Paul Tan's Automotive News » Bentley

Bentley reveals powertrain options for its EXP 9 F concept

Danny Tan — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 04:49:26 +0000

We’ve seen this before, Bentley’s SUV experiment. Shown at the Geneva show last month, the EXP 9 F is described by Bentley as “a vehicle that feels equally at home at an opera gala performance, on the sand dunes and the overtaking lane of the autobahn”. Make no mistake, this “concept” is a future model line alongside the Mulsanne, Continental and Flying Spur.

“A Bentley Grand Tourer doesn’t necessarily have to be a coupé, a convertible or a saloon – it could equally well be an SUV. What’s important is that it should be true to Bentley’s brand values and in line with the desires and needs of our customers,” said Alasdair Stewart, Member of the Board, Sales and Marketing.

Any luxury SUV has to target China, a goldmine full of new money, and Bentley is showing the EXP 9 F off at the Beijing show now, where the British brand also revealed powertrain options for the SUV. The showcar’s hood hides a 6.0L twin-turbocharged W12 engine, developing 600 bhp and 800 Nm of torque. This petrol engine is coupled with an eight-speed close-ratio transmission.

A range of other engines are also under consideration. This includes Bentley’s recently launched 500 bhp, 4.0L V8 as well as a V6 plug-in hybrid. With a potential 30 km range in full electric mode and CO2 emissions of 130 g/km, the V6 hybrid would still be capable of a 0 to 100km/h sprint time of less than five seconds. This sounds very promising, and in tune with the times.

See our previous post for more details and images.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 27 May 12 15:30:37 +0000.

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Bentley EXP 9 F – the SUV experiment finally arrives

Anthony Lim — Tue, 06 Mar 2012 05:25:44 +0000

Seems the SUV path mulled a little while ago has taken shape – Bentley is unveiling its EXP 9 F all-wheel drive luxury SUV concept at the Geneva show, and the study is set to examine the potential for a third Bentley model-line alongside the bespoke Mulsanne and performance Continental ranges.

Key Bentley styling cues – such as the matrix grille, round lamps and the strong power-line and haunch along each flank – have been re-interpreted for the EXP 9 F, with plenty of sculptured flowing surfaces to emphasise the power, muscularity and robustness of the design.

Cues at the front include daytime running light apertures that act as the charge cooler air intakes for the twin-turbo W12 engine, each with a dramatic, mesh-covered turbine fan design and rifled inner surface finish.

At the rear, the swooping lines of the tailgate takes a sporting profile, with an ultra-wide, two-part split tailgate to boot. The EXP 9 F also gets twin exhaust tailpipes with rifled inner surfaces, their elliptical shapes echoing those of the rear light clusters, the design of which is inspired by the form and details of fighter jet engines, so it goes.

The 6.0 litre, twin-turbocharged W12, together with an eight-speed transmission, is the powertrain of choice for the concept, but the production form could well see the company’s recently-launched 4.0 litre twin-turbo V8 or a hybrid drivetrain.

Meanwhile, the 4+1 seating cabin is contemporarily Bentley, with the hallmarks of the usual craftsmanship and level of tailored luxury from the brand. You’ll find traditional handcrafted elements such as wood, leather and polished metals such as aluminium, bronze and gunmetal helping to create the scene. Oh, and reversible silk wool floormats as well, with one side finished in durable, ribbed saddle leather for those rougher outdoor moments.

The company looks set to take the vehicle into production; it says that the show vehicle, which wears 23-inch multi-spoke alloys, is to provide a basis for feedback and comments with the aim of refining the concept further.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 27 May 12 15:30:37 +0000.

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Bentley Mulsanne Mulliner Driving Specification – sporting interpretation set to debut in Geneva

Anthony Lim — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 09:35:41 +0000

Bentley is to unveil a highly distinctive and sporting interpretation of the Mulsanne in Geneva next month. The new Mulsanne Mulliner Driving Specification, to give the variant its full name, wears a number of dress-up cues, including unique 21-inch alloy wheels, Bentley Flying B wing vents and a Diamond Quilted leather-trimmed cabin.

The 505 hp 6.75 litre V8 sports saloon will also feature a driver-selectable, sports-tuned suspension and steering. The Drive Dynamics Control system, which allows suspension and steering systems to be tuned to a preferred driving style, now has a unique Sport setting that offers enhanced grip, body control and steering accuracy without compromising ride comfort.

