Autoblog

2014 Bentley Continental GT Speed Convertible runs topless through Motown

Seyth Miersma — Tue, 15 Jan 2013 09:34:00 EST

Filed under: Detroit Auto Show, Convertible, Performance, Bentley, Luxury

Looking cool in blue (better than the Grimace-purple we saw a few weeks ago), with strong, tailored bodywork and a one-percenter-approved face, the 2013 Bentley GT Speed Convertible is right at home with all the exotic metal on the floor of Cobo Center here at the Detroit Auto Show.

You've already read about (or should have) the 616-horsepower, 590-pound-feet-of-torque 6.0-liter W12 engine that hides under the hood of the GT Speed droptop, and you've no doubt remembered the ludicrous top speed of 202 miles per hour. Impressive stats, all.

All that's left, then, unless you've got a wild hair to reexamine the full-fat Bentley press release (available below), is to direct you to the oven-fresh gallery of live images that we've compiled, just for you.

Continue reading 2014 Bentley Continental GT Speed Convertible runs topless through Motown

2014 Bentley Continental GT Speed Convertible runs topless through Motown originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 15 Jan 2013 09:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Bentley unveils 202-mph Continental GT Speed Convertible

Jonathon Ramsey — Tue, 01 Jan 2013 19:00:00 EST

Filed under: Detroit Auto Show, Convertible, Performance, Bentley, Luxury

That purple haze all in your eyes is the 2013 Bentley GT Speed Convertible. The cynical view is, "Bah, take a GT Speed and cut the top off. There. Pass the salt, please...". But when you're Bentley, more than 90 years old, and charging these kinds of ducats, there's no reason to take the cynic's shortcut. So of course the GT Speed Convertible gets all of the Speed-family accoutrements: matrix radiator grille hiding a twin-turbocharged, 6.0-liter W12 with 616 horsepower and 590 pound-feet of torque, eight-speed ZF transmission enabling 15 percent better fuel economy, beefier lowered suspension, larger rifled exhaust tips, inlet manifold finished in black crackle and a Mulliner Driving Specification cabin.

Among the many refinements added to the convertible, though, are neck warmers in the seats, the 21-inch wheels unique to this car, class-leading stiffness - admittedly, it's a very small class, but its torsional rigidity of 22,500 Nm/degree is only 500 Nm below that of the Lamborghini Gallardo coupe. The stiffening required to achieve that number will undoubtedly have something to do with the 485-pound weight gain over the GT Speed Coupe.

Still, when the GT Speed Convertible weighs 5,500 pounds, what's a few hundred between friends? More importantly, the weight doesn't scuttle performance: 0-60 comes in 4.1 seconds, a tenth shy of the coupe. The gap stretches as you approach The Ton, the GT Speed Convertible needing just 9.7 seconds to get there, the coupe just nine seconds. Trust us, though, everyone will be too busy blasting along to notice. Everyone will want to pack light, however, because the Speed Convertible loses 3.5 cubic feet of trunk space. It remains the fastest four-seat convertible in the world with a 202-mph top speed.

We'll see it live when it debuts for the world at the Detroit Auto Show. Look up and there's a high-res photo gallery, look down and there's a press release to get you prepared.

Continue reading Bentley unveils 202-mph Continental GT Speed Convertible

Bentley unveils 202-mph Continental GT Speed Convertible originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 01 Jan 2013 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Vauxhall launches new 195-HP turbodiesel Astra GTC together with refresh

Noah Joseph — Tue, 19 Jun 2012 08:44:00 EST

Filed under: Budget, Performance, Wagon, Hatchback, Vauxhall, UK, Diesel

European automakers offer some tempting hot hatches, but the stark reality of gas prices that are even higher across the pond than they are here in the United States dictates that most buyers are opting for diesels. Vauxhall is here to say, however, that it doesn't have to be one or the other.

Slotting in below its VXR performance range is a new turbodiesel Astra, packing a 2.0-liter twin-turbo diesel four with 195 horsepower and a whopping 295 lb-ft of torque. The sequential twin-turbo oil-burner is the same as Vauxhall offers in the larger Insignia, but in the smaller hatchback, all that twist helps the Astra GTC BiTurbo run from 0 to 62 mph in 7.8 seconds en route to a 139 mph top speed, all the while returning 53.3 miles per gallon on the European combined cycle - thanks in part to the standard stop/start system.

