Autoblog

Bentley fires staff priest before Christmas

George Kennedy — Wed, 02 Jan 2013 09:29:00 EST

Filed under: Hirings/Firings/Layoffs, Bentley, Luxury

This sounds like a scene out of A Christmas Carol, but it appears to be real. The resident chaplain for Bentley at Crewe was removed from his post - just days before Christmas. Reverend Francis Cooke had visited Crewe once a week for the last decade, but was relieved of his duties when it was feared by management that his presence at the factory might offend a multi-faith workforce.

According to Rev. Cooke, "The reason I have been given is that there are too many people of different faiths to warrant a Christian chaplain." Cooke pointed out that no complaint had ever been brought against him, and that he helps all faiths at the factory - not just Christians.

Bentley issued a statement, addressing its decision, "We have a wide range of faiths and want to take a multi-faith outlook. It would be very difficult to have somebody from each faith."

The Bentley staff did not take this well, and have launched a petition to restore the reverend to his position of the last ten years. According to one Crewe employee, "Everyone is really angry about it as a few of us have been on courses with him." The unnamed employee continued, "To do this before Christmas is shocking." There is no word yet on the progress of the petition, or the hopes of Rev. Cooke's reinstatement at Crewe.

Bentley fires staff priest before Christmas originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 02 Jan 2013 09:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Bentley 4¼-liter Embiricos special comes home

Jonathon Ramsey — Mon, 20 Aug 2012 18:02:00 EST

Filed under: Classics, Coupe, Performance, Europe, Bentley, Misc. Auto Shows, UK, Luxury, Racing

Contrary to appearances, all of the important classic cars in the world weren't on display at Pebble Beach this weekend. One of them, the 4¼-liter Bentley 'Embiricos' Special, has made a home at Bentley's Lineage Showroom inside its factory in Crewe.

Commissioned by Greek gentleman racer André Embiricos in the 1930s, the Bentley chassis was clothed in aluminum by French designer Georges Paulin. The aerodynamic sheetmetal was more akin to the lines of the streamlined, and French, Talbot-Lago or a Delahaye, and a departure from Bentley tourers and racers of the time. Embiricos used his coupe for racing and as a daily driver, and the gentleman he sold it to in 1939 campaigned it in the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

World War II interrupted the development of any more such sleek Bentleys, but the post-war period would bring the R Type Continental, whose Embiricos ancestry can be seen immediately. The Embiricos will be on display at Pyms Lane until September, then be shown at the Windsor Castle Concours d' Elegance. You can find out more about it in the press release below.

Continue reading Bentley 4¼-liter Embiricos special comes home

Bentley 4¼-liter Embiricos special comes home originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 20 Aug 2012 18:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Bentley helps celebrate 175 years of Crewe

Noah Joseph — Mon, 18 Jun 2012 07:57:00 EST

Filed under: Bentley, UK

Certain locations are inexorably intertwined with the cars produced there - so much so that we use the city's name to refer to the automakers that call it home. Maranello is synonymous with Ferrari. Dearborn with Ford. Wolfsburg with Volkswagen. And Crewe with Bentley.

The British automaker has been based in the otherwise sleepy town in Cheshire, England, for 81 years now. But Crewe has been around for a lot longer than that. 175 years ago, the first train came to Crewe, an event which the town marks as its anniversary. So to help celebrate the occasion, Bentley is contributing £10,000 - roughly $15k in US funds - to local charities.

The fund is being split up into three grants of £5,000, £3,000 and £2,000, respectively, to be donated to specific charities which Bentley's 4,000 employees will help nominate.

Happy birthday, Crewe. Long may you bring us ludicrously but tastefully powerful and opulent automobiles.

Continue reading Bentley helps celebrate 175 years of Crewe

Bentley helps celebrate 175 years of Crewe originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 18 Jun 2012 07:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Bentley crafts unique items for charity auction

Noah Joseph — Thu, 01 Sep 2011 07:58:00 EST

Filed under: Auctions, Bentley, Design/Style, Luxury

Every year, Bentley takes part on a fresh crop of student interns, and every year it participates in a charity fundraising event for The Prince's Trust. For 2011, the Bentley Graduates are putting on an auction of items crafted in Bentley's own workshop, and there are more than a few items we would welcome into our homes with open arms.