The Mulliner Driving Specification’s 21-inch light aluminium alloy two-piece wheels – with race-derived titanium fasteners – are available in both painted and polished finishes, and wear 265/40 series rubbers.

Other items include drilled alloy accelerator and brake pedals, with the raised grips on each individually polished, as well as Mulliner treadplate plaques on the vertical surface of the driver and front passenger door sills.

In common with all Mulsannes, there’s a choice of over 100 paint colours, a virtually limitless choice of unbleached premium quality veneers – with two marquetry options – and a selection of 22 leather hides available for the Mulliner Driving Specification. Performance specs continue as is, with a 0-100 km/h time of 5.3 seconds and 296 km/h top speed.

Aside from the new variant, the company has also announced that the Mulsanne range now features two new options – a large tilt-opening, tinted glass sunroof and an exquisitely designed, electrically operated bottle cooler, complete with hand-blown and hand-cut lead crystal champagne flutes.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 27 May 12 15:30:37 +0000.

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Bentley Continental V8 uses VAG’s new 4.0L twin-turbo V8

Paul Tan — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 10:05:27 +0000

We knew this would happen sooner or later – downsizing for better fuel efficiency has hit the super luxury marques – the Bentley Continental now has the option for a 4.0 liter twin turbo V8 engine to compliment the car’s current big 6.0 liter twin turbo W12 engine in the Continental GT and GTC – the V8 model will be called the Bentley Continental V8.

The new Bentley Continental V8 will be powered by Volkswagen Group’s new twin turbocharged 4.0 liter TFSI V8 engine that made its debut in the S6, S7 and S8. In the Bentley Continental V8, the motor produces 507 PS at 6,000rpm and a peak torque of 660Nm flat from 1,700rpm up to 5,000rpm. It’s one of the more powerful tunes that the V8 is available in, though slightly different from the Audi S8′s – the S8 produces 13 more PS (520 PS) but 10Nm less torque (650Nm). Plenty of power but the W12 is still the king of course – making 640 PS in its most potent tune.

The new V8 is pretty advanced compared to the W12 – it’s got direct fuel injection, low friction bearings, thermal management, and the ability to seamlessly shut off four of its eight cylinders, effectively turning it into a V4 under light throttle load. It’s also mated to a gearbox that has 2 additional cogs – a ZF 8-speed automatic. Bentley claims the Continental V8 models will be able to travel over 800km on a single tank of fuel – but I’m pretty sure that’s one huge tank of fuel.

Bentley has also released 2 videos of the Continental V8 – one of its engine sound and another promotional video. The V8 engine is available in both the coupe and convertible bodies. Will we see a Rolls-Royce Ghost with a V8 engine soon?

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 27 May 12 15:30:37 +0000.

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Bentley gets a £3 million conditional grant allocation to support development of new powertrain applications

Anthony Lim — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 04:20:44 +0000

Over in the UK, Bentley has announced that it has received confirmation of a conditional grant allocation of £3 million from the UK’s Department for Business Regional Growth Fund (RGF).

It’s the second time this year Bentley has been successful with the UK government’s RGF, having received £1.68m in the first round to create additional manufacturing jobs and training. The new grant funding will help support the development of a new powertrain application, which will enable Bentley to exploit new export markets and safeguard over 200 jobs as well as create a small number of additional positions within the company’s 900-strong engineering department.

The company, which exports over 80% of its production says that, despite the economic uncertainties, recent investment in new models is already paying dividends as growth continues in all major markets, with China continuing to break records. By the end of September, its sales in China had exceeded 1,000 units for the first time as the country cements its position as the second biggest global market for the brand, growing at a rate of over 80% a year.

Customers in emerging markets are increasingly showing interest in the new two-door Continental GT and GTC, delivering significant sales growth, but for that to continue – and the long term future of the company be assured – the company says it has to look at new powertrains which anticipate changing demand. The grant should help take care of that.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 27 May 12 15:30:37 +0000.

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Bentley Continental Flying Spur – special edition for China

Anthony Lim — Mon, 05 Sep 2011 04:10:34 +0000

Click to enlarge

Another special edition of the Bentley Continental Flying Spur is coming about, and this one is set for the Chinese market. The company is working together with British design company Linley for the creation of a limited edition run of 10 units for China, which happens to be its biggest four-door market globally.

The cars will incorporate signature Linley elements, among these specially selected Linley veneers in Santos rosewood on the fascia, console, waistrail as well as the roof console, effectively covering the entire wood surfaces of the model where Bentley chestnut or walnut would normally be used.

