Bentley News

Motor show committee chairman Chris Beecham said attendance was more than 117,000 over the 10 days of the show, compared with last year's record 128,000.He attributed the smaller figure to the one-off move from February to March, CityTrain and the Broncos versus Cowboys clash on Sunday."We'll be happy to go back to February next year," he said. The Brisbane show swapped dates with the Melbourne Motor Show so it could avoid a clash with the Commonwealth Games."Overall, the quality of the stands was good and there were a lot of sales made," Beecham said.Audi Centre dealer principal Greg Willims said they sold a lot of luxury vehicles including a $748,000 Lamborghini Murcielago Roadster, a Maserati GranSport costing $264,000 and two Bentley Continental Flying Spurs worth $390,000 each.He said they also had orders for two Bentley Azure convertibles worth $650,000 each and 32 Audi Q7 sports utility vehicles.A custom chopper built during the duration of the show was passed in at auction for $75,000 on Saturday night as it was below reserve.The Croc Chopper, built by King Pin Choppers of Geebung, is now for sale by private tender with profits going to the Royal Children's Hospital Foundation.Leukemia patient Harley Jack Davidson Jones, 7, of the Gold Coast, gave the project his seal of approval when he was a guest of the show last week.With a name like that, he could hardly be expected to disapprove, although he seemed more interested in the Wiggles car on a nearby stand.Harley did, however, appreciate the crushing action of the croc's jaws at the front of the bike.A Royal Children's Hospital Foundation spokeswoman said the money raised from the auction would be used to help find a cure for people like Harley.Kin Pin Choppers boss Phil Harwood said he was disappointed the bike was not sold, but the way now was open for its true value to be realised.Prospective buyers should contact motor show organiser Michelle Ramsey, on 3237 8760.More than $105,000 was raised for the Road Safety Fund of Queensland in the annual Personalised Plates Queensland Collector Plate Auction at the show with the top price of $15,000 bid for Q162.Successful bidder Peter Campbell of the Gold Coast said he already had Q308 and wanted to acquire more of the historic Q plates, the first series issued in Queensland early last century.Another collector bought the new football-themed, seven-character plates BRONCOS ($14,000) and COWBOYS ($13,000).Next year's motor show will be from February 2-11.Exhibitor stand results: motorcycles and scooters, Morgan & Wacker Harley-Davidson; motor vehicle stand under 500sq m, Saab; stand over 500sq m and John Cant Award, Hyundai; allied industry display, Personalised Plates Queensland; and aftermarket stand, Northfield Car Sound.

At $1.3 million the V12 Pagani Zonda roadster, pictured, one of the most expensive cars to be revealed in Queensland, will roar to life among close to 20 environmentally friendly diesel and hybrid (petrol/electric) examples.Queensland's annual motoring extravaganza has drawn a record number of cars making their Australian or Queensland debuts which reflects the buoyant state of the local new car market.More than 216,000 (22 per cent of the national market) new vehicles were purchased in Queensland last year, with the Sunshine State leading the way in growth.What has also helped build the imposing list of Motor Show exhibits is the scheduling of the show a month later than normal because it swapped dates with Melbourne which avoided clashing with the Commonwealth Games."Visitors this year will see more than 50 cars that either are just released or still to be released, while there are quite a few more they may never see on the roads, such as the Holden Efijy concept or ultra-rare exotics like the Pagani Zonda," Chris Beecham, chairman of the motor show organising committee said."By putting on their best displays the companies are acknowledging the growing influence of Queensland car buyers."From the industry's viewpoint, the show provides a strong kick-start to the sales year."Also competing for exotic bragging rights will be Ferrari's 612 Scaglietti and F430, the $650,000 Bentley Azure convertible, Maserati GranSport Spyder, the Lamborghini Gallardo Roadster and Murcielago, Jaguar XK convertible and Australia's 300km/h Redback Spyder which is featured on the cover of the motor show program in The Courier-Mail today.The Porsche range returns after several years which features the all-new Cayman S coupe which sits between the Boxster and the 911.The traditional display of motorcycles will have a spectacular star, with predictions the "Croc Chopper", being custom-built on a special show stand, could fetch up to $120,000 when it is auctioned on the final night for the Royal Children's Hospital Foundation charity.Fuel-efficient, environment-friendly cars will appear in record numbers.Lexus debuts Australia's first luxury sedan with petrol-electric hybrid power, the 450H, and Honda with an all-new Civic hybrid.The latest examples of clean, powerful and economical turbocharged diesel engines will be displayed by traditionally sporty brands BMW, Alfa Romeo and Jaguar.Citroen, Peugeot, Audi, Volkswagen, Mercedes-Benz, Mazda and Holden will show "oil-burners".An added attraction will be the staging of the official V8 Supercars championship launch featuring all cars, drivers and transporters at South Bank from 10am-2pm on Saturday.Both Little Stanley St and Glenelg St, just outside the motor show, will be closed for the free event.While the V8 launch only runs on one day the motor show continues until Saturday week.

The company first hinted of a new Azure when it unveiled the Arnage Drophead Coupe at the Los Angeles Auto Show last year.It stimulated such interest that Bentley decided to resurrect the Azure name.Like its predecessor, which was in production from 1995 to 2002, the new Azure becomes the flagship of the Bentley model range.The four-seater is powered by a 6.75-litre twin-turbocharged V8 engine producing 336kW of power and 875Nm of torque, mated to a four-speed automatic.It will accelerate to 100km/h in 5.9 seconds and has a maximum speed of 270km/h.The cabin and rear section of the car are newly designed, with a bespoke interior to the buyer's tastes, including a choice of wood trim and 21 leather upholstery colours.The three-layer fabric folding roof has a heated rear glass screen and is operated hydraulically at the touch of a switch, closing or opening in less than 30 seconds.The roof fits under the tonneau panel which also incorporates pop-up, roll-over protection bolsters.The Azure features lightweight carbon-fibre under-floor cross-braces to bolster body stiffness and sits on 12-spoke 19-inch alloy wheels with fat 255mm 45 Pirelli P-Zero rubber.The huge — 5.4m — car has a 3116mm wheelbase and 1610mm track.Bentley spokesman James Barclay said the Azure would arrive in Australia at the beginning of 2007."In terms of volume it is too early to predict but will obviously be very exclusive," he said."Around 1300 of the previous model Azures were sold between 1995 and 2002 worldwide."An interesting fact that puts that number into perspective is that it takes approximately 680 man-hours to build the new Azure."

At midday on Tuesday 7 February it will lead the $6 million Motor Show Cavalcade down Swanston Street to Federation Square. After taking part in the 10-car display until 2.00 pm, it will be taken to the Motor Show in time for the public opening at 5.00 pm on Thursday 9 February. The luxurious four-seater Azure, which goes on sale later this year, is the production version of the Arnage Drophead Coupe show car which was first unveiled at the Los Angeles Motorshow in January 2005. In true Bentley fashion, it blends the most traditional of craftsmanship with the most modern of engineering to deliver a car which is much more than it seems. The Azure shares its face and driveline with the Arnage, and seats four adults in an opulent cabin beneath a fabric folding roof that can be lowered in 30 seconds. Its double-wishbone suspension and general body structure are adopted from the Arnage, along with its twin-turbocharged V8 engine which develops 336 kW of power and a massive 875 Nm of torque. Where the Azure differs from the show car is in having lightweight carbon fibre, under-floor cross braces for exceptional body stiffness that enhances refinement, ride and handling. In addition, the chrome trimmed bumpers and sills of the show car are now painted in body colour with a delicate chrome trim that runs the length of the car, enhancing the flowing lines of the Azure body.