Bentley News

... with its first showing in Australasia of the new Continental GT. Celebrating its eighth year of production, the GT has been restyled with bolder haunches, a flatter stance and more kick from its W12 engine. Bentley Australia spokesman Ian Churchill says this is the first time the coupe has been shown in the Asia-Pacific region. He says the GT has been given a stronger look thanks to a fresh design and new manufacturing techniques that allow sharper lines. The car’s matrix grille is restyled to be more imposing, the headlights have a jewelled effect and the tail lights are now wraparound LED units. From the back – where most traffic will be – you’ll find a new double horseshoe motif borrowed from Bentley’s flagship Mulsanne and flared elliptical exhaust pipes. A touchscreen and blood-orange dash illumination have been added to the leather and timber veneer cabin, while power rises to 423kW/700Nm and drives through a six-speed sequential automatic and an all-wheel-drive system. Bentley’s stand will also have the Continental Flying Spur – the most powerful saloon it has ever made with 412kW/650Nm – and the brand’s flagship Mulsanne. The Mulsanne, costing $657,000, retains Bentley’s awesome 377kW/1020Nm 6.75-litre V8, but thanks to engine adjustments and the addition of an eight-speed automatic transmission claims a 15 per cent drop in fuel consumption.

Bespoke British manufacturer Bentley has announced that it will be present at the 2011 Australian International Motor Show in Melbourne. The company will use the occasion to publicly display, for the first time in Australasia, the exquisite new Continental GT. In addition, Bentley will show the flagship Mulsanne – a car that truly represents the Bentley brand. Each Mulsanne takes nine weeks to build in a new manufacturing facility in Crewe, England, where traditional coachbuilding skills developed over six decades are fused with the latest in technology. Making its Australasian debut, the GT is somewhat of a coup for the Australian International Motor Show. The new vehicle features the latest evolution of Bentley’s acclaimed six-litre 12-cylinder engine. With its ‘W’ configuration it is the most compact 12-cylinder engine in the world. Continuing the technological theme of the show, the latest version of the power unit is an impressive piece of engineering. Maximum power has increased to 423kW and torque up to 700Nm – seeing the GT effortlessly reach 100km/h in just 4.6 seconds and topping out at 318km/h. However, that is just part of the story. Bentley’s advanced new FlexFuel technology allows the all-wheel drive coupé to run seamlessly on petrol, bioethanol (E85) or a combination of the two. The drivetrain has been enhanced further by the introduction of the new six-speed Quickshift transmission which has reduced gear change times by 50 per cent. The stunning Mulsanne sedan will ensure that the GT doesn’t get all the attention on the Bentley stand. The Mulsanne is Bentley’s flagship and the numbers are almost as impressive as its inherent presence: an all-new 6.75-litre V8, 377kW of power, a mammoth 1020Nm of torque, eight-speed automatic transmission, 2.5 tonnes of luxury (yet a 0–100km/h time of just 5.1s), top speed of 296km/h, and a $662,000 (excl on road costs) retail price. Russ Tyrie, Australian International Motor Show event director, is understandably excited to welcome Bentley back to the show. “Bentley vehicles definitely have a ‘wow’ factor to them,” said Mr Tyrie. “The undeniable class, the design and style, the heritage – people just know that there is something special about a Bentley. “To have the Australasian public debut of a car like the new GT is very special for us – and I’m sure the Mulsanne will also be a crowd-pleaser.” The Australian International Motor Show opens at 6pm on Friday 1 July and runs through until Sunday 10 July at the Melbourne Convention & Exhibition Centre.

Bentley, which uses up to 12-cylinder engines in its 2-tonne-plus top-end saloons, says the fuel slashes its CO2 footprint by up to 70 per cent. The luxury carmaker in 2008 started making its cars compatible with E85 (85 per cent ethanol and 15 per cent petrol - or any variation in between) as a means of reducing emissions and meeting proposed European exhaust gas regulations. Bentley engineering director Dr Ulrich Eichhorn says even though E85 wasn't available in all markets, customers showed immense interest in towing a green line. "In markets where ethanol is available, we see high interest by customers,'' he says. "We estimate that from well to wheel - the lifecycle of the energy process - a Bentley running on sustainable E85 will have a whole of life CO2 reduction of more than 70 per cent. "It makes a rational reason why a buyer would buy a Bentley. It promotes an environmental message. "We know of one customer who traded in an almost-new Flying Spur model and bought the latest Flying Spur with the E85-compatible engine. "He did it for three reasons - environment, the fact that in Britain it saves him about $30 because of a lower tax; and his neighbour has a Prius and he is delighted that he can smuggly match its CO2 footprint. They may not be reasons chosen by most owners, but they make sense for him and there's a clear benefit to the environment.'' Bentley is facing a choice of going it alone with the proposed - and not yet legislated - 120g/km CO2 threshold of European delivery cars. It takes effect in January 2012 with a graduated introduction trough to 2015. "We can either join with Volkswagen and take advantage of the lower emission level of the group's fleet, or go it alone. It's being discussed. Personally, I think it makes more sense to stay within the Volkswagen Group's fleet.'' Bentley last month proved the worth of its E85 commitment by settling a world ice speed record on the frozen Baltic Sea off the coast of Finland. Former rally champion Juha Kankkunen sent a Bentley Continental GT at 330.69km/h over a 14km graded section of the 700mm-thick ice. The fuel used, says Eichhorn, was derived from waste straw.