The new engine option is being launched together with a styling update to both the hatchback and Sports Tourer wagon versions of the Astra. The revision includes a new front grille, bumper and lamps, as well as a reshaped tail. A front camera system is also on offer to help keep that new chin clear of curbs, all of which you can read more about in the press release below and scope out in the high-resolution image gallery above.

Continue reading Vauxhall launches new 195-HP turbodiesel Astra GTC together with refresh

Vauxhall launches new 195-HP turbodiesel Astra GTC together with refresh originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 19 Jun 2012 08:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2012 Bentley Continental GTC [w/video]

Michael Harley — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 11:57:00 EST

Filed under: Convertible, Bentley, New Car Reviews, Luxury

Updated Droptop Doesn't Compromise Driving Dynamics For Fresh Air And Sunshine

Few experiences equal the feeling of driving a new 2012 Bentley Continental GTC down a crowded Los Angeles highway - especially when the droptop is prismatic magenta with highly polished 21-inch wheels.

Some stare. Others glare. But most simply sneer.

The response should be expected. After all, a vehicle of this caliber is designed to broadcast to others that you have succeeded. Unfortunately, this specific boisterously purple quarter-million dollar convertible with flashy wheels takes things a bit too far: it also seems to remind passers-by that they have failed.

But let's not blame Bentley for someone's misguided selection on the color wheel. A mere 30 microns of pigment over perfectly primed aluminum, whether or not it appears related to Barney the dinosaur, isn't reason to dismiss this magnificent open-top GT.

Or is it?

Continue reading 2012 Bentley Continental GTC [w/video]

2012 Bentley Continental GTC [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 27 Jan 2012 11:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Le Mans Series opens up to new challengers with GTC class

Noah Joseph — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 07:59:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports

If it seems to you that just about every year the powers-that-be change the classes in Le Mans racing, well, you're not far off. The racing categories for various vehicles is constantly in flux, with organizers at the ACO forever seeking out the right balance between various categories to keep the racing action competitive. And so it should come as little surprise that the ACO has tweaked the regs yet again for the 2012 championship.

Following the streamlining of various GT classes into one GTE category, the ACO is preparing to launch a new GTC class that will allow less heavily modified vehicles to compete against each other amidst all the purpose-built racers.

The new class is similar to the GT Challenge category currently in place in the American Le Mans Series, however while the ALMS GTC category is currently limited exclusively to the Porsche 911 GT3 Cup, the European series has already added the Ferrari F430 Challenge (which should be readily accessible now that it's been replaced by the 458 Challenge) and the Lotus Evora GT4/GTC to the expanding list of approved vehicles.

Drivers in the LMS GTC category will follow the same rules as the GTE-Am class, with one professional driver rotating with one or two additional amateur racers in each car.

Le Mans Series opens up to new challengers with GTC class originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 07 Nov 2011 07:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2012 Bentley Continental GTC [w/video]

Matt Davis — Tue, 27 Sep 2011 11:57:00 EST

Filed under: Convertible, Bentley, First Drives, Luxury

The Fast and the Fabulous: Menace on the Mediterranean

We want a Bentley to feel both weighted down with that famous wafting substance and yet always ready to spool up fast and hard like an express train when there's an opportunity to overtake the poor. One could see that as a dilemma for the automaker, as the world jumps on the "lightweight and green" bandwagon. But this, in reality, is a form of special dispensation we allow both Bentley and Rolls-Royce year after year. If Bentleys started feeling light or harried, we'd be less impressed.

We could see closing the roof of the new Bentley Continental GTC when we might, say, want to explore high-speed runs, but even then it would feel improper; the GTC looks so damned good and inviting with that big roof down, it'd be a crime to enjoy it otherwise. We've recorded the roof action for you on video here, but only because it's sort of required that we have you bear witness to the triple-layered folding lid. We didn't close the roof once during our two days testing as the GTC is one of the purest forms of life on the sunny side of the street.

