Autoblog

Bentley said to be "seriously considering" Continental Supersports convertible

Noah Joseph — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 10:28:00 EST

Filed under: Convertible, Performance, Bentley, Rumormill, Electric, Luxury

Bentley Continental Supersports - Click above for high-res image gallery

The Bentley Continental is getting a little on in years. And sooner or later, Crewe's going to need to replace it. But while their focus has been fixed on the new Mulsanne and the various versions expected to follow, the boys haven't forgotten about their "entry-level" model. In fact, the Continental by now has spawned seven different derivatives - including the GT coupe, GTC cabrio, Flying Spur sedan, Speed versions of each and the Supersports coupe - but new reports indicate that adding an eighth version is being "seriously considered."

The variant in question would be a Supersports convertible, featuring the same 621-horsepower, flex-fuel twin-turbo 6.0-liter W12 (21 horses more than stock) as the Supersports coupe. In the process, the GTC would also shed extra weight - the Supersports coupe dropped 243 pounds - and pack carbon ceramic brakes and two fewer seats than the base convertible. Sources indicate that if given the green light, the Continental Supersports convertible would likely hit the market about a year from now, where it would almost certainly command the highest price in the Continental range.

Gallery: Bentley Continental Supersports

[Source: Car and Driver]

Bentley said to be "seriously considering" Continental Supersports convertible originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 01 Oct 2009 10:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Frankfurt 2009: Bentley Continental GTC Series 51 ain't so bad under the lights

Jonathon Ramsey — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 08:31:00 EST

Filed under: Frankfurt Motor Show, Convertible, Coupe, Performance, Bentley, Luxury

Bentley Continental GTC Series 51 -- Click above for high-res image gallery

When we walked up to the Bentley Continental GTC Series 51 resting on the hardwood floor of the Bentley stand, it immediately had us thinking a familiar thought. Just to make sure, we asked our colleagues if they had been experiencing the same thing, and that turned into a spirited discussion about car design and CAD-drawn vs. hand-drawn bodywork.

That well-known thought was: it's not so garish in person. Substitute "hideous," "bad," and "ugly" for "garish" and you've recreated our experiences with a number of vehicles lately, and not just in Frankfurt. From the outside it's just a good looking Continental with a new set of wheels and Bentley's always-upright center caps. Inside, the car simply feels blue with white trim, and tastefully so, which was not the impression given in the preview photos. We still look forward to the Series 51's future offerings, but this first one is a.o.k.

Gallery: Frankfurt 2009: Bentley Continental GTC Series 51

Frankfurt 2009: Bentley Continental GTC Series 51 ain't so bad under the lights originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 16 Sep 2009 08:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Mansory Bentley Vitesse Rose isn't really all that rosy

Jonathon Ramsey — Sun, 13 Sep 2009 20:01:00 EST

Filed under: Aftermarket, Frankfurt Motor Show, Coupe, Bentley, Luxury

Mansory Bentley Vitesse Rose -- Click above for high-res image gallery

As a testament to its range, the same company that brought you the evil blackness of the Vincero would like you to focus your attention here, on the Bentley Vitesse Rose. The full-on Mansory kit itself is fine. The pink-a-licious color its draped in, matched with the carbon fiber hood, is best digested before you eat solid food. And wait until you see the inside: a color combination we don't think you'll be seeing from the Series 51 program comprising diamond stitched pink and purple leather.

Depending on your take, you might be gratified that Mansory only plans to build three of them. If you want to be one of those... proud... owners, then call Mansory and have a check ready for €269,000. The rest of you can check out the roseate goodness in the high-res gallery below.

Gallery: Mansory Bentley Vitesse Rose

[Source: Diesel Station]

Continue reading Mansory Bentley Vitesse Rose isn't really all that rosy

Mansory Bentley Vitesse Rose isn't really all that rosy originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 13 Sep 2009 20:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Frankfurt Preview: Bentley Continental Series 51

Jonathon Ramsey — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 11:00:00 EST

Filed under: Frankfurt Motor Show, Convertible, Coupe, Performance, Bentley, Luxury

Bentley Continental GT/C Series 51 -- Click above for high-res image gallery

As with Rolls-Royce and its Bespoke Collection, at the Frankfurt Motor Show, Bentley will be introducing its Continental Series 51 cars for the GT and GTC. These will be a cadre of models further tailored by Crewe's designers. Each car "will feature a highly distinctive interior color palette and unique exterior design cues." The first car to show off the line wears an interior in Imperial Blue, Linen, and Newmarket Tan, with color-matched floor mats with contrasting stitching.

