2010 Touring Superleggera Bentley Continental Flying Star

Bentley Continental Flying Star

Bentley Continental Flying Star

Bentley Continental Flying Star

Bentley Continental Flying Star

Bentley Continental Flying Star

2010 Bentley Continental Supersports Convertible

Finally a new automatically opening and closing closing Powerboot is now standard on the new Continental Flying Spur and GTC models (not on Supersports versions).

2010 ONYX Bentley Continental Platinium GTO picture

Bentley Continental GTC Speed 2010 road test

Until recently the Bentley Continental GTC Speed was the most powerful convertible Bentley had ever produced and only lost the tag when the range-topping “Supersports” Continental was let off the leash in mid-2010. Building on the success of the Continental GT the “Speed” features the famous W12 6.0-litre Bentley engine but the engineers have managed to increase power from 552bhp to 600bhp, does the Speed live up to its name?

There aren’t many car manufacturers that would collectively sit down and look at an existing model which has a top speed of 195mph, 552 bhp under the bonnet, a 0-62mph time of 5.1 seconds and think it wasn’t swift enough but these discussions look to have taken place at the Crewe-based prestige car maker. The result of these talks is the Continental GT Speed – available in coupe or convertible form, which features an up-rated engine under that beautiful bonnet. The engine offers 15% more torque and 9% more power than the standard Continental GT, while engine efficiency is optimised by the use of lower friction, lighter-weight components and a new engine management system. Thanks to this power and torque increase, and a 55kg reduction in weight, the GTC Speed is capable of hitting 200mph and 0-62mph time shaves 0.3 seconds off the standard Continental GT at 4.8 seconds. Coupled to the engine is a flawless six-speed automatic transmission. The result is a stunning experience, with almost bottomless well-like reserves of power to be had. Put the pedal to the foot and instantly feel and hear the engine roar, in lesser hands all that power could have been a problem, but the engineers at Bentley are well versed in ensuring all the grunt finds its way to the tarmac, and those majestic 20-inch alloy wheels. The latest versions of the W12 6.0-litre engine have the capability to run on petrol, E85 bioethanol or any mix of the two, all from the single tank. Running the car on E85 can have a significant positive impact on “well-to-wheel” emissions, however at 396g/km, CO2 emissions are among the highest of any production car on UK roads. Fuel consumption isn’t the car’s strong point either, the engine’s thirsty and the car weights near two and a half tonnes, so a combined mpg figure of 17 isn’t going to win the car any economy awards. Frankly though, the Bentley Continental GTC Speed isn’t about frugality, it’s about performance, style and luxury. And on those three criteria the car scores a perfect 5.

Bentley Continental Flying Spur Speed China

British manufacturer Bentley brought the newest edition of the Continental Flying Spur Speed China to the 2010 Auto China Motor Show.

The new edition developed especially for the Chinese market features a bespoke comfort suspension setting, which helps the car to deliver a superior ride quality for both the driver and passenger. The Continental Flying Spur Speed is known as the world's fastest luxury four-door saloon. It appears that this latest edition will make no exception as it comes with the same W12 6-litre engine capable to push the car from 0 to 60 mph in just 4.5 seconds (0-100km/h in 4.8 seconds) with top speed reaching 200mph/322km/h. The latest edition has also a re-tuned exhaust in order to produce a quieter note. The Speed China is accompanied by a range of design features that accentuate the special edition status of the vehicle such as Speed China tread-plates and wing badges (with a matching badge visible on the centre console). Likewise, the famous Bentley 'B' emblem is affixed to both C pillars. Interior custom leather cushions for rear passengers are embroidered with Bentley wings as well. Each car will also be available with a special display case for the ignition key.

2011 Bentley Mulsanne Review

In the Bentley lineup, the Mulsanne slips into the top spot recently vacated by the Arnage sedan, that aged doyen of the luxury-car class. Well, perhaps not exactly the same spot. The Mulsanne is better than fifty grand more expensive, at $287,600 plus a still-to-be-determined gas-guzzler tax. It's also a tick less than seven inches longer while tipping the scales at the same Rubenesque 5700 pounds. The regal coachwork, much of it hand-finished, is draped over a six-inch-longer wheelbase. In price, size, and bearing, the Mulsanne moves closer to Rolls-Royce. Actually, by most measures, it nestles in between the Rolls Phantom and the new Rolls-Royce Ghost.

Bentley claims that the Mulsanne is the company's first from-scratch vehicle in eighty years (!), meaning that it's the first Bentley not adapted from another car. (The Continentals, for instance, are built off the platform of the Volkswagen Phaeton, and previous big Bentleys were adapted Rolls-Royce designs.) Even so, there are some items shared with the Audi A8, such as the Mulsanne's new eight-speed automatic transmission (by ZF) and the infotainment system, which is based on Audi's Multi Media Interface.