Continue reading 2012 Bentley Continental GTC [w/video]

2012 Bentley Continental GTC [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 27 Sep 2011 11:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2012 Opel Astra GTC gives us Buick-tinted hope for the future [w/video]

Jeff Glucker — Wed, 14 Sep 2011 19:20:00 EST

Filed under: Frankfurt Motor Show, Performance, Europe, Hatchback, GM, Opel

A more engaging driving experience should always be considered a wonderful thing, and it's clear from the Astra GTC that Opel agrees. The compact hatchback has its sights set squarely on the Volkswagen Scirocco, and it's clear the two cars share a common design ideology. Low and sleek, the Astra GTC has been styled to provide enthusiasts with a sneak peek of the driving experience waiting once they strap in behind the wheel.

The key to getting the Opel Astra GTC to play nice with twisty roads lies in the changes made beneath the car's skin. General Motors engineers took the HiPerStrut setup from the front suspension of an Opel Insignia OPC and applied them to the Astra. Opel says this upgrade reduces the amount of unwanted front-tire movement felt during cornering and other high-grip situations.

Out back, the Opel Astra GTC gets more suspension-related attention. The Watt's link rear setup now sports revised roll-stiffness and a lower roll-center height to keep things more composed. Additionally, the entire three-door compact was 15 millimeters compared to the standard Astra, and the wheelbase and front and rear tracks have grown as well.

Opel has plied a lot of handling know-how and upgraded styling into its Astra to turn it into the Astra GTC. If you like what you see, keep your fingers crossed. Rumor has it that General Motors could bring the Astra GTC stateside as a more entertaining brother for the Buick Verano. A convertible version is reportedly also in the works. Want to learn more? Check out the video after the jump and the official release.

Continue reading 2012 Opel Astra GTC gives us Buick-tinted hope for the future [w/video]

2012 Opel Astra GTC gives us Buick-tinted hope for the future [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 14 Sep 2011 19:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2012 Bentley Continental GTC goes topless as summer winds down

Jeff Glucker — Tue, 23 Aug 2011 19:01:00 EST

Filed under: Convertible, Bentley, Luxury

Bentley is currently in the middle of a product update that started with the all-new Mulsanne and has now moved on to the Continental GT. We've gotten up close and personal with the 2012 Continental GT Coupe on more than one occasion, but we knew that more derivatives lurked in the future. The next one is now here, and it arrives in the form of the 2012 Bentley Continental GTC.

Sharing the same lower lines as its sibling hardtop coupe, the GTC opts to let the sun shine in via a power-operated retracting softtop. Under the hood sits the same 6.0-liter W12 engine that produces 567 horsepower and 516 pound-feet of torque in the coupe. Paired with a six-speed automatic transmission, the Continental GTC will run from 0-60 miles per hour in 4.5 seconds. Keep your Church's Warrik leather driving shoe pushed to the floor and 100 mph will pass by in 10.9 seconds as you proceed towards a top speed of 195 mph.

This second-generation Continental GTC boasts the same upgraded interior amenities as the coupe, including the (thankfully!) updated nav system, plethora of color choices and optional Naim audio. Twenty-inch wheels are the standard set, while 21-inch rollers are available as an option.

For those who have the means, Bentley is taking orders now, and lucky customers will take delivery towards the end of 2011. The rest of the world will get to see the car in person at the 2011 Frankfurt Motor Show.

Ready to take a deeper dive into the world of the 2012 Bentley Continental GTC? Click past the jump for the full press release, then take a gander at the convertible from all angles in our gallery.

Continue reading 2012 Bentley Continental GTC goes topless as summer winds down

2012 Bentley Continental GTC goes topless as summer winds down originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 23 Aug 2011 19:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Bentley Continental GTC Speed getting worked out in the Alps

Jeff Glucker — Wed, 29 Jun 2011 11:29:00 EST

Spy Shots: Bentley Continental GTC Speed - Click above for high-res image gallery

While racers were busy blasting up Pikes Peak this past weekend, Bentley engineers decided to make a more civilized mountain run. Spy photographers have captured the next-generation Continental GTC Speed undergoing testing in the Alps. The convertible is not yet Bentley polished, as it's lacking camo, but it provides a great glimpse at the upcoming production GTC Speed.

The aggressive lower fascia, hood fents, wheels and exhaust provide a good hint that this Conti is hiding a more powerful derivative of the W12 under its hood. Expect a horsepower rating well above 600, and a torque figure to make one-ton pickups jealous. Click through the gallery below to check out the photos.

Bentley Continental GTC Speed getting worked out in the Alps originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 29 Jun 2011 11:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Geneva 2011: Bentley Supersports ICR Convertible is a classy drop-top rocketship

Jeff Glucker — Wed, 02 Mar 2011 18:21:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Convertible, Performance, Geneva Motor Show, Bentley, Luxury

Bentley Supersports ICR Convertible - Click above for high-res image gallery

This question is for all of our Bentley buying readers in attendance today: Do you prefer the Flying B in your driveway to be of the limited-edition variety? If you answered "Harrumph! Of course I do, you peasant!", then we've just gotten up close with your next purchase. It's called the Bentley Continental Supersports Ice Speed Record Convertible and just 100 examples will be produced.

The Bentley ICR Convertible was created to commemorate the achievements of Juha Kankkunen. Last month, Kankkunen took a lightly-modified (tires, aero bits and roll-cage) out to a long stretch of sea-turned-ice. Once there, he fired up the twelve-cylinder engine and set a new ice speed record by hitting 205.48 miles per hour.

Bentley is producing 100 examples of the Supersports ICR and each will boast standout features that make them stand out from non-ICR versions. Just three exterior color choices will be available to compliment the Dark Grey Metallic top; Beluga, Quartzite and Arctica White. Inside, carbon fiber has fitted on the dashboard and center console, while the familiar Breitling dashboard clock gets red accents.

The Bentley Continental Supersports Ice Record Convertible is the most powerful Bentley ever (going by horsepower alone). Its 6.0-liter twin-turbocharged W12 engine produces 631-horsepower and 590 pound-feet of torque - enough to push the hefty two-door from 0-60 miles per hour in 3.8 seconds and on to a top speed 202 miles per hour.

Check out both the actual record-setting car (shown above) and the special production model it inspired in our galleries below, then click past the jump to check out the official press release.

Gallery: Bentley Supersports ICR Convertible: Geneva 2011

Gallery: 2011 Bentley Continental Supersports Ice Speed Record Convertible

Continue reading Geneva 2011: Bentley Supersports ICR Convertible is a classy drop-top rocketship

Geneva 2011: Bentley Supersports ICR Convertible is a classy drop-top rocketship originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 02 Mar 2011 18:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Vauxhall GTC concept completely revealed ahead of Paris Motor Show debut

Zach Bowman — Wed, 08 Sep 2010 09:27:00 EST

Filed under: Concept Cars, Europe, Paris Motor Show, Hatchback, Vauxhall

2010 Vauxhall GTC Concept - Click above for high-res image gallery

Vauxhall has beaten the speculating voices of the Internet to the Paris Motor Show punch by pulling the covers off of its GTC Concept well ahead of the main event. According to the company, what you see above is likely to have more than a little influence on the next Astra Sport Hatch. In classic concept style, the GTC rolls on epic 21-inch wheels that aren't likely to find their way to the production version of the car any time soon. That's not to say that this creation is pure fantasy, though.

For one thing, there's a direct-injection, 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine snugged under the hood, complete with a functioning start/stop system and a six-speed manual gearbox. That choice of powerplant seems a little too realistic to just be a show-circuit folly, so our guess is that the Astra Sport Hatch will likely boast similar hardware when it hits the road to take on cars like the Volkswagen Scirocco. Hit the jump for the full press release and check out the gallery for a closer look. Vauxhall will show off the GTC Concept in Paris starting on September 30, and we'll be on-hand to give you live shots and impressions of its reveal.

Gallery: Vauxhall GTC Concept

[Source: Vauxhall]

Continue reading Vauxhall GTC concept completely revealed ahead of Paris Motor Show debut

Vauxhall GTC concept completely revealed ahead of Paris Motor Show debut originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 08 Sep 2010 09:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Geneva 2010: Bentley Continental Supersports Convertible is a belated holiday treat

Chris Paukert — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 10:40:00 EST

Filed under: Convertible, Performance, Geneva Motor Show, Bentley, UK, Luxury

2011 Bentley Continental Supersports Convertible - Click above for high-res image gallery

Although Christmas was many months ago, we're guessing that the fine folks at Bentley specified the paint on their Bentley Continental Sports Convertible show car some months ago. How else to explain the scrumptious eggnog metallic finish and interior piping? Perhaps it was the droptop's yuletide bounty of power (621 brake horsepower and 590 pound-feet of torque) from its force-fed W12 engine that inspired them. Or the fact that at over 200 mph, this would make for one hell of a sleigh.

