Bentley Continental 2011 News

Icy winds and snow are blowing across Motown, dumping on the auto capital of the world at a time when American politicians are applying relentless pressure for a major shift in the way that General M

Bentley has added a more powerful Speed model to its Continental Flying Spur range and beefed up the power of its audio system. The 12-cylinder Speed is the British company's most powerful four-door model yet. With 447kW of power, it has the same potent performance as its stablemate, the Continental GT Speed, hurtling from standstill to 100km/h in 4.7 seconds and hitting a top speed of 322km/h. It also features a lowered ride height, uprated and redesigned suspension, retuned steering and comes with bespoke Pirelli P-Zero UHP performance tyres. Outside, the Speed is differentiated by a dark-tinted radiator and air intake grilles and wider rifled exhaust tail pipes and 20inch multi-spoke alloy wheels. The new Bentley Continental Flying Spur also puts more power into its sound system with an optional 1100-watt Naim amplifier, the most powerful in a production car. British hi-fi firm Naim has designed a sound system with 15 custom-built speakers, dual sub-woofers and a next-generation Digital Signal Processor. So occupants can enjoy the music, rather than listen to road, wind and tyre noise, a range of noise-absorbent materials has been added. They include acoustic glazing, tri-laminate body undertrays and wheelarch liners. Subtle exterior styling changes for the Flying Spur include a more upright grille and bolder lower air and a more aggressive rear bumper, with three new exterior colours and four duo-tone paint combinations. Inside, there is a greater choice of crafted wood marquetry and chrome inlays, seat piping and two new hide colours. The new Flying Spur may now be optioned up with a follow-to-stop, radar-based Adaptive Cruise Control which monitors traffic ahead and manages the throttle and brakes to maintain a pre-set time gap, up to a driver-selected set speed. The aluminium-intensive suspension of the Flying Spur features revised spring and dampers and bespoke 19-inch Pirelli UHP tyres. All Flying Spur models come with the largest brakes of any production passenger car on sale today, with 405mm x 36mm ventilated front discs and 335mm x 22mm rears. Under normal driving conditions the brake discs will last the lifetime of the car.   Bentley Continental Flying Spur ENGINE: aluminium alloy, twin-turbocharged, 5998cc, DOHC, 4-valve, 12-cylinder POWER: 412kW @ 6100rpm; 449kW @ 6000rpm (Speed) TORQUE: 650Nm @1600rpm; 750Nm @ 1750rpm (Speed) TRANSMISSION: ZF 6-speed automatic, continuous all-wheel drive SUSPENSION: multi-link, computer-controlled self-levelling air suspension, anti-roll bars BRAKES: Front - 405mm ventilated discs (optional 420mm carbon/silicon carbide, cross-drilled discs); Rear - 335mm ventilated discs (optional 356mm carbon/silicon carbide, cross-drilled discs), ABS, electronic stability DIMENSIONS (mm): 5290 (l), 2118 (w), 3065 (wheelbase) WEIGHT: 2475kg WHEELS/TYRES: Flying Spur: 9J 19-inch Alloy (optional 9J 20-inch alloy) 275/40x19 bespoke Pirelli P Zero (optional 275/35x20); Speed: 9.5J X 20 Alloy, 275/35 x 20 Pirelli P-Zero FUEL: PULP, 90 litre tank ECONOMY: 16.6litres/100km (combined) CO2 EMISSIONS: 396g/km  

Speed is good for Bentley. It was very good in the 1920s, when a Speed badge signalled everything special about the British brand's sportiest models.

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.