Although the Mulsanne is a new car, its mechanical layout is decidedly traditional, much more so than that of the Continental family. Whereas those cars all have a W-shaped twelve-cylinder engine driving all four wheels, the Mulsanne uses the massive V-8 and rear-wheel-drive configuration of its predecessor. The pushrod V-8 retains the previous bore and stroke dimensions, the "63/4 litre" designation, and two turbochargers. Brian Gush, head of powertrain and chassis, says that the previous engine "was a good starting point; then w

2011 Bentley Mulsanne Test Drive

Bentley's flagship debuts at a time when the ultraluxury market is rebounding from a period where conspicuous consumption was viewed as a social liability. How does the high-priced, hand-crafted Mulsanne make a case for itself against mass-manufactured sedans?


The Bentley brand has gone through numerous cycles of boom and bust since W.O. Bentley fired up his first engine some 91 years ago, and the company's most recent challenge has been an economic downturn that has placed particular strain on the sales performance of the VW-owned British brand.

The poshest offering in Bentley's already lofty lineup, the new Mulsanne asserts the brand's most ambitious ideals of limited volume and hand-built assembly. But beneath its hand-rubbed paint, several engineering details reveal that Bentley is making subtle strides to adapt to the times. For instance, the Mulsanne's all-new powerplant is the first in its segment to feature variable displacement for improved fuel efficiency, and its 8-speed transmission boasts the first use of paddle shifters in any Bentley sedan. Let's go motoring to see how this big, pricey Bentley addresses the 21st century.

Bentley Mulsanne road test

The Mulsanne is the first all-new bespoke Bentley in 80 years and is an important model for a company that took a bit of a beating during the recession (sales fell from 10,014 to 4,700 between 2007 and 2009). A £220,000 luxury limousine with a sporting twist that is in keeping with Bentley’s Le Mans-winning heritage, the Mulsanne is the company’s new flagship model, replacing the Arnage. Its looks are little controversial, with many critics finding its external styling a little too idiosyncratic for their tastes, but there’s no doubting its performance.

The Mulsanne, even in its most basic form, costs £220,000, a sum that can only be afforded by the very richest members of society. Add a few optional extras and the price soon rises beyond £250,000. But you don’t buy a Mulsanne if your bank balance is going to take a significant hit, so it would be unfair to mark it down in this category. After all, if you have that kind of money to spend on a car, it constitutes good value. In terms of running costs, it’s pretty much a question of if you have to ask, you can’t afford them. Fuel economy of 16.7mpg on the combined cycle is around what one would expect (although the Rolls-Royce Ghost’s 20.8mpg betters it) and CO2 emissions of 393g/km mean that it’s positioned in Band M for vehicle excise duty, which will cost £950 in the first year and £435 in subsequent years. Residual values should be decent, but the Mulsanne won’t be as good an investment as a Picasso lithograph. The previous Arnage retained around 44% of its value after three years and 60,000 miles, which is a good indicator of how the new model will fare.

Bentley Mulsanne car review

First impressions have been mixed. Many questioned the Mulsanne’s styling when it was first revealed. I wasn’t one of them though, for what it’s worth, I reckon the Mulsanne blends just the right amount of subtle muscularity that’s long been a Bentley characteristic, with some real flair.

The exterior takes Bentley’s past and mixes in some future design elements – and the same is true of the interior. Traditional, with a blend of modernity, the Mulsanne is still a car that many cows have sacrificed their finest hides for. The dashboard is a true work of art, and the entire cabin is ringed by stunning, mirror finished, veneered wood. Combine that with soft leather everywhere else, just enough chrome and some piano black switches, and the Mulsanne feels like it’s worth every penny of the £220,000 asking price.

The controls all operate with solidity, the push-pull chrome ventilation knobs are a tactile treat and refreshingly old school, though behind the tradition is modern equipment to ensure that the Mulsanne works in this century. There’s a satnav system secreted away behind a wooden panel, featuring a 60 Gb hard drive and Bluetooth telecommunication. Bentley has even added a drawer within which you can drop your iPod, MP3 player or phone and connect it directly to the infotainment system.

2011 Bentley Azurev expected price and complete specifications

The new Bentley Mulssane will be launched into the UK market very soon to become the British firm’s new flagship, replacing the mighty Arnage. But the lofty Mulsanne is way more important than just a new sedan. It will spawn a number of new models during its lifecycle, first of which will be the new generation Azure.

As the insiders tell us the new Bentley Azure will use the same platform as the Mulsanne, with some adjustments here and there since it’s a convertible. Apart form technicalities, it will also look pretty much the same as the big daddy only it will be a two-door obviously. As you see in these renderings, that goofy face of the Mulsanne actually fits better with the drop-top style than the limousine!