Either way, we believe that this flex-fuel droptop will finally complete the automaker's already expansive Continental lineup (we expect to see the next-generation model very soon), but admittedly, we've figured that Bentley's volume car didn't have any more derivatives left in it before, and here we are.

Gallery: Geneva 2010: Bentley Supersports Convertible

[Source: Bentley]

Continue reading Geneva 2010: Bentley Continental Supersports Convertible is a belated holiday treat

Geneva 2010: Bentley Continental Supersports Convertible is a belated holiday treat originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 03 Mar 2010 10:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Geneva 2010: Touring Superleggera Flying Star is our kind of coachbuilt wunder car

Jonny Lieberman — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 10:08:00 EST

Filed under: Performance, Wagon, Geneva Motor Show, Europe, Bentley, Luxury

Touring Superleggera Flying Star - Click above for high-res image gallery

The majority of auto journalists are car freaks by nature. One of the many defining characteristics of a car freak is an undying, unadulterated love of any sort of shooting brake. If you're not a car freak, or just don't know the term, a shooting brake is a two-door station wagon. Why is this bodystyle so beloved? Many reasons, but let's just chalk it up to the impracticality of a sports car mixed well with the practicality of a station wagon. What can we say, it's a boat floater.

For Geneva, Italian car maker Touring Superleggera showed us freaks their new, stunning Flying Star. Built at the request of a customer and with the full cooperation of Bentley, the Flying Star is a shooting brake built from the Bentley Continental GTC. Honestly, there's not all that much to tell. Underneath the new skin sits... a Bentley Continental GTC, complete with its 560-horsepower, 479-pound-feet-of-torque twin-turbo 6.0-liter W12. Or, if you insist, Touring Superleggera will build you a GTC Speed-based Flying Star with 610 hp and 553 lb-ft of torque. Oh, and there's a support structure between the rear shocks that acts as both a hard structure for the new roofline and an integrated roll bar.

The real story, however, is being told by your eyeballs. Many of us have never been all that enthused by the shape of the Continental. But the Flying Star, well, it completes the design. How good? Four of us Autobloggers were gathered around a single laptop ~~gasping at~~ admiring Touring Superleggera's handicraft work. So yes, we think this is a very wonderful looking car. 100-percent picture perfect? No, as the tailgate's not quite... something. But let's not be petty, the Flying Star is fantastic looking.

Useful, too, as you can fit four golf bags in the rear. You might be wondering why a two-seat vehicle would need to carry four golf bags, but if you look closely you'll notice two additional seats in back. They of course fold down, allowing the Flying Star to swallow even more golf bags (no official word on exactly how many).

Besides the Flying Star's overall shooting brakeness, our favorite part has to be the woven leather "boot carpet," i.e. a beautiful material that covers the rear cargo area, the back of the rear seats and the rear floormats. Have we ever been excited about carpet before? No, never. And we doubt we ever will be again. That said, we doubt we'll be seeing any coachbuilt cars that get us as excited as the Flying Star. Now word on price (think: expensive!) but Touring Superleggera will be building just under 20 examples per year. Go car freaks, go. Full press release after the jump.

Gallery: Geneva 2010: Touring Superleggera Flying Star

Live Photos: Jonny Lieberman / Copyright (C)2010 Weblogs, Inc.

[Source: Touring Superleggera]

Continue reading Geneva 2010: Touring Superleggera Flying Star is our kind of coachbuilt wunder car

Geneva 2010: Touring Superleggera Flying Star is our kind of coachbuilt wunder car originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 02 Mar 2010 10:08:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Detroit 2010: Bentley Series 51 Continental GTC

Chris Shunk — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 12:32:00 EST

Filed under: Detroit Auto Show, Convertible, Coupe, Bentley

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

Bentley was the only ultra-luxury marque to have a stand-alone display at the Detroit Auto Show and the British brand came strong with its upcoming Mulsanne flagship in the flesh and this special edition Continental to pique our interests. The Continental is already a stunner in its "base" trim, but not everybody is content with an "ordinary" Bentley.

The ultra-exclusive Continental adds a new Series 51 trim for 2010, named after Bentley's first official styling department in the 1950s. Series 51 trim will be available for the entire Continental lineup and offer exclusive exterior design cues and a unique color palette. We're talking three-tone leather with contrasting piping and stitching here, folks. Check the Series 51 box and you'll also get 14-spoke, 20-inch wheels and a Series 51 badge on the front wings.