The selection includes such items as a chess set with machined-tooled aluminum pieces on a veneer board, a table made from a V8 engine block cribbed from a Mulsanne and a pair of lamps made from the cam shaft from a Continental. There's 20 items in all, and each will be displayed at dealerships around the world and at the upcoming Goodwood Revival before going up for auction online at bentleybespokeauction.com.

Check out the selection in the high-res image gallery and follow the jump for the full press release.

Continue reading Bentley crafts unique items for charity auction

Bentley crafts unique items for charity auction originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 01 Sep 2011 07:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2011 Bentley Continental GT price increased to nearly $190k

Jeff Glucker — Wed, 29 Sep 2010 15:59:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, Coupe, Performance, Bentley, Luxury

2011 Bentley Continental GT - Click above for high-res image gallery

Bentley recently pulled the digital wraps off of its redesigned 2011 Continental GT to get your heart pumping a bit. Today the British automaker wants to get your wallet pumping. Pricing has just been announced for the new Conti and the MSRP rises by just under four percent - an increase from $182,800 (2010 Continental GT MSRP) to $189,900.

What does that four percent rate hike get you? A lot actually. The W12 engine produces more power to the tune of 567 horsepower and 516 pound-feet of torque; an increase of nearly three and eight percent respectively. The interior has been upgraded and features a welcome-to-the-modern-era-finally navigation system as well as an increase of 46 mm of rear seat legroom. This is good news for any Continental GT owners looking to date taller supermodels.

What can't be measured by facts and figures is the updated appearance of this handsome car from Crewe. The new lines on the 2011 Continental GT look downright Muscle Beach without detracting from the overall elegance. The fenders arc and crease beautifully, grabbing the lines started by the nose, flowing into the shoulder and then back out into the tail.

The 2011 Bentley Continental GT may be getting a four percent price increase over the outgoing model, but that $7,100 buys you a whole new ultra-luxe touring experience. Check out all the details in the press release after the break.

Gallery: 2011 Bentley Continental GT

[Source: Bentley]

Continue reading 2011 Bentley Continental GT price increased to nearly $190k

2011 Bentley Continental GT price increased to nearly $190k originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 29 Sep 2010 15:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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First Drive: 2011 Bentley Mulsanne is modern luxury with a strong sense of history

Chris Paukert — Mon, 24 May 2010 11:58:00 EST

Filed under: Sedan, Bentley, UK, New Car Reviews, Luxury

2011 Bentley Mulsanne - click above for high-res image gallery

Contrary to what you might expect, successfully keeping tradition alive in the automotive world isn't just about periodically mining one's stylistic back catalog or simply refusing to change altogether. To convincingly abide by the spirit of one's history without running the risk of extinction, or worse - self-parody - requires stealthy innovation, and to do so is a decidedly tricky undertaking.

Just ask Bentley. The British automaker has a long history of artfully highlighting its considerable heritage, from the exploits of the fabulous Bentley Boys to the timeless craftsmanship employed in its interiors. And despite the upright look of its new flagship, the 2011 Mulsanne, much thought and effort has been exerted into making what is actually a very modern proposition seem... traditional. Accomplishing this in an authentic and timeless manner is particularly important for an automaker like Bentley. Given the rather lengthy model lifecycles that small-volume manufacturers are often forced to adopt, it's crucial to nail the entire package the first time. Follow the jump to see if they've managed the feat.

Gallery: First Drive: 2011 Bentley Mulsanne

Continue reading First Drive: 2011 Bentley Mulsanne is modern luxury with a strong sense of history

First Drive: 2011 Bentley Mulsanne is modern luxury with a strong sense of history originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 24 May 2010 11:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Bentley planning flex-fuel Mulsanne, all-wheel drive and hybrid tech ruled out

Chris Paukert — Wed, 12 May 2010 10:01:00 EST

Filed under: Hybrid, Sedan, Bentley, Diesel, Luxury

2011 Bentley Mulsanne - Click above for high-res image gallery

Greetings from England, where we are attending the international launch of the 2011 Bentley Mulsanne. We've just returned from touring the model's new assembly line in Crewe with Project Leader Ashley Wickham, and we have some powertrain tidbits to share with you.