You can top the tri-tone interior with a two-tone paint job outside, and throw Bentley's new self-leveling wheel center caps on the 20-inchers. The Series 51 cars will be available to order from this month. You can read all about them in the press release after the jump and check the first one out in the gallery of high-res photos below.

Gallery: Bentley Continental GT Series 51

[Source: Bentley]

Continue reading Frankfurt Preview: Bentley Continental Series 51

Frankfurt Preview: Bentley Continental Series 51 originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 11 Sep 2009 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Spy Shots: Bentley Continental GTC Speed

Noah Joseph — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 11:35:00 EST

Filed under: Spy Photos, Convertible, Bentley, Specialty

Click above for high-res gallery of Bentley Continental GTC Speed spy shots

Some new cars are predictable; others catch us by surprise. This one we could see from a mile away, and not just because it's enormous. But after Bentley rolled out Speed versions of the Continental GT coupe (which we've sampled) and Flying Spur sedan, it was only a matter of time before the same treatment would be applied to the GTC convertible variant. And now we're seeing the spy shots to prove it. The Bentley Continental GTC Speed, as it's certain to be called, will feature all of the same upgrades we've seen on the Speed versions of its fixed-head counterparts. That means a power bump for its W12 engine to 602 horsepower and 553 lb-ft of torque, suspension and aero tweaks and bigger wheels. All of it will add up to one fast-moving warm weather front that should hit U.S. shores in the near future as Hurricane Bentley.

Gallery: Bentley Continental GTC Speed - spy shots

[Source: KGP Photography]

Spy Shots: Bentley Continental GTC Speed originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 23 Oct 2008 11:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

No diesels for Bentley

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 19:01:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Sedan, Performance, Green, Supercars, Bentley

Click above for high-res gallery of the 2009 Bentley Brooklands

Bentleys and buckets of torque go hand-in-hand. Therefore, it might make some sense for the German-owned British luxury marque to consider one of the VW Group's big, powerful turbodiesels for one of its upcoming models. Not so fast, says Bentley. It has specifically polled its customer base -- made up mostly of Americans and Asians -- to determine if there's any interest in an oil-burning Bentley. Apparently, there isn't. Instead, the luxo-barge company will focus on biofuels in an effort to lower the fuel consumption and emissions of a numbers of its models. As a matter of fact, the first flex-fuel engine from the Flying B is expected to debut in 2009 and Franz-Josef Paefgen, Bentley's Chief Executive, says that all of its models will be capable of running on biofuels by 2012 as part of its plan to go ~~British Racing~~ green.

[Source: Autocar]

No diesels for Bentley originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 22 Aug 2008 19:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

In the Autoblog Garage: 2007 Bentley Continental GTC

Alex Nunez — Tue, 06 Nov 2007 13:05:00 EST

Filed under: In the Autoblog Garage, Convertible, Performance, Bentley

Click image for a high-res gallery of the Bentley Continental GTC

Gaudy. Overstyled. Ostentatious. Attention-hungry. These are words that can be used to describe any number of high-end, six-figure automobiles with pedigreed names and gobs of power. Often, those credentials are accompanied by trademark styling that ranges from the merely adventurous to the outright extreme. That particular branch of motoring is not ideal for everyone, however. Some prefer elegance to envelope pushing; understatement to "Look at me!" Thankfully, elegance and power are not mutually exclusive. Bentley, you see, has just about perfected the art of merging the two. Tastefully beautiful, the Bentley Continental GTC draws as many stares as cars designed to be attention magnets. With 6.0 liters, 12 cylinders, and 552 twin-turbocharged horses underhood, it's no shrinking violet, either. That's the best part, you see. When asked, the Bentley sizes up all comers, and then it blows their doors off -- with panache.

