Hot Shot: Another (official) pic of the New Grand Bentley
The New Grand Bentley – Click above for high-res image gallery
Car magazine has been keeping up on the story of the New Grand Bentley, aided by someone at Crewe who's been snapping illicit shots of the vehicle. This is Bentley's next official photo, however, and unless the British automaker has thrown a MacGuffin into the plot, it appears to contradict one of Car's assertions when speaking of its own spy shots: "It's not clearly visible on these shots, but the rear door handles will be hidden...." Have a look at the high-res photo and you'll see the opposite of a hidden door handle.
According to Car, the "Project Kimberley" Bentley will get a version of the company's long serving 6.75-liter V8 that's "been given a thorough makeover" and all-wheel-drive, but no long-wheebase version. According to us, while it is impossible to be sure, it looks like the trailing edge of the C-pillar might extend beyond the rear window, which would be appealingly Euro-gangster if true.
And if you're keeping track, four of the nine movies are now available for viewing at www.newgrandbentley.com. Remember, though, that we're only about halfway through the marathon tease, so don't expect to see much. You can read more about the car's unveiling at the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance next month after the jump.
Gallery: New Grand Bentley
[Source: Bentley]
PRESS RELEASE
BENTLEY TO CELEBRATE 90TH ANNIVERSARY WITH DEBUT OF ALL-NEW MODEL AT PEBBLE BEACH CONCOURS D'ELEGANCE
"Cars undoubtedly have a personality to the real enthusiast, to whom they are not mere collections of steel and aluminium, but animal-like, show their spirit just so soon as the clutch bites home and feeling comes through to the driver...."
(Sammy Davis, first Bentley road test report, January 1920)
Crewe: Wednesday 8 July. Bentley Motors today celebrates its 90th anniversary and confirms that its all-new Bentley will be revealed - and named - in August at the Pebble Beach Concours D' Elegance in Monterey, California where the company is a featured marque.
Founded by W.O. Bentley in 1919, the company's first production car, the 3-litre was delivered in September 1921. Over the next ten years, Bentley went on to produce an array of iconic motor cars. At the same time, the exploits of the immortal Bentley Boys – a select group of businessmen, sportsmen and bon vivants – forged the company's proud sporting pedigree both on and off the racetracks of Europe. The Bentley Boys made the legendary Le Mans endurance race their own, winning five times between 1924 and 1930.
The all-new grand Bentley captures the 1920s 'grand touring' spirit of the Bentley Boys, delivering the effortless driving, exclusivity and adventure desired by the real motoring enthusiast. A unique fusion of elegant design, hand craftsmanship and technological innovation, the new model embodies the potent yet luxuriously refined driving experience that is 'pure Bentley'. These have been the hallmarks of a Bentley since that first test drive in 1920.
It is fitting that the 90th anniversary of the Company will be marked by an all-new car. Such events are rare milestones in the Company's history. Designed, engineered and built in Crewe, which has been home to Bentley Motors for over 60 years, it has been a 'once in a career experience' for many involved. The car and its name, which will be revealed at Pebble Beach on 16 August, signal a new era in British luxury motoring.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
WolfgangNC 2:36PM (7/08/2009)
The side/rear view look very close to a late 1960s thru early 1970s Dodge Charger.
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LoneWolf 3:30PM (7/08/2009)
Yay, the return of the Coke Bottle design!
Kolbe 4:35PM (7/08/2009)
I'd actually say it looks more like a 70 Dodge Dart.
Stephane Dumas 6:50PM (7/08/2009)
LoneWolf is right on the target for the Coke-bottle design. The design also reminds me of the late 60s-early 70s GM full-size B-body hardtop sedans
PumaGTO 6:58PM (7/08/2009)
ha! First thing that crossed my mind when I saw this picture was: "a new dodge remake?". Then I read the headline and found out it was a Bentley.
AMcA 7:48PM (7/08/2009)
My first thought was 1968 Impala sedan.
I say that in a good way.
Randy 12:23AM (7/10/2009)
Whatever it looks similar to, it also look BAD AZZ!!!
I dig it...
redeye 2:37PM (7/08/2009)
zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
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Quattroporte 2:39PM (7/08/2009)
AWD will help keep Clarkson from blowing out another tire on this Bentley, but how will it impact powerslidability?
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artandcolour 3:08PM (7/08/2009)
that C pillar looks exactly like my second generation Q45t.
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P.V. 3:07PM (7/08/2009)
To be fair, that looks a lot nicer than the previous set of shots.
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Andy 3:18PM (7/08/2009)
To me, from that angle, it looks a little like the first gen Camaro.
http://www.sanuk.net/~dcoppom/myweb/Car_Pics/Dail_Coppom/69camaro_rear.jpg
Comparing it to one of the Car spy pics, it looks like a different car all together. Their shots showed a shorter, more sloping rear end.
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Bill 5:49PM (7/08/2009)
While I know and love the '68-'70 Chargers (having owned a '69 B5 Blue Charger), I have to give credit where its due.
Flying buttress top; coke bottle rear? Can be no other than a '66-'67 GM mid-sized. Pure styling pleasure\.
Bill
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Eric77TA 11:21AM (7/09/2009)
I agree wholeheartedly. My first thought was 66/67 GTO. If no one told me what this pic is of, that would have been my first assumption.
For comparison:
http://ultimategto.com/1967/67_00298_1.jpg
puppyknuckles 6:22PM (7/08/2009)
I thought I was looking at a late '60s American Muscle Car in that first pic.
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BosGav 6:44PM (7/08/2009)
Pontiac GTO!
http://www.ridelust.com/wp-content/uploads/aa_1967_pontiac_gto_xxx1.jpg
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whofan 7:50PM (7/08/2009)
early 70s Mercury Couger?
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gerbick 8:18PM (7/08/2009)
I swear I see a '65 Impala SuperSport... man I miss that car.
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Grendel 8:54PM (7/08/2009)
I see the side view of a 1969 Ford LTD pillar-less hardtop, sans the vinyl roof.
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Venom 10:13PM (7/08/2009)
What is the point of these teaser photos?
Only 30 people can afford this car so really this is pointless.
It is not like we are all sitting on these boards going man I can't wait till I see the full photos of this car so I can place my order.
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