As the head honcho of Bentley's range-topping line, Wickham informs us that the Mulsanne was designed exclusively as a rear-drive model, preserving the decades-old lineage of the Arnage and its variants. When the new model was being conceived, all-wheel drive and a higher cylinder count were indeed on the table, as the Mulsanne's less-expensive stablemate, the Continental, has both more driven wheels and more firepots (twelve versus eight). However, the decision was made to keep the new Mulsanne as a more traditional grand touring model in the Arnage mold, hence its RWD and identical 6.75-liter V8 engine displacement (despite outward similarities, the twin-turbo engine is, in fact, all-new).

When we asked Wickham about future powertrain possibilities, he acknowledged that flex-fuel is in the cards; a predictable enough development considering that Bentley's high-profile Supersports spearheaded the news that the entire Continental range will go flex-fuel in June. And while Wickham stopped just short of ruling out a future diesel model, he did comment that one isn't presently in the works. Despite diesel's low-revving, torque-rich similarities to the company's gasoline V8, Wickham openly questioned how well such a powerplant would align with the marque's heritage. Equally unsurprising is that Wickham didn't mince words about hybrid technology, making it clear that gas-electric power is most definitely not in keeping with Bentley's flagship model.

For the moment, at least, those planning on commissioning a new Mulsanne will be forced to make do with the traditional gas-fed V8. Given that the new engine offers 505 horsepower and Bentley's famous 'Wall of Torque' delivery (752 pound-feet of the stuff) along with improved emissions and fuel economy, we're guessing that buyers won't find this any great hardship.

Gallery: 2011 Bentley Mulsanne

Bentley planning flex-fuel Mulsanne, all-wheel drive and hybrid tech ruled out originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 12 May 2010 10:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: Creating the interior of the Bentley Mulsanne an exercise in craftsmanship

Chris Shunk — Wed, 14 Apr 2010 13:32:00 EST

Filed under: Sedan, Plants/Manufacturing, Videos, Bentley, Luxury

Click above to watch the video after the jump

Car buyers forking out a few hundred thousand dollars for a Bentley expect more than just a little luxury. And when the Bentley Mulsanne is unleashed upon the yacht and G5 owners of the world, the folks in Crewe, England know they need to come strong with otherworldly materials and craftsmanship.

A quick peek at the plush Mulsanne interior shows that Bentley designers and engineers have gone all out, but a few high resolution photos doesn't tell the whole story. Bentley created a five minute video to explain some of the craftsmanship that goes into creating the Mulsanne interior by hand. For example, five people are in charge of inspecting and cutting all the leather that goes into the ultra luxury barge, and those cuts take three hours per vehicle. Hit the jump to watch the video, but only if you can live with the fact that you'll most likely never even get the chance to sit in such an exquisitely executed interior.

Gallery: Bentley Mulsanne Interior

Gallery: 2011 Bentley Mulsanne

[Source: Bentley]

Continue reading Video: Creating the interior of the Bentley Mulsanne an exercise in craftsmanship

Video: Creating the interior of the Bentley Mulsanne an exercise in craftsmanship originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 14 Apr 2010 13:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2010 Bentley Mulsanne puts in some face time at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel

Jonny Lieberman — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 19:57:00 EST

Filed under: Frankfurt Motor Show, Sedan, Bentley, UK, Luxury

2010 Bentley Mulsanne at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel - click above image for hi-res gallery

Bentley invited a few of us auto journo types down to the decadently posh Beverly Wilshire Hotel to meet its COO Christophe Georges and admire the company's new super land yacht, the 2010 Bentley Mulsanne. Not only that, but they spilled the beans on all the juicy technical details that makes the Mulsanne, well, special. And please trust us, the Mulsanne is special.

One small catch, however. All them juicy details are embargoed until next week during the Frankfurt Motor Show. So even though we know the exact, staggering amount of power the Mulsanne will be sending to its rear wheels - and trust us again, it is staggering - we can't tell you. Yet. Infuriating, no? But, we did learn a couple of juicy details that we can share with you in this here teaser post. Better than nothing, right?

Gallery: 2010 Bentley Mulsanne at the Bevery Wilshire Hotel

Gallery: Monterey 2009: 2010 Bentley Mulsanne

Continue reading 2010 Bentley Mulsanne puts in some face time at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel

2010 Bentley Mulsanne puts in some face time at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 09 Sep 2009 19:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Spy Shots: New Grand Bentley test mule out in public

Noah Joseph — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 17:58:00 EST

Filed under: Spy Photos, Bentley, Luxury

Time is ticking away until the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance where Bentley will be taking the wraps off its new flagship limousine, tentatively known as the Grand Bentley or by its internal code-name Project Kimberley. But while Crewe has released a pair of teaser shots to keep our mouths watering and some grainy camera-phone images leaked out of the factory, nothing could give us the impression of just how big this behemoth will be until these spy shots surfaced.

Expected to measure some 30 centimeters (that's about a foot) longer than the jurassic Arnage that it replaces, the new Grand Bentley should be just about the right size to compete with the Rolls-Royce Phantom - itself about the size of a truck. That shouldn't stop it from reaching close to 200 mph in true Bentley style, though. With such gargantuan proportions, nobody should be too surprised by the projected lack of a long-wheelbase version straight from the factory... really, how much longer would you expect?

[Source: Auto Express]

Spy Shots: New Grand Bentley test mule out in public originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 20 Jul 2009 17:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Crewe warehouse opens doors to liquidate vintage Bentley and Rolls-Royce parts

Noah Joseph — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 08:28:00 EST

Filed under: Plants/Manufacturing, Bentley, Rolls-Royce, UK, Event Alert, Luxury

Bentley spare parts warehouse in Crewe - Click above for high-res image gallery

The 143,000 square foot Bentley warehouse in Crewe, England, has got to be a dream come true for British motor enthusiasts. The facility, which sits adjacent to the Bentley Motors automobile factory, holds some 55,000 part lines totaling over seven million individual items for Bentleys made after 1955 (as well as Rolls-Royce automobiles built there between then and 2002 when the companies split under Volkswagen and BMW ownership, respectively). In late September, the warehouse will open its doors to anyone - owner, enthusiast or trader - interested in stopping by to pick out that elusive part they were looking for, from indicator lights to engine blocks and everything in between.

With the all-new replacement for the Arnage line rumbling around the corner in August, Bentley evidently needs the space and motoring Anglophiles stand to benefit. Details in the press release after the jump and high-res images in the gallery below.

Gallery: Bentley warehouse - Crewe, England

[Source: Bentley]

Continue reading Crewe warehouse opens doors to liquidate vintage Bentley and Rolls-Royce parts

Crewe warehouse opens doors to liquidate vintage Bentley and Rolls-Royce parts originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 17 Jul 2009 08:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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VIDEO: New Grand Bentley teasers don't reveal anything new

Noah Joseph — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 09:27:00 EST

Filed under: Sedan, Videos, Bentley

Click above to view the video after the jump

Few cars have been as long in the making as the upcoming "grand Bentley." The long-awaited replacement to the Arnage is tipped to debut sometime this summer - possibly at Pebble Beach in August - but the stoic British automaker is intent on teasing us with little video clips every step along the way. (About nine of them in all if you look at the dedicated website.) Unfortunately, if these first two clips are any indication, the teasers will hardly be showing us anything new, just some hoity-toity piano music and fountain pen-scribed statements about what the brand is meant to stand for accompanied by the same shot of the new model's front bonnet. Follow the jump to see for yourself.