Gallery: In the Autoblog Garage: 2007 Bentley Continental GTC

Continue reading In the Autoblog Garage: 2007 Bentley Continental GTC

In the Autoblog Garage: 2007 Bentley Continental GTC originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 06 Nov 2007 13:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Frankfurt 2007: Le MANSORY Convertible

Alex Nunez — Thu, 13 Sep 2007 12:01:00 EST

Filed under: Frankfurt Motor Show, Tuners, Convertible, Europe, Bentley

Click image for high-res gallery

Over in Frankfurt, MANSORY has its latest creation on display. The Continental GTC-based LeMANSORY Convertible is one of Bentley's delectable ragtops that's been subsequently outfitted with the Le MANSORY body and tuning package. Sadly, the widebody kit obscures the GTC's classy art-deco lines in the name of giving the car a racier look. Black wheels and grille inserts contrast to the bright white bodywork, and the interior is transformed by a retina-scorching white-and-red full leather/Alcantara package. That color scheme is carried into the engine compartment, where the modifications are more to our liking.

The MANSORY performance kit ups the twin-turbo W12's output from 552 hp to a stout 641 horses @ 6100 RPM and a tire-destroying 575 lb-ft of torque at just 1600 rpm. As you might imagine, the performance numbers reflect the added punch. 0-60 happens in 4.4 seconds and the car's claimed top speed is 205 mph. A Brembo brake upgrade adds the required stopping power, and a new exhaust system that exhales via quad ports lets the neighbors know about the evil underhood. Only 24 LeMANSORY kits will be sold, so if you don't like it, don't worry. Chances are you'll never see one in the wild anyway.

MANSORY's full press release is pasted after the jump.

[Source: MANSORY via Motor Authority]

Gallery: Le MANSORY Convertible

Continue reading Frankfurt 2007: Le MANSORY Convertible

Frankfurt 2007: Le MANSORY Convertible originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 13 Sep 2007 12:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

The Bentley Continental GTC in Greenwich

Alex Nunez — Tue, 12 Sep 2006 15:29:00 EST

Filed under: Convertible, Bentley

Saturday, September 9 was a beautiful day in southern Connecticut. The skies were clear and the air was warm. Perfect convertible weather, actually, so it was fitting that Miller Motorcars Bentley Greenwich was playing host to the new Continental GTC for the day. If the light blue convertible looks familiar, it should. This is the same car that Bentley Chairman/CEO Dr. Franz-Josef Paefgen unveiled at this year's New York International Auto Show. Since then, it has been moving around the country appearing at various events ranging from polo matches to Pebble Beach.

It's also been visiting Bentley showrooms to generate customer interest, something there seems to be no shortage of. The Bentley, sparkling in the afternoon sun, was like a tractor beam drawing interested parties into the parking lot. Every face that approached the car wore a smile, whether it belonged to a dreamer living a Lotto fantasy in his mind or a patron who was on a first-name basis with the dealer staff. Even the cars that didn't pull in for a closer look slowed down as they drove by.

The GTC is that kind of car: gorgeous inside and out. You see it. You smile. You want it.

(Keep reading after the jump and check out lots more photos)

Continue reading The Bentley Continental GTC in Greenwich

The Bentley Continental GTC in Greenwich originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 12 Sep 2006 15:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Bentley Continental GTC production begins

Alex Nunez — Mon, 04 Sep 2006 19:08:00 EST

Bentley announced that it has started building the new Continental GTC at its Crewe facility this week. The GTC is the gorgeous and spectacular droptop version of the company's well-received Continental GT coupe. The open-air 2+2 is powered by a 552-horsepower twin-turbo W12 -- a powerplant up to the task of ruining the expertly-coiffed hairdos of the Conti's driver and passengers. It also features all-wheel-drive, an air suspension, and Bentley's typically exquisite attention to detail inside the cabin.

Introduced in April at the New York International Auto Show, the first Continental GTCs will be delivered to UK customers at the end of this month. The GTC rounds out the Continental lineup, which already includes the Continental GT coupe and the Continental Flying Spur sedan.

Related Posts:

(Press release after the jump)

[Source: Bentley Motors]

Continue reading Bentley Continental GTC production begins

Bentley Continental GTC production begins originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 04 Sep 2006 19:08:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments