hour and the carpark is full of old Bristols and MG sports cars, shiny new McLarens and even a 50-car cavalcade of Mercedes-Benzes, dominated by the brand's hot AMG models.As always, Mount Panorama stars — from the spectacle of a start in darkness through to the final fight to the flag.The 12-Hour is more than just a race and it is growing fastIn the end, it's a Nissan GT-R that gets home first — as Godzilla conquers the Mountain for the first time since Mark Skaife and Jim Richards — with a blanket finish for the minor places.But the 12-Hour is more than just a race and it is growing fast. There are seven factory-backed teams in 2015 and this will grow again for 2016, with Audi, Bentley and Mercedes-Benz already committed to next year's race."This race and this place is something special. It's not only the track, it's the atmosphere and the racing and all the rest," says Romolo Liebchen, head of Audi's giant Customer Racing Division.GT sports car racing is more than a passing fad"Australia has a relatively small car market, but it is very important for performance cars and also as a place to compete with our customers. It is clear this race will continue to grow."A Bentley at Bathurst is so wrong that it’s right.I feel as if I’ve been invited into the sitting room of Le Mans winner Guy Smith’s home in Britain as I slide into his Continental GT3-R for a relatively quiet lap of Mount Panorama.This is the roadgoing version of the car Smith is racing in the 12-hour, with everything I expect from an ultra-luxury Bentley coupe. There are sumptuous leather seats and all the luxury fruit. Then Smith opens the taps on Mountain Straight and we’re aa-www-aaaay.It’s not remotely what I expect from a car that weighs nearly two tonnes and costs more than $600,000.Bentley has done a serious job on this car. It has 427kW and 700Nm in the engine room, which — with special gearing and a bunch of other changes — means it can slingshot to 100km/h in just 3.8 secs. That’s exactly what Smith does, calmly giving his first impression of the circuit. “It’s a tricky place, isn’t it? It takes a bit of learning,” he says.On Sunday afternoon, long after this memorable run down the mountain, he and his team should have been podium finishers. A cruel punt on the final corner drops them to fourth at the flag. Bentley is committed to come back in 2016 and I’m looking forward to another visit to Smith’s sitting room.GT sports car racing is more than a passing fad. A total of 13 car brands now have official programs in the global category, following a decision by Cadillac this year to join the track action with its CTS-V coupe, and they are spending big as bait for buyers.Cadillac will be joining everyone from Aston Martin and Audi to Lamborghini, Ferrari, and even Mercedes-Benz at the sharp end of GT racing.It's a crazy category because the cars look so outrageous. The purchase price, from about $600,000, makes them relatively affordable.In comparison, a homegrown V8Supercar can easily top $500,000 as a turnkey racer.The big difference between Australia and the rest of the world is the scale, with carmakers doing big numbers and making serious dollars from their motorsport divisions.Mercedes-Benz still has 20 cars to build before it switches from its current SLS to the GT3 version of the new coupe. Bentley has built 18 Continental GTs for racing.Audi tops the pile, having built 136 track versions of its R8, with 126 currently still in action including the car that took pole position for the Bathurst 12-Hour.