Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com Autoblog http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[REPORT: Bentley prepares for market recovery by advancing new Continental debut]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/04/20/bentley-prepares-for-market-recovery-by-advancing-new-continenta/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/04/20/bentley-prepares-for-market-recovery-by-advancing-new-continenta/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/04/20/bentley-prepares-for-market-recovery-by-advancing-new-continenta/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Bentley Continental GT Speed in the Autoblog Garage - Click above for high-res gallery

While other automakers cut back their development programs in hopes of streamlining overhead during this difficult economic climate, Bentley is taking the opposite approach. Rather than cut back on developing new vehicles, they're actually pushing to move things ahead on their calendar.

According to Automotive News, the logic is based on the projection that the economy is on the road to recovery, and Bentley wants to be there when its wealthy clientele has got more fluid cash on hand to splurge on new six-figure luxury cars. While the replacement for the range-topping Arnage is expected to carry on unchanged, the successor to the Continental range is being moved forward, as confirmed by Crewe's own sales and marketing chief Stuart McCullough.

So whereas the next Continental GT was previously slated for introduction in 2011, the new coupe is now being prepared for its debut next year. No official word on rescheduling the introductions of the Flying Spur and GTC models to go along with it, but we'd expect the sedan to move forward from 2012 to 2011, with the convertible to follow in 2012 instead of 2013 as previously reported.

[Source: Automotive News - subs. req'd]

REPORT: Bentley prepares for market recovery by advancing new Continental debut originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 20 Apr 2009 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2011 bentley continental2011BentleyContinental2012 bentley continental2012BentleyContinentalbentleybentley comntinental flying spurbentley continentalbentley continental gtbentley continental gt speedBentleyComntinentalFlyingSpurBentleyContinentalBentleyContinentalGtBentleyContinentalGtSpeedcontinentalcontinental flying spurcontinental gtcontinental gtcContinentalFlyingSpurContinentalGtContinentalGtcflying spurFlyingSpurMon, 20 Apr 2009 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Bentley to release Continential Flying Spur Speed at British Int'l Motor Show]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/07/08/bentley-to-release-continential-flying-spur-speed-at-british-int/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/07/08/bentley-to-release-continential-flying-spur-speed-at-british-int/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/07/08/bentley-to-release-continential-flying-spur-speed-at-british-int/#commentsFiled under: , ,


Click above for a high-res gallery.

Big, blocky, heavy, low - whatever. The one and only phrase you need to remember is "hellaciously fast." Bentley's Continental Flying Spur Speed, officially announced in June, is pretty much what it'd be like to strap an EMD powertrain from a freight locomotive into a car, without all the noise and industrial fumes. Set off by subtle cues, the Flying Spur Speed turns the burner up on the already hot Flying Spur, boosting horsepower out of the twelve cylinder powerplant to an even 600 hp from 552 hp. It's enough to hurtle this elegant block of English-cum-Germanic automobile to 60 mph in 4.5 seconds, and filthy automotive types will be able to crawl all over this fine automobile at the British International Motor Show. In a mere 15 days, the special brightwork, rifled exhaust tips, and smooth as glass paint will be littered with fingerprints once the show opens to the public July 23rd at the ExCel London. Pardon us while we scour the intertubes for cheap airfare. Press release after the jump.

Gallery: 2009 Bentley Continental Flying Spur Speed


[Source: Bentley]

Continue reading Bentley to release Continential Flying Spur Speed at British Int'l Motor Show

Bentley to release Continential Flying Spur Speed at British Int'l Motor Show originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 08 Jul 2008 17:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bentley continentalbentley continental flying spur speedBentleyContinentalBentleyContinentalFlyingSpurSpeedbritish international motor showbritish motor showBritishInternationalMotorShowBritishMotorShowcontiental flying spur speedContientalFlyingSpurSpeedcontinental flying spurContinentalFlyingSpurflying spurflying spur speedFlyingSpurFlyingSpurSpeedTue, 08 Jul 2008 17:02:00 EST<![CDATA[Bentley holding the line on production for now]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/01/15/bentley-holding-the-line-on-production-for-now/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/01/15/bentley-holding-the-line-on-production-for-now/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/01/15/bentley-holding-the-line-on-production-for-now/#commentsFiled under: ,

UPDATE: Due to a reporting error in the source material, we had the wrong North America sales total for Bentley. The correct number now appears below.

Coming off a record year in 2006, Bentley says that we shouldn't expect similar stellar figures in the near future. After building 10,087 units last year (more than any other ultra-luxury marque), Bentley acknowledged that it's at full production and will probably see a leveling off of sales in the next few years. CEO Franz-Josef Paefgen told reporters in Detroit that they are still investigating adding new models to the Bentley lineup, but that the decision process is incredibly difficult because the image of Bentley must remain intact. That means no SUVs or small sedans, most likely.

Other tidbits that came out of the meeting were that the North American market accounted for about 40% of Bentley sales last year (4,017 units sold), the wait list for a new Bentley is still about 18 months in most markets, and that the company will no longer use the VW Phaeton plant in Dresden that was temporarily used when they launched the Conti Flying Spur. On a partially related note, we had another brief spin in a GTC a couple of days ago and can attest to the fact that chopping the top off does nothing to the driving dynamics of this ultra luxury coupe. Hopefully we'll be able to provide more details soon.

[Source: Automotive news, sub req]

Bentley holding the line on production for now originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 15 Jan 2007 16:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Continental Flying SpurContinentalFlyingSpurDresdenFranz-Josef PaefgenFranz-josefPaefgenGTCMon, 15 Jan 2007 16:58:00 EST<![CDATA[In the Autoblog Garage: 2006 Bentley Continental Flying Spur]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2006/08/30/in-the-autoblog-garage-2006-bentley-continental-flying-spur/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/08/30/in-the-autoblog-garage-2006-bentley-continental-flying-spur/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/08/30/in-the-autoblog-garage-2006-bentley-continental-flying-spur/#commentsFiled under: , ,


Click above for high-res gallery of the 2006 Bentley Continental Flying Spur

In case you haven't noticed, we're a blog. You know, one of those Web sites run by people who don't shower and refuse to change out of their pajamas? That's us in a nutshell. So imagine our shock when Bentley not only responded to our e-mail, but told us it would be granting our request to review the 2006 Bentley Continental Flying Spur. Man, we're still trying to get a Yaris from Toyota to review and Bentley just gave us the green light? The universe has gone nuts, but fortunately, today we find ourselves in its favor.

The Bentley Continental Flying Spur is a sedan that makes other super saloons like the BMW 7-Series, Mercedes-Benz S-Class, and even its own very distant cousin, the Audi A8, seem practical in comparison. At an out-the-door asking price of $183,825 (including destination charges and a hefty $3,700 gas guzzler tax), the Continental Flying Spur costs more than ...
All of the above are perfectly acceptable forms of transportation, some even exceptional. After a few days with the Bentley Continental Flying Spur, however, each is but a distant memory from a different tax bracket.

Gallery: In the Autoblog Garage: 2006 Bentley Continental Flying Spur


Photos Copyright (C)2008 John Neff / Weblogs, Inc.

Continue reading In the Autoblog Garage: 2006 Bentley Continental Flying Spur

In the Autoblog Garage: 2006 Bentley Continental Flying Spur originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 30 Aug 2006 12:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Autoblog GarageAutoblogGarageContinental Flying SpurContinentalFlyingSpurFlying SpurFlyingSpurWed, 30 Aug 2006 12:01:00 EST