2011 Bentley Continental GT Design Series China and 2011 Continental Flying Spur Speed China

Continental GT Design Series China

The Continental GT Design Series China will be available in unique Orange Flame or Magenta Metallic paint. The interior surfaces feature a three-tone design that contrasts the primary leather, the seat and door inserts, and the interior accent trim. Accents are offered in orange or magenta—depending on exterior paint, of course—and can be applied to the seatbelts, floor mats, seat piping, or steering-wheel stitching. Lining the cabin is the customer’s choice of piano black, burr walnut, or exotic amboyna wood veneers. Design Series China badges adorn the center console, door sills, and front fenders. Although this package sounds really gaudy and tasteless, we think the orange car shown here actually works. We’ll withhold judgment on the magenta until we see some photos.

Continental Flying Spur Speed China

There’s also a special-edition Flying Spur Speed revised to suit Chinese tastes. Complementing the car’s performance abilities—we clocked a 4.2-second 0–60 sprint—the Spur Speed China has a new “Comfort” suspension setting and a quieter exhaust. Bentley says this achieves the higher levels of refinement and comfort sought by Chinese customers. We say the Speed’s exhaust note is too quiet to begin with, and the suspension is already adjustable. Don’t buy the Speed if you want soft.

Rear-seat passengers get treated to leather cushions embroidered with the Bentley winged logo, and the car comes with an extremely useful display case for the ignition key. The exterior C-pillars wear the Bentley “B” logo, and, like the Conti GT above, wears special badges on the center stack, door sills, and front fenders.a

Bentley Mulsanne hits the red carpet!

The Bentley Mulsanne, the new flagship of the prestigious English brand, made its Canadian debut yesterday in Montreal. The scene was quite glamorous, with lovely young ladies dressed in samba costumes walking and dancing around $15-million Learjets!

The Mulsanne is Bentley’s new flagship and, even at $313,500 US, the order sheet for 2010 is already full. Customers will have to wait a year before taking delivery of their car. (

The exclusive event took place in the hangars of Starlink inside the Montreal-Trudeau Airport Terminal. On hand were select customers of Bentley Montreal, a division of Decarie Motors, as well as Christophe Georges, President and COO of Bentley Motors.

The media were there, too, which made it a great opportunity to wrap up the latest fund-raising campaign for the Quebec Cerebral Palsy Association, represented by Olympic champion Alexandre Bilodeau.

The finest automobile in the world!
Replacing the Arnage (1998-2009), the Bentley Mulsanne is an ultra-high-end sedan that rivals Rolls-Royces and Maybachs. Its world premiere was part of the 2009 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance.

The car will only become available to North American customers at the end of 2010, since production hasn’t even started yet. However, the entire run has already been pre-ordered. "Demand currently exceeds our production capacity, so if you order one today, it will be delivered to you in about a year," explains Georges.

The Mulsanne was actually designed to become a highly-exclusive model. The president didn’t give any specific number, but he mentioned a few hundred units per year at the most. (The Arnage, meanwhile, used to sell from 1,000 to 1,500 copies in its prime.) "Fifty years from now, the Mulsanne should and will become a collector’s item," he predicts.

Pricing for the Bentley Mulsanne has been set at $313,500 US. Of course, that number will be adjusted when the first Canadian models arrive in showrooms.

Sporty heritage
At the start of the project, designers were asked to create the "finest automobile in the world." The Mulsanne’s exterior captures a unique fusion of power, elegance and sporting style. "Charisma without arrogance" is how the president of Bentley Motors puts it.

2010 Bentley Continental Supersports Convertible

Bentley Continental Models to be Flex-Fuel-Capable

Bentley Continentals will be able to gulp down whiskey with the best of 'em: June. Well, not exactly whiskey, but ethanol's pretty close. Bentley had made the announcement (sans date) at the Geneva Motor Show when it showed off the Continental Supersports Convertible.
Bentley Continental sees this move as a big first step in reaching its stated goal of offering an entirely biofuel-capable lineup by 2012. In its latest form, Bentley's twin-turbocharged 6.0-liter W12 offers up 621 horsepower and 590 pound-feet of torque. That's sufficient to push the big Conti' to 60 miles per hour in 3.9 seconds and on up to a top speed of 202 mph.

As the Continental is Bentley's most popular model line by far, this means that over half of all cars the luxury brand sells this year will be flex-fuel models. For those keeping track, the Brooklands coupe (which will soon be discontinued), Azure sedan and the soon-to-be-released Mulsanne sedan (the replacement for the long-running Arnage) are still not yet biofuel capable. According to Automotive News, the Mulsanne will be E85-capable shortly after its launch later this year.

2010 Bentley Continental Supersports

The 2010 Bentley Continental Supersports is to ultra-luxury performance cars what Shaquille O'Neal was to the NBA before he stopped taking himself seriously — big on the outside, small on the inside and overwhelming in just about any way that can be measured. Also, like Shaq, the Bentley becomes a lot more likable once one realizes it shouldn't be taken too seriously.