[Source: Bentley]

Continue reading VIDEO: New Grand Bentley teasers don't reveal anything new

VIDEO: New Grand Bentley teasers don't reveal anything new originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 25 Jun 2009 09:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Bentley sells 10,014 cars during record 2007

Alex Nunez — Fri, 14 Mar 2008 16:04:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Europe, Bentley

Click image for a hi-res gallery of our Autoblog Garage Continental GTC

2007 was good to the folks in Crewe, as Bentley Motors had its best year ever. (What, no VH1 special?) For the first time, the automaker surpassed the 10,000 mark in terms of vehicles sold -- a tenfold increase over where it stood just five years ago. Both Arnage and Continental family sales were up -- 45-percent for the former, thanks to the arrival of the new Azure, and 5-percent for the latter with the GTC leading the way. The record-high sales led to new high points for both net revenue (€1.37 billion) and operating profit (€155 million). This level of volume is pretty much where the automaker would like to settle going forward, as it lets Bentley stay exclusive while still returning a profit. Us? We're just trying to figure out a way to tap into the joys of ownership ourselves. Follow the jump for Bentley's full press release and some assorted eye candy.

[Source: Bentley Motors]

Continue reading Bentley sells 10,014 cars during record 2007

Bentley sells 10,014 cars during record 2007 originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 14 Mar 2008 16:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Dream Job: Bentley launches online employment portal

Dan Roth — Wed, 16 Jan 2008 08:31:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Europe, Hirings/Firings/Layoffs, Bentley

Rather than spend your day looking up "gonnectigizoink" at Wikipedia, a better use of the internet might be to find a job. The problem is that it's just so hard to find anything that matches our niche skillset. Bentley is looking for more global candidates to fill their open positions, and has launched a website in hopes of snagging applicants. Currently, there's only opportunities if you want to locate yourself in Crewe, but there's 40-plus openings for everything from Logistics and IS to student programs. Bentley's hoping that opening up positions to the world at large, rather than relying solely on the old guard of newspaper adverts and recruitment firms will bring in more potential candidates. We'll be watching it like a hawk for the high performance test driver position to open up. In the meantime, we'll be compiling a fanciful delusion of a curriculum vitae.

[Source: Inside Line]

Dream Job: Bentley launches online employment portal originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 16 Jan 2008 08:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Bentley planning Continental updates

Noah Joseph — Tue, 13 Mar 2007 10:35:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Bentley

The Bentley Boys aren't sitting around, resting on their plush leather laurels. Having just released the new Brooklands ~~land-yacht~~ coupe, it's on to the next project at Crewe, with the hot-selling Continental GT receiving a planned update..

The successful W12-powered coupe is scheduled for a complete overhaul in early 2010, but to hold sales strong until then, Bentley is planning to release a facelifted version of the current model by the end of this year. The updated Conti will get a few extra horses out of it's 6-liter W12 engine, bringing output up to 560hp, as well as some cosmetic changes to keep it looking fresh, including a revised front fascia and some new rims.

Although the surfacing reports say the facelift is due for the Continental GT coupe, we can expect the new features to carry over to its siblings, the already sold-out GTC cabrio and the Flying Spur sedan. Which, of course, means all those Fort Lauderdale yachtsmen, Hollywood movie stars and British footballers will have to be trading up.

[Source: AutoTelegraaf via Motor Authority]

Bentley planning Continental updates originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 13 Mar 2007 10:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Bentley celebrates 60 years at Crewe

Scott Davis — Tue, 14 Nov 2006 10:59:00 EST

Filed under: Sedan, Performance, Marketing/Advertising

Crewe. Just the name stirs the emotions of any auto enthusiast. Beginning at Crewe in 1946, Bentley has been producing some of the most aspirational production vehicles ever available. To celebrate 60 years at Crewe, Bentley will showcase the Continental GT Diamond Series Coupe and the Arnage R Diamond Series on a whirlwind tour through Australia, New Zealand, and South-East Asia and also feature the Speed 8 race car. If you are lucky enough to be close enough to experience this event, be sure to take full advantage of the opportunity to see some of the most-coveted vehicles on sale today up close and in person.

[Source: GermanCarBlog]

See press releases and more pics of the Diamond Series Continental GT and Arnage R after the jump!

Continue reading Bentley celebrates 60 years at Crewe

Bentley celebrates 60 years at Crewe originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 14 Nov 2006 10:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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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.

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