The new trim, which will be available throughout the Continental lineup, starts at $192,750 for the GT coupe. Click below to peruse our high resolution gallery of the Series 51 Continental GTC and hit the jump to read over the Bentley press release.

Gallery: Detroit 2010: Bentley Series 51 Continental GTC

Continue reading Detroit 2010: Bentley Series 51 Continental GTC

Detroit 2010: Bentley Series 51 Continental GTC originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 12 Jan 2010 12:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rumormill: New details on next Bentley Continental emerge

Damon Lavrinc — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 16:27:00 EST

Filed under: Convertible, Coupe, Performance, Bentley, Rumormill

Bentley Continental GT Speed - Click above for high-res gallery

The Camry for Rich People (AKA the Bentley Continental) is ready for a makeover and, according to Automobile, work is underway on the next iteration of Bentley's volume model. Due to arrive in 2011, the new coupe will reportedly emerge lighter than its predecessor, along with sharing more components with the Audi A8 and possibly packing a diesel drivetrain.

The styling of the new GT is led again by Dirk van Braeckel, so expect an evolutionary design that captures all the cues from the current model and packages them into a more aerodynamic package. With the A8's front suspension employed in favor of the Volkswagen Phaeton's, front overhangs should be shorter, allowing the wheelbase to be stretched. This, along with a wider track and a slightly larger footprint, will allow the interior accommodations - primarily the rear seats and trunk - to grow. An aluminum space-frame is expected to be used in front, with a traditional steel setup in the rear to shave around 400 pounds from the current coupe's curb weight, bringing the final tonnage down to around 4,800 pounds.

Power will be provided by an array of upgraded W12s producing approximately 580 hp and 515 lb-ft of torque in the standard model and 650 hp and 590 lb-ft of torque on the Speed variants. Both models stand to benefit from a eight-speed automatic gearbox, and a 4.2-liter turbo-diesel putting out 374 hp and 590 lb-ft of torque is reportedly in the works. Automobile speculates that a plug-in hybrid could make it to market, assuming lithium-ion batteries are available.

The standard Continental GT should arrive in early 2011, followed by the redesigned Flying Spur in mid-2012, with the GTC convertible coming in late 2013 and the Speed variants arriving in 2015.

Gallery: 2008 Bentley Continental GT Speed

Gallery: Review: Bentley Continental GT Speed

[Source: Automobile]

Rumormill: New details on next Bentley Continental emerge originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 11 Mar 2009 16:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Detroit Preview: Bentley GTC Speed is last, but not least

Jonathon Ramsey — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 07:01:00 EST

Filed under: Detroit Auto Show, Convertible, Performance, Bentley

Click above for a high-res gallery of the Bentley GTC Speed

The Bentley GTC has only been out for two years and a bit, but you might not know that; the car is so popular in some parts that it has become something like Ugg Boots for the monied-up automotive fashionista. Like its other Continental stablemates, Bentley has finally taken the drophead into their Speed garage for the transformation from really fast to "Egads!" fast.

It emerges from said garage with its twin-turbo W12 producing 553 lb-ft. of torque and 600 horsepower - 100 ponies more than the Azure T, making it the most powerful convertible Bentley has ever made. The Speed treatment alters the front end, with a more upright, dark-tinted matrix grille flanked by chrome bezels around the headlights, and the face is framed by firmer lines sweeping up from the lower air dam.

While it is still not - and isn't mean to be - a sports car, the handling ante is upped by a lowered ride height, low-friction dampers, stiffer rear axle bushings, wider tires, and retuned steering. When it's time to stop, newly available carbon-ceramic brakes, at 16.5 inches up front and 14 inches in back, are the largest factory-fitted brakes on a passenger car today.

When it's time to get on it, you'll reach 60 in 4.5 seconds, and with the top up you'll find terminal velocity is 200 miles-per-hour with the lid up. Should you not wish to go easy on your follicles, the GTC will still reach 195 mph with the top down - just make sure to lather up your 'do with plenty of product.

There are two new official exterior paint choices from the factory: Aquamarine and Blue Crystal, and you can get the interior done in Aquamarine as well. However, since Bentley's bespoke department will make your GTC any color you want, that's probably of little concern to most buyers. Even so, we must ask: who's been requesting an Aquamarine interior? Check out the full GTC Speed press release after the jump, and the gallery of high-res photos below.