The iconic Linley Helix motif, from the company’s Helix Furniture Collection, will be found on the waist-rails and picnic table of the Flying Spurs. The Helix pattern will feature four different types of veneer, which contrast with the Santos rosewood, to show the wave effect delivered by the marquetry. Also on, a rear console modified for a customer-commissioned Linley humidor.

Click to enlarge

Stainless steel Linley treadplates will feature on the cars, as will a Linley for Bentley rhodium-plated plaque in the glove box. Modified fluting on the seats will have burnt oak contrast stitching, with additional burnt oak hide highlighting the storage areas and door pockets.

To remind its owner it’s not just a bog standard CFS, a Linley branded leather bag with a sumptuous cashmere blanket and other Linley items such as a leather luggage tag will be included in the boot of them limited edition cars. Yes, money won’t always buy you happiness, but it can certainly afford you a fair bit of luxury.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 27 May 12 15:30:37 +0000.

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Frankfurt preview: second-gen Bentley Continental GTC

Anthony Lim — Thu, 25 Aug 2011 10:21:55 +0000

Bentley’s Continental GTC convertible goes into its second-generation form next month, when the car makes its debut in Frankfurt. The drop-top, which replaces the current model that was introduced in 2006, will feature cues from its GT coupe sibling launched last year.

If the original Continental GTC was elegant and understated, then this one is beefier and has a more assertive presence. It also offers a more dynamic driving experience, with a wider track front and rear, sharper steering and retuned suspension helping to improve things on that front.

The all-wheel drive system features a new 40:60 rear torque bias (compared with 50:50 of the original GTC), minimising understeer during hard cornering and allowing the spirited driver to manage the car’s line and balance via precise throttle control.

At the heart of it is the 6.0 litre, twin-turbocharged W12, with a ZF 6HP28 transmission replete with QuickShift in tow. Power output has been raised from 552 hp to 567 hp and the famed Bentley ‘wave of torque’ has been increased by a further 50 Nm to 700 Nm. Performance specs include a 0-100 kph time of 4.8 seconds and a 314 kph top speed.

The new GTC’s cabin features additional rear legroom, new storage solutions and current faves such as touch-screen infotainment, automatic seat-belt presenters, Naim for Bentley premium audio and a Bentley-designed Neck Warmer for comfortable roof-down motoring.

Luxury continues to be the buzzword here, and the four-seater gets a new, even more spacious and sumptuous hand-crafted cabin, with soft-touch leather hides, an extensive range of wood veneers, cool-touch metals and deep-pile carpets. In all, 17 standard soft-touch leather hide colour choices are to be had, with six colour split combinations, complemented by a range of seven veneers, all done in house.

Twenty-inch ‘Five Spoke’ alloy wheels, wearing Pirelli P Zero 275/40 donuts, come as standard, with optional 21” wheels in three styles (‘Five Spoke Two-Piece’, ‘Seven Spoke Elegant’ and ‘Ten Spoke Propeller’) available, a first for the GTC. Going the latter route gets the 275/35 P Zero rubbers.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 27 May 12 15:30:37 +0000.

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Bentley mulling the idea of building a luxury SUV

Anthony Lim — Thu, 04 Aug 2011 09:17:40 +0000

If everyone’s doing it, why shouldn’t we? That’s the train of thought Bentley seems to be in at the moment – the British luxury carmaker is looking at entering another segment and is targeting to build a luxury SUV, according to reports. The company hasn’t yet firmed up on things, but the reports say that its CEO, Wolfgang Duerheimer wants to build an off-road SUV and has discussed the matter with execs at Volkswagen, which owns the brand.

Duerheimer was once Porsche’s development chief and oversaw its move into SUV territory. The Cayenne has been a resounding success for the company from a business point of view – it currently accounts for half the company’s overall sales. No doubt, all this must be providing the inspiration for Bentley to venture down the same path – expect to hear more on this front developing in the future.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 27 May 12 15:30:37 +0000.

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Bentley Continental GT launched – from RM1.74 mil on

Anthony Lim — Fri, 03 Jun 2011 01:28:46 +0000

Bentley Kuala Lumpur last night unveiled the latest addition to its line-up, the new Continental GT. The second-generation two-door 2+2 grand tourer rolls in at a starting price of RM1.74 million, excluding insurance, and depending on specification and trim levels, works its way up to about RM2.1 million or so.

The all-wheel drive car, while carrying over the 12-cylinder 6.0 litre unit from its predecessor, is of course a faster beast than the older one. With a power output of 567 hp at 6,000 rpm and 700 Nm at 1,700 rpm of torque, and mated to a ZF 6HP28 six-speed Quickshift transmission, the car does the 0-100 sprint in 4.6 seconds and gets to a 318 kph top speed.

The W12 block is FlexFuel ready, allowing it to run seamlessly on gasoline, bioethanol (E85) or any combination of the two. Later this year will see the introduction of a high-output V8 engine option.

Equipment levels available includes an 8-inch touchscreen, 30 GB infotainment system with advanced navigationrt settings at your fingertips. The standard audio system gets you eight speakers, while the Naim for Bentley Premium audio system, created exclusively for the Continental GT by British audio specialists Naim, takes the number of Balanced Mode Radiator speakers to 11, and Dirac Dimensions digital signal processing gets thrown in as well.

As is to be expected, there’s plenty of refinement to be found, especially inside the cabin. There’s a host of beautiful main and secondary leather hide options, veneers, engine-spun metal fascias and exterior paint colours (including new Extreme Silver and Liquid Mercury finishes), so there’s a world of choice when it comes to dressing up the car, of which the local order book lists four thus far.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 27 May 12 15:30:37 +0000.

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Bentley Supersports creates world speed record on ice

Danny Tan — Wed, 16 Feb 2011 01:54:17 +0000

The combination of a crazy Bentley and a nerveless Finn has created the new world speed record on ice. Finland’s four-time world rally champion Juha Kankkunen drove a Bentley Continental Supersports convertible on frozen waters of the Baltic Sea, reaching 330.695 km/h (205.48 mph) to set the benchmark. The previous record was also set by Juha in 2007 when he did 321.6 km/h in a Continental GT at the same venue.

The Anglo-Finnish team used a car with minimum mods. A fully-welded, heavy-duty safety roll-cage, along with Pirelli SottoZero II 275/40R20 winter tyres and a rear bumper-mounted parachute provided reassurance. Front and rear spoilers provided optimum high speed stability. The AWD 6.0-litre, 12-cylinder Continental Supersports convertible was fuelled with E85 bioethanol.

Man and machine overcame temperatures as low as minus 30 degrees, sudden snow blizzards and potentially dangerous crosswinds on the 16.5 km track on a 70cm-thick layer of sea ice. The record attempt was driven on a 1000 metre long measured distance with the speed certified by officials from the Finland Traffic Police. His new world record was based on the average of two runs in opposite directions with measured speeds ratified by a representative of Guinness Book of Records.

A delighted Wolfgang Dürheimer, Bentley’s new Chairman and CEO said: “The ice speed record is an amazing feat by Juha Kankkunen, whose skill and courage in extreme conditions truly make him one of the modern-day Bentley Boys. We will be celebrating this achievement with a very special ‘extreme’ Bentley, which will be the most powerful model ever to bear the famed Winged B emblem.”

This limited edition of just 100 examples will make its global debut at the Geneva show in March. Gallery after the jump.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 27 May 12 15:30:37 +0000.

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Bentley teases 2011 Continental GT with online microsite

Jacob Alexander — Sat, 28 Aug 2010 16:04:03 +0000

Bentley have released a microsite to showcase the 2011 Bentley Continental GT. At the site, you’re greeted by a 43 second video specially commissioned to tease the public of the redesigned car.

Nothing much is revealed apart from the Mulsanne-like LED headlights (which we think is quite ugly), shots of the centre console in the interior, the navigation system, a more sloping back and redesigned tail lights.

No details yet on the powertrain but we could expect a revision of its 6.0 litre W12 twin turbo engine along with the possibility of an E85 biofuel capable variant.

The car will have its online debut on the 7th of September and its public debut at the Paris Motor Show at the end of September.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 27 May 12 15:30:37 +0000.

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Bentley Continental Flying Spur Arabia special edition

Jacob Alexander — Wed, 11 Aug 2010 04:33:19 +0000

Bentley says that the Middle East accounts for 10% of its global sales. So apart from opening up nine new dealerships in Dubai, Doha, Abu Dhabi, Kuwait, Bahrain, Oman, Jeddah, Riyadh and Al Khobar, the Flying B has released two special edition Continental Flying Spurs for the region.