The luxury automaker is planning to roll out 100 special-edition models to commemorate Juha Kankkunen's recent record-breaking ice-speed run. With only a roll-cage, Pirelli winter tires, a rear parachute, and a few minor aerodynamic changes added to the Bentley, world rally champion Kankkunen got behind the wheel and sped his way through the slippery terrain to achieve a world ice speed record. Bentley will show the new Supersports 'Ice Speed Record' convertible as well as Juha's record-breaking car on the Bentley stand at the Geneva Show.

While most people associate James Bond with Aston Martins, the original Ian Fleming books had the British master spy driving a Bentley.  In a new book commissioned by Ian Fleming Publications, author Jeffrey Deaver has returned 007 to his rightful place in a Bentley in the pages of Carte Blanche.Deaver, author of the Bone Collector, selected the Bentley Continental GT in his book to be published on May 26, a few days before the anniversary of Fleming's birthday.The book is partly set in Dubai, where Deaver recently drove a Continental GT.  "It is an inspirational and awe-inspiring city and makes a perfect Bond location, especially for a novel that pushes our hero to new extremes," he says.Despite Bond driving a Bentley in Fleming's books, his first car in a movie was a Sunbeam Alpine in the 1962 film, Dr No.  He didn't drive a Bentley until the second Bond flick, From Russia With Love, in 1963 in which the licensed-to-kill agent drove a Bentley Mark IV.It wasn't until the third Bond movie, Goldfinger, in 1964, that Bond drove the famous Aston Martin DB5, the quintessential Bond car.  There were also Bentleys in On Her Majesty's Secret Service (1969) and Moonraker (1979).Other car companies have used Bond films to promote and even launch new models.  Highlights are the amphibious Lotus Esprit in The Spy Who Loved Me and the launch of the BMW Z3 Roadster in GoldenEye.Agent 007 carsVehicles starring in James Bond films:1962, Dr No: Sunbeam Alpine, Chevrolet Bel Air convertible1963, From Russia With Love: Bentley Mark IV1964, Goldfinger: Aston Martin DB5, Rolls-Royce, Mercedes 190 coupe, Lincoln Continental, Ford Mustang convertible, Rolls-Royce Phantom III1965, Thunderball: Aston Martin DB5, Ford Mustang convertible, BSA Lightning 650cc motorcycle, gyrocopter1967, You Only Live Twice: Toyota 2000 GT, BMW 2000 CS1969, On Her Majesty's Secret Service: Aston Martin DBS, Mercury Cougar, Bentley Mark II Continental, Rolls-Royce Corniche1971, Diamonds are Forever: 1971 Ford Mustang Mach 1, Triumph Stag, moonbuggy1973, Live And Let Die: Glastron speedboat, double-decker London bus, Chevrolet Impala convertible, Mini Moke1974, The Man With The Golden Gun: AMC Hornet and Matador, Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow1977, The Spy Who Loved Me: Lotus Esprit, Wetbike concept, Ford Cortina 2.3 Ghia, Mini Moke1979, Moonraker: Bentley Mark IV, Rolls-Royce Silver Wraith II1981, For Your Eyes Only: Citroen 2CV, Lotus Esprit Turbo, Rolls-Royce Silver Wraith II1983, Octopussy: Mercedes-Benz 250 SE, BMW 5 Series, Alfa Romeo GTV1985, A View To A Kill: Renault taxi, Ford LTD, Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud II, Chevrolet Corvette C4, Jeep Cherokee (XJ)1987, The Living Daylights: Aston Martin DBS and V8 Vantage, Audi 200 Quattro1989, Licence To Kill: Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow, Kenworth petrol tanker1995, GoldenEye: BMW Z3 roadster, Aston Martin DB5, Russian tank, Ferrari 3551997, Tomorrow Never Dies: Aston Martin DB5, BMW 750iL, BMW R1200C motorcycle1999, The World is not Enough: BMW Z8, Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow2002, Die Another Day: Aston Martin Vanquish, Jaguar XKR, pink Ford Thunderbird convertible2006: Casino Royale: Aston Martin DBS and DB5, Jaguar E Type Roadster, Fiat Panda 4x4, Ford Transit, Ford Mondeo2008: Quantum of Solace: Aston Martin DBS V12, Alfa Romeo 159 and 156, Audi A6, Ford Ka & Edge, Jaguar XJ8, Volvo S40T5, Volkswagen Type 1.