Anyone who witnessed Shaq Vs, the ABC reality show last summer in which the NBA superstar challenged other professional athletes in their respective disciplines, knows that Shaq is well beyond taking himself seriously these days. He's funny, amiable and even self-deprecating before and after having his ass handed to him by various experts in various sports. The 2010 Bentley Continental Supersports is much the same.

Bentley's Fastest Convertible Sportscar

Having launched its Continental Supersports model last year, Bentley has followed this up with the introduction of an open-topped version. The Continental Supersports Convertible is the company's fastest drop-top yet, with a 0-62mph time of 4.2 seconds, a 0-100mph time of 9.6 seconds and a top speed of 202mph thanks to its 621bhp twin-turbocharged six-litre engine.

To cope with all this power, the Supersports has uprated suspension, carbon-ceramic brakes and Pirelli Ultra High Performance tyres. Larger air intakes and extended rear wheelarches are there for technical reasons, though they also give visual clues to the car's capability.

The engine, incidentally, is able to run on petrol, or E85 bioethanol, or a mixture of the two. Bentley aims to make all its cars - not just the Continental - able to run on biofuel by 2012.

Bentley launches 202mph supercar

Bentely has revealed another new model - it's fastest, greenest convertible ever.

The Continental Supersports Convertible will have a top speed of 202mph and be able to reach 60mp in just 3.9 seconds. It is sure to get pulses racing among Bentley's loyal army of footballer clients, who include England stars David Beckham, Wayne Rooney and Joleon Lescott.

Bentley Continental GTC SuperSports

The Continental SuperSports sits at the top of Bentley’s range, as the halo performance variant of the Phaeton-based Continental range. It’s a bit out of place in my mind, to be honest: carbon fibre this and that, parcel shelf instead of a back seat, E85 flex-fuel capability, a horse-ton of horsepower, Darth Vader-on-meth styling, and a top speed that clears 200mph by a comfortable margin are not things one associates with an “old money” traditional British luxury brand. Still, it’s awesome in an “I don’t quite understand this” sort of way – there’s no obvious reason for it’s existence, but aren’t you glad it exists in the first place?

Well if you’re a fan of the Continental SuperSports, by the transitive property you should be even more of a fan of Bentley’s newest derivative of the Continental: the GTC SuperSports. It’s exactly what you’d expect: the fire-breathing SuperSports hardware stuck into the suave drop-top GTC body. Now, normally, I’d scoff at a convertible derivative of the highest-performance version of a sports car. It’s a pretty stupid concept. Convertible mean more weight, less torsional rigidity, more slop, and that undefinable “poseur” aspect that comes with intentionally choosing the “look at me!” version of a car. But with the GTC SuperSports, I think it actually makes a bit of sense.

First of all, the SuperSports doesn’t make any sense in the first place. So a flashier drop-top version of the same is more like glorious excess rather than a shallow marketing ploy (even if it is a shallow marketing ploy.) And it’s not like the SuperSports was a light vehicle to begin with – even with all the weight that Bentley hacked out of the Continental, the biofuel-munching SuperSports coupe still tips the scales at 4938 pounds, which isn’t going to go around a corner very quickly no matter how you look at it. And while that’s better than the 5181lbs of a regular Continental GT, it’s still about two and a half tons.

And frankly, this car wasn’t meant to be a corner-carver. What Bentley claims it is, however, is the fastest four-seat convertible in the world. The top speed drops 2mph over the hardtop version, but that’s still 202mph. Obviously, it take a lot of grunt to move 2.5 tons of British beef up past the double century mark, and the GTC SuperSports doesn’t lack in the that department. It shares the same tweaked 6.0L twin-turbo W12 motor as the coupe, which makes 621bhp and 590lb-ft of torque, regardless of whether it’s sucking down dead dinos or bioethanol. The drop-top will rip to 60 in 3.9 seconds and 100 in 9.6, which should be fast enough to ruin your $300 haircut lickety-split.

Bentley Continental Supersports

Bentley Continental Supersports

Spy Shots: Bentley Continental Supersports Convertible Spotted

A member of the PistonHeads forum community spotted this convertible version of the Bentley Continental

Supersports during what looks like a photo shoot for the vehicle. Bentley has yet to confirm a convertible version of the Continental Supersports supercar, but this should be enough evidence for you guys.

No idea when Bentley will officially release the model.

Refresher: Power for the Bentley Continental Supersports comes from a 6.0L W12 twin-turbocharged engine making 621-hp with a maximum torque of 590 lb-ft. 0 – 60 mph comes in 3.7 seconds with a top speed of 204 mph. The engine is capable of running on gasoline and E85 biofuel or any combination of the two.