They are the Flying Spur Arabia and the Flying Spur Speed Arabia. The standard Arabia is powered by a W12 6.0-litre engine with 546 hp and 637 Nm. It goes from 0 to 100 km/h in just 4.9 seconds creaming off at a top speed of 312 km/h. Not enough? The Speed Arabia gets 600 hp/750 Nm for 0-100 km/h in 4.8 seconds and a 322 km/h vmax.

Enhancements include 14-spoke diamond alloys that increase airflow to the brakes for the Arabia and 10 spoke, 20-inch wheels with optional carbon ceramic brakes for the Arabia Speed. Other discerning features that set the Arabia cars apart include a front fender badge, tread plate and ashtray lid badge – all bearing the Arabia signature. Inside, owners will be treated to ventilated seats, veneered picnic tables with vanity mirror and deep pile carpets with hide trimming. Quite thoughtful on Bentley’s part is a valet key, which allows the car to be driven by jockeys without giving access to the boot or glove box.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 27 May 12 15:30:37 +0000.

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Bentley plans to introduce Mulsanne-based Azure convertible

Harvinder Sidhu — Wed, 28 Apr 2010 14:19:10 +0000

According to Insideline Bentley will introduce a new Azure convertible that will be based on the rather odd-looking Mulsanne. The top-less Azure is expected to be launched next summer and is likely to be a 2-door with a fabric roof.

When we say the word ‘based’ we also mean that the Azure will carry the Mulsanne’s front end as well and I am not sure if thats the right thing to do. Motivation is expected to come from a 6.75 litre V8 with twin turbos that is capable of producing 505hp and a massive 1020Nm of torque.

The first ever Bentley Azure was launched back in 1995 and the four seater convertible was based on the Continental. Pictured above is the 2009 Bentley Azure T.

Source

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 27 May 12 15:30:37 +0000.

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Bentley Mulsanne to hit KL on 14th of April

Paul Tan — Tue, 06 Apr 2010 07:52:54 +0000

Joy of joys for the ultra rich of Malaysia and for the rest of us who enjoy ogling cars of these price points parked in front of shopping malls – the Bentley Mulsanne will be making its way into Bentley Kuala Lumpur’s showroom on the 14th of April 2010 in conjunction with Bentley Kuala Lumpur’s first year anniversary.

No price yet – but with models like the Continental Supersports and Supersports Convertible priced at RM2,288,000 and RM2,438,000 respectively, don’t expect the “New Grand Bentley” to be priced any lesser!

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 27 May 12 15:30:37 +0000.

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Bentley reveals the 4-seater Continental Supersports Convertible

Harvinder Sidhu — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 06:42:44 +0000

Bentley has unwrapped the all new Continental Supersports Convertible which joins the coupe variant that was launched last year. The convertible which will make its debut at the Geneva Motor Show is powered by the same 630hp twin-turbo W12 mouth-watering engine (with 800Nm of torque) found in the coupe version making it the most powerful four-seater convertible in the world.

This engine is able to run on petrol, E85 bioethanol or a combination of both. 0 – 100 km/h takes 4.2 seconds while top speed is figured at 325 km/h. It also features reworked suspension, steering and ESP settings, carbon-ceramic brakes as well as sticky Pirelli Ultra High Performance tires, among others. An image gallery can be found after the jump.

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VIDEO: New Bentley Mulsanne Short Film

Paul Tan — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 17:41:46 +0000

Bentley has produced a short film over just over 3 minutes in conjunction of the Bentley Mulsanne’s launch. The contents are quite obviously aimed at letting us know how much handwork and attention goes into producing one, but in reality, I’m really not feeling it because of the unappealing way it looks, especially at the front with its overcomplicated yet oddly simple round lights.

Oh by the way, did you notice how low the redline is on the Mulsanne’s engine? It’s very typical of a diesel but this baby’s running a twin-turbocharged V8 petrol! I’m pretty sure the 6.75 litre motor can rev higher than that, but with 512 PS and 1,020Nm of torque it probably really doesn’t need to.

Watch the short film after the jump.

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New Bentley Mulsanne: full details and specifications including new interior shots!

Paul Tan — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 09:48:03 +0000

We now have more details and shots of the new Bentley Mulsanne, adding on to the exterior shots we’ve already seen when it was unveiled at Pebble Beach. The Mulsanne was previously known as the New Grand Bentley when it was being teased and building one takes nine weeks of extensive work.

There are acres and acres of wood in the interior, bordering on excessive but you can get away with this if you use real wood instead of the fake stuff. The wood surrounds the entire interior as a ‘ring of wood’.

You can’t just throw wood at every possible interior panel and have it look expensive. There’s a certain art to it – material design, smell, colour harmony, they all play a part in whether the human brain perceives something as luxurious.

Those seats look really comfortable and can be wrapped with a virtually unlimited selection of leather shades. There are 24 standard colours, but you can also customise this, so don’t be surprised if someone like Ms Hilton orders a pink Bentley with pink leather. The steering wheel itself takes 15 hours to hand-stitch, and this gets as long as 45 hours if the customer wants cross-stitching.

Every kind of in-car entertainment that you could potentially want is there – a 14 speaker premium audio system (Naim 20-speaker system optional), 6-CD changer, 40 GB drive, 8 inch LCD (stored behind an electrically operated veneered door), etc.

Under the hood is a 6.75 litre V8 engine producing 512 PS and a massive 1020 Nm of torque, which peaks at a very low 1,800rpm. Yes, the car is large and heavy, but imagine 4 digits of torque kicking in at just over idle? The engine is mated to a ZF 8-speed automatic transmission, likely to be similiar to the unit in the Ghost and the 760Li. For the first time in a Bentley, there are steering wheel mounted gearshift controls.

Look after the jump for hi-res photos of the Mulsanne.

Engine
Type: Twin-turbocharged V8
Installation: Front, longitudinal, rear-wheel drive
Construction: Alloy heads and block
Capacity: 6750cc
Power: 512PS / 505bhp / 377kW
Torque: 1020Nm / 752 lb ft

Transmission
Type: Rear-wheel-drive
Gearbox: ZF 8-Speed automatic

Body & Chassis
Length: 5562mm (219.49in)
Width: 1926mm (75.80in)
Height: 1526mm (60.01in)
Wheelbase: 3266mm (128.60in)
Front Track: 1605mm (63.20in)
Rear Track: 1651mm (65.00in)
Wheels / tyres (standard): 9J x 20in. with 265/45 ZR 20 tyres
(option): 9J x 21in. with 265/40 ZR 21 tyres

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New Grand Bentley unveiled: Bentley Mulsanne

Paul Tan — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 00:04:29 +0000

The new Bentley Mulsanne (pronounced mull-SAHN) will be the luxury carmaker’s star exhibit during the Frankfurt Show in September but they’ve already unveiled it to the public at the Pebble Beach Concourse, where it is likely that many of its potential owners are attending. After all, it is only the very rich who are able to restore rare classic cars to the pristine conditions that you can find at the Concourse.

The Bentley Mulsanne had been heralded as the “New Grand Bentley” in a teaser campaign leading up to this unveiling, and is inspired by the 1930s Bentley 8-litre. For now we only know what the Mulsanne looks like, but for whats under the hood as well as any other trickeries that Bentley have up their sleeves, we’ll have to wait for the Frankfurt show. Too bad they didn’t have anything up their sleeves with the design, as I feel it isn’t particularly interesting.

The Mulsanne will replace the Arnage as Bentley’s ultimate flagship. We have no photos of the interior yet thus far but Bentley says the interior is hand-crafted and takes a total of 40 labour hours to produce. They’re planning to sell about 700 units this year.

There is a circuit called the Circuit de la Sarthe in France used in the sports car endurance race 24 Hours of Le Mans. The road features the long straight Ligne Droite des Hunaudières leading to Mulsanne, making a tight right hand turn before the entrance of the village itself. The famous straightaway is often called the Mulsanne Straight, and the original Bentley Mulsanne that was launched in 1980 was named after this.

Look after the jump for more hi-res photos.

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New Arnage replacement “Grand Bentley” teased!

Paul Tan — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 12:12:41 +0000

Click for enlarged image

Bentley has released this teaser image and video of a new car they call a “Grand Bentley”. Their press release includes a quote from what they say is Bentley’s first customer back in October 1921. “The reason I bought a Bentley was because of its exceptional performance in all respects on the road. Such features…leave nothing to be desired,” said Noel Van Raalte.

The new Grand Bentley has yet to be named but it will replace the flagship Arnage and will be, in their own words, “the epitome of Bentley”. Hopefully the all-new car will also feature an all-new engine, putting the 50 year old 6.75 litre two valve per cylinder pushrod V8 first introduced in the 1959 S2 Continental as a 6.23 litre to rest.