It's fast, it's flash, and it's finally here.  Bentley have unveiled their new GT coupe at the Paris Motor Show. The W12 engine produces more power (575 PS / 567 bhp / 423 kW) and torque (700 Nm / 516 lb ft) as well as sharper acceleration times throughout the range. There's also increased storage space, an additional 46 mm of legroom for back-seat passengers and a state-of-the-art 30 GB infotainment system supported by touchscreen technology.Deliveries to customers will start in the first quarter of 2011.

The V8 will have 40 per cent lower CO2 emissions than the 384g/km of the W12, but both engines will be capable of running on 85 per cent ethanol.  Bentley has committed to having E85 compatibility in all its cars by 2012 with the first being the Supersports launched here last December. While performance details are not yet available for the V8, the 12-cylinder, twin-turbocharged powertrain will have 12kW more power with 423kW and 700Nm of torque. It will be mated to a new Quickshift transmission which enables double downshifts. Bentley claims this combination of engine and transmission drops the 0-100km/h time from 4.6 to 4.4 seconds.  Australia's Bentley spokesman, Ian Churchill, says they will be taking orders for the new four-seater coupe later this year with a local launch in the second quarter of next year. "The W12 engine is available at launch with the V8 derivative to be communicated late 2011," he says.  "Both will ultimately be available to the Australian market. "The key point to note with these two engine configurations is our overall commitment to producing engaging vehicles for the market while still making clear our intention to embrace a combination of flex-fuel and engine improvements to reduce Bentley's environment impact."Pricing will be announced soon, he says. "In terms of sales we expect strong interest from owners of the current Continental coupe, of which we have sold 23,000 since launch in 2003," Churchill says.  "The blend of supercar performance with everyday practicality has meant the new GT is attracting many new clients to the Bentley stable." The car will also feature "super formed" aluminium front wings and boot lid that allow for a more sculpted body.  Super forming heats the aluminium panels to nearly 500 degrees Celsius before shaping them by air pressure. By using a single sheet of aluminium, no seams or welding are required. The process was first used on the Mulsanne and it allows a weight reduction in the coupe of 65kg.  The exterior now features jewelled headlamps with LED daytime-running lights, a more upright matrix radiator grille and new double horseshoe rear profile first shown on the flagship Bentley Mulsanne. Inside is a new sweeping dashboard and instrument panel finished in premium, soft-touch leather hides, cobra-design seats, more rear cabin space and a new touchscreen, 30GB infotainment system with satellite navigation.

The special 'Arabia' models from Bentley show how well the luxury badge has done in the Middle East while other brands were suffering sales drops.  The oil-rich market has doubled its slice of Bentley purchases in the last five years and now buys 10 per cent of the marque's global sales, despite the recent global financial crisis.In recognition of that the VW-owned British breed has been busy at its Crewe headquarters, designing and developing two unique Continental models with a range of features specific to the Middle East market.Imaginatively named the Continental Flying Spur Arabia and the Continental Flying Spur Speed Arabia, the high-performance luxury four-door saloon - which starts at just under $400,000 if you bought one here - has additional features to create what the company says is "the ultimate in distinguished, elegant driving developed for the Arabic  market.''Both cars are further distinguished by some subtle exterior and interior Arabia motifs. These include an exterior front fender badge, tread plate and ashtray lid badge all bearing the Arabia signature.In any other part of the world - and many other brands - it might well be called a "bling'' edition, but Bentley isn't treading on the toes of "Pimp My Ride.''  The already-ample features list has been bolstered with ventilated "fluted'' seats that now cool as well as heat - the latter not really a must-have for the Middle East - as well as the option of active cruise control, a rear-view camera, iPod connectivity for the rear DVD system, phone handsets front and rear and carbon ceramic brakes (which need the Speed's 20in wheels, optional on the Flying Spur, for space).Even the fuel cap has been blinged up in bright chrome with the famous B badge.  Bentley's Middle East and Asia regional director Geoff Dowding says the new models for Arabic customers is recognition of their growing importance to the marque."Bentley has a long and proud tradition of being able to design, engineer and personalise our cars to the individual styling and driving tastes of our customers and these special-edition Bentleys showcase these skills for the Middle East Market,'' he says.The Arabia editions don't get any extra urge, but the standard six-litre twin-turbo W12 has an elegant sufficiency of propulsion for the 2440kg machine, thanks to 412kW and 650Nm being delivered to all four wheels via a six-speed automatic.That's enough for the Flying Spur Arabia to reach a top speed of 312 km/h and a 0-100 km/h sprint time of just 5.2 seconds.  The Speed Arabia has 449kW and 750Nm at its driver's disposal, dropping the 0-100 km/h sprint to 4.8 seconds and upping the top speed of 322km/h.