Gallery: Bentley Continental GTC Speed

[Source: Bentley]

Continue reading Detroit Preview: Bentley GTC Speed is last, but not least

Detroit Preview: Bentley GTC Speed is last, but not least originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 06 Jan 2009 07:01:00 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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MTM unveils Bentley Continental GTC Birkin Edition

Jonathon Ramsey — Thu, 20 Sep 2007 13:01:00 EST

Filed under: Aftermarket, Tuners, Convertible, Bentley

German tuning house MTM is creator of the schnellest Audi RTT and the sickness-on-wheels RS4 K540. It follows up those two acts with a tastefully-tuned Bentley called the GTC Birkin Edition. (Sir Henry Ralph Stanley "Tim" Birkin, 3rd Baronet, was one of the original Bentley Boys of the 1920's.) It is wonderful to see a tuner take an already beautiful car and forgo visually mad modification for jet black understatement.

In fact, the only exterior mod, other than the 21" Bimoto wheels, is the rear apron and staggered pipes. Frankly, we like those better than the elliptical versions on the standard car. The real fettling has taken place on the engine and suspension. Two kits are available, one that ups the HP from 560 to 635, with a jump in torque to 575 lb-ft. The second kit raises that again to 650 HP and 585 lb-ft. The German oomph will get you to 62 in 4.2 seconds, a 0.6-second improvement over the "basic" Bentley GTC.

MTM has also added a proprietary, stainless steel exhaust that includes a center and end muffler with throttle control. To top it off, the suspension's been lowered, which always helps even the baddest Bentley boy look that little bit badder. Click through the jump to read the full press release, and check out the gallery of hi-res images below.

[Source: 4 Wheels]

Gallery: MTM Bentley GTC Birkin Edition

Continue reading MTM unveils Bentley Continental GTC Birkin Edition

MTM unveils Bentley Continental GTC Birkin Edition originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 20 Sep 2007 13:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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VIDEO: Fifth Gear drives the Continental GTC... right off the runway

Chris Shunk — Fri, 18 May 2007 09:04:00 EST

Filed under: Tuners, Convertible, Videos, Bentley

The Bentley Continental GTC is a rare and beautiful car with style and grace, 552hp, and the cachet that can only come from something wearing the binged B. We actually drove a GTC briefly last year, and you can rest assured that it didn't suck.

Tiff Needell and the Fifth Gear video crew were able to take out the droptop Conti for a full video feature, and the high-dollar production (they shoot test drives with a helicopter) is as good as you'd expect. In the video, Tiff took some pretty ladies for a 150mph stroll down the runway with the top down. The reason? He had a theory that the faster you go with the roof stowed, the less wind enters the cabin. The female passengers were there to see if their hair blew at high speed (so says Tiff). Well, that hypothesis didn't hold water, but Mr. Needell did manage to run out of runway. Amazingly, the AWD Continental GTC didn't give the first hint of losing control, and neither Tiff nor his companions looked the least bit frightened. Check out the video after the jump, it's worth a look.

[Source: Carscoop]

Continue reading VIDEO: Fifth Gear drives the Continental GTC... right off the runway

VIDEO: Fifth Gear drives the Continental GTC... right off the runway originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 18 May 2007 09:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Bentley shoots for the 10k mark with updated Conti

Noah Joseph — Wed, 02 May 2007 08:59:00 EST

Filed under: Spy Photos, Convertible, Coupe, Sedan, Bentley

"Don't mess with success" seems to be the motto over at Bentley, as the premium automaker prepares some mild revisions to the Continental range, the GT version of which has been on the market unchanged for three years running.

As we reported earlier, the revisions to the Continental GT, GTC and Flying Spur will be minimal. Updated bumpers front and rear will join new wheels as the chief exterior tweaks, and although no spy shots have surfaced as of yet, the interior is reported to be refreshed, too.

Dealers can't seem to keep the Continental in the showrooms long enough, and Crewe hopes to hit the magic 10,000 figure for annual sales, growing from 9200 last year. In any other segment, we couldn't picture owners trading in for a new model differentiated by so little, but when you're selling to big spenders, anything is possible.

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[Source: Car magazine]

Bentley shoots for the 10k mark with updated Conti originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 02 May 2007 08:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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