In its latest incarnation, the old engine puts out 530 horses and 1050Nm of torque through the help of turbocharging and intercooling. But that 1050Nm kicks in at a mid-range 3,250rpm which is not very impressive. The Arnage’s sibling the Continental is powered by a more modern engine, a Volkswagen W12.

Watch the teaser video after the jump.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 27 May 12 15:30:37 +0000.

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More information on the new Bentley Continental and Bentley Arnage: Audi to drop in a few components

Harvinder Sidhu — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 02:11:30 +0000

Thanks to Bentley’s marriage to Audi, a number of components from the German auto maker including diesel power plants will make way into Bentley’s vehicles across the Atlantic. First up, with the new Continental, a number of components including the entire front suspension system will be carried over from the Audi A8.

With Dirk van Braeckel working on the design, the new Continental would also be powered by a diesel power plant that would be good for 374HP, apart from a number of petrol powered W12 engines such as a 580HP unit and a 650HP unit. The new Continental is expected to arrive in sometime in 2011.

The Arnage on the other hand is expected to feature a V12 turbo-diesel carried over from the Audi Q7 TDI which is good for 500HP and an awesome 1000Nm of torque! I must say, that this marriage is a match made in heaven!

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 27 May 12 15:30:37 +0000.

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Geneva 2009: Bentley launches the Continental Supersports

Harvinder Sidhu — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 03:08:19 +0000

British-based Bentley has launched the Continental Supersports at the motor show in Geneva, which is its fastest and most powerful vehicle yet, and to add more spice, the Supersports’ W12 power plant is able to consume petrol as well as biofuel or ethanol (E85).

Mated to a 6 speed automatic transmission with Quickshift that cuts shift times by as much as 50% and enables double downshifts, the engine is fitted with sensors that monitor the petrol/biofuel mixture ratio, which then supplies data to the ECU to ensure that peak performance is always maintained, which is rated at 621HP and a remarkable 800Nm of torque. Please click here to learn more about the Bentley Continental Supersports and to view an image gallery.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 27 May 12 15:30:37 +0000.

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Geneva Preview: Biofuel-powered 621HP Bentley Continental Supersports

Harvinder Sidhu — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 04:27:05 +0000

Bentley will join the Geneva Motor Show in Switzerland next week with the Bentley Continental Supersports, which is actually the most powerful and fastest Bentley ever. With a 6.0 litre twin turbocharged W12 under the hood, the new Bentley is capable of 329 km/h in terms of top speed and can sprint to the 100 km/h mark in just 3.7 seconds, thanks to a total of 621 ground cracking horse power and a remarkable 800Nm of torque which is achieved between 1,700 and 5600 revs. 1,700 revs!

That’s not all folks, the power plant which is mated to a revised ZF 6HP26 6 speed automatic transmission with ‘Quickshift’ system that cuts shift times by 50% and enables double downshifts, can be fueled with a combination of petrol and biofuel or ethanol (E85)! This brings us to the next question; will you lose power? Well, that answer is no actually.

According to the British auto maker, the engine is fitted with sensors that monitor how much gasoline and/or ethanol is being used which will allow the ECU to make sure power and torque remain constant no matter what the ratio of fuel mixture is. Fueling the 2-seater with biofuel can help reduce emissions by 70% which is a huge margin. Bentley calls this petrol/biofuel mixture system as FlexFuel.

The all wheel drive coupe with 40:60 rear biased split features up-rated front suspension with aluminium forward levers, stiffer bushes together with re-tuned anti roll bar and Servotronic steering for sharper turn-in, revised Continuous Damping Control (CDC), Advanced ESP, Standard-fit carbon-ceramic brakes, larger twin elliptical exhaust tailpipes and rear valance with discreet vertical divider and so on.

The interior is finished in a combination of Alcantara, carbon fiber and ‘Soft Touch’ leather’ with choice of Single Tone and Duo Tone combination. Fitted with unique lightweight, 20-inch 10-spoke alloy wheels, the Bentley Supersports is a crucial 110 kilograms lighter than the latest Continental GT Speed which was launched at the Detroit Motor Show. Continue reading to view an image gallery.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 27 May 12 15:30:37 +0000.