These are the fantasies of vehicle designers that we usually only get to see at international motor shows. Now Detroit's finest motoring graphic artists are sending their finest works of motoring art around the world in a travelling exhibition that will hit Brisbane from this month. Called Industrial Desire, the exhibition will feature models, drawings and film footage, Detroit's gothic beauty and iconic futuristic cars. With less than a few thousand car designers globally, it counts as one of the world's most competitive and secretive careers. Show curator Leon Fitzpatrick, an Australian-born industrial designer who studied in Detroit, has picked the exhibition pieces from Detroit's College for Creative Studies, an international centre of excellence in transportation design. "What we need out there are cars that ignite a sense of wonder, rather than the rolling appliances they have become," he says. "These models show there's no reason why cars can't be exciting, aesthetically pleasing and thoughtful all at the same time." The show, which runs from June 10 to August 28 at Artisan Gallery in Fortitude Valley, features 10 quarter-scale models of fantastic concept vehicles including futuristic SUVs, muscle cars and cutting edge ecofriendly city cars. They are supported by original sketches and renderings, multimedia video, sketches, rendering and digital 3-D modelling. "With the automotive industry on the verge of a massive shift it is timely to look at the creativity and optimism of the next generation of car designers," Fitzpatrick says. "Industrial Desire is a powerful, informative and inspirational experience for people of all ages, merging craft and design in a new and innovative way." Another Australian link in the exhibition is Imre Molnar, Dean at the College for Creative Studies in Detroit, who trained at the National Art School of Sydney in Australia and worked with the Australian Design Council. He has been a featured lecturer on strategic design management for businesses around the globe, including Nokia, NCR, Volkswagen, BMW, the Ford Motor Company and JETRO (Japanese External Trade Organisation), and at government symposia.

A petrol-electric luxury limousine is already in the works as Bentley looks for efficiency and green power over coming years. But that's not the end of things for the upmarket British. “Our customers are clearly also concerned about energy use,” says Bentley's CEO, Dr Franz-Josef Paefgen. “But longer term we need to look at exactly what type of hybrid technology would be suitable for Bentley cars.” Paefgen says the size and weight of Bentley cars means factoring-in expensive and heavy hybrid technology needed to be assessed properly. “There would have to be significant gains in lowering fuel economy and emissions too,” he says. Bentley, which is part of the Volkswagen Group, has ready access to hybrid powertrains as the parent company proved with its Touareg SUV hybrid at the Geneva Motor Show. Paefgen says newer technologies are definitely part of Bentley’s future, but the current priority is fuel economy and C02 reductions on its existing engines and the introduction of petrol/ethanol flex-fuel engines on cars like the new 6.8-litre V8 Mulsanne. To help lower fuel consumption, the eight-speed automatic Mulsanne has cylinder deactivation and camshaft phasing, technologies which helps reduce C02 emissions by 15 per cent. From June all Bentleys will be available with flex-fuel engines, and a model with a diesel engine is also lurking. But the diesel drive is not as straightforward as it could be, because of resistance from Bentley's biggest and most cashed-up group of customers. “We have a diesel ready to go. But there is a clear statement from our American friends that they are not ready for a diesel," Paefgen says. “As America represents 40 per cent of our sales we cannot risk introducing an engine that is not accepted by our biggest market.” However, Paefgen says Audi and Volkswagen’s diesel push into North America could help the Bentley cause. “Mercedes, Audi and BMW will also lead the way and I’m confident that we will see a diesel Bentley in four or five years," he says. While engines are an important focus for Bentley, the company's sales and marketing chief, Stuart McCullough, says rebuilding the business after the economic rollercoaster of the last 18 months is the biggest focus. Still, unlike Rolls-Royce - which has launched the smaller Ghost below its flagship Phantom - Bentley has no plans to go smaller, McCullough says. “We don’t have customers demanding a smaller vehicle. But we are thinking about future products.” Globally, Bentley sold just 4600 cars last year, down from its 2007 high of 10,014. “It’s been two ends of the extreme. We’ll certainly sell more than 4600 cars this year but it’s difficult to see when we’ll see the days of five-digit sales. “Will we return to the hubris of 2006-2007? I don’t think we will see the like of that type of market for a very long time. Having said, a lot of things are changing in the world. China is growing fundamentally as a market and that’s changing the scale of the global market.”