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Flexfuel “extreme” Bentley set for Geneva 2009

Paul Tan — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 13:36:36 +0000

Bentley gives us few details with this preview of its Geneva 2009 show car. All we know is that Bentley has nicknamed it the “Extreme Bentley” it will be Bentley’s fastest and most powerful production car around, and it will also run on biofuel – likely bio-ethanol. Other than the single image above, they’ve also released a teaser video that has other shots of the car – one that shows an airflow grille and another of the engine bay that clearly shows 12 intake tracts, which means a Bentley W12 engine. Given that ethanol generally has a higher octane rating than petrol, you can have more aggressive tuning made possible by the higher knock resistance, and the result is more power. Look after the jump for the teaser video and screenshots of the Bentley teaser video.

Video: Extreme Bentley Teaser

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 27 May 12 15:30:37 +0000.

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New Bentley Azure T Convertible

Paul Tan — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 15:47:36 +0000

This is a more powerful version of Bentley’s answer to the Rolls-Royce Phantom Drophead Coupe – the Bentley Azure T. The letter T in the name means power is up from the Azure’s 450 horses to a more potent 500 horsepower, and torque is also up from 875Nm to a wholesome tyre-shredding 1000Nm! Thanks to the more powerful engine (a 6.75 litre twin-turbo V8), this huge beast goes to 100km/h in 5.5 seconds.

To match up with the Azure T’s sportier intentions (compared to the Azure), the convertible gets large 20 inch 5-spoke alloy wheels wrapped with grippy Pirelli P-Zero tyres in 255/40ZR20 size. There is an optional more powerful brake system made with carbon/silicon carbide. The uprated cross-drilled ventilated discs measure 420x40mm at the front and 356x28mm at the rear, gripped by 8-pot calipers.

Of course, if you’re ever sick of the V8′s soundtrack or the wind rustling past you when the top is down, you can just switch on the ‘Naim for Bentley’ premium audio system featuring 10 speakers, a dual channel sub-woofer and an 1100 Watt amplifier that has ight individual Digital Signal Processor (DSP) modes.

The Azure T will make its debut at the LA Motor Show sometime later this month. Look for a full photo gallery after the jump.

PHOTO GALLERY: Bentley Azure T
Click thumbnails to view high resolution photo

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This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 27 May 12 15:30:37 +0000.

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Bentley Continental GT imported by Naza World

Paul Tan — Fri, 16 May 2008 05:57:52 +0000

Naza World is now selling the Bentley Continental GT with a price tag starting from RM1 million upwards. The Continental GT is a 2-door Grand Tourer largely based on the Volkswagen D platform of which underpins the Volkswagen Phaeton and the Audi A8, except that like the Phaeton it uses conventional steel body panels instead of the A8′s aluminium space frame.

Under the hood is a massive 6.0 litre twin turbocharged W12 engine, producing 552 horsepower at 6,100rpm and 650Nm of torque from a low 1,600rpm. The suspension uses double wishbones at the front and a multi-link setup at the rear with air springs.

Despite a 2,385kg weight, the engine’s power and torque together with an all-wheel drive system manage to propel the large GT coupe to 100km/h in 4.8 seconds, on to a top speed of 318km/h.

Naza World is selling the Continental GT with an extended warranty of up to 3 years. More photos of the Bentley Continental GT after the jump.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 27 May 12 15:30:37 +0000.

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Turbodiesel Bentleys soon?

Paul Tan — Wed, 14 Mar 2007 13:47:44 +0000

Bentley is considering expanding it’s engine line-up to something more than the current petrol guzzlers, either hybrids or turbodiesels. I personally think the Volkswagen Group’s V12 TDI turbodiesel found in the Audi Q7 is perfect for usage in a Bentley, or perhaps the V10 TDI from the top of the line oil burner Touareg, but then that’s just me. Shouldn’t be an issue for Volkswagen to supply it to Bentley, considering they own Bentley.

Just a recap, the V12 twin turbodiesel in the Q7 makes over 500 horsepower (510 to be exact) and pushes out a massive 1,000Nm of torque from as low as 1,750rpm. Yes, you read right. A thousand newton meters. From an engine speed just over idle. Yet fuel consumption is rated at 20mpg, or 11.9 litres per 100 kilometers, hardly anything at Prius-levels, but considering the amount of power it makes, I would like one please!

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 27 May 12 15:30:37 +0000.

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Bentley Brooklands Coupe: only 550 units!

Paul Tan — Sun, 11 Mar 2007 14:08:46 +0000

This is the world’s most exclusive coupe. Only 550 units will be built. Not exactly the most beautiful thing around, however that Bentley Badge on it carries an ultra-premium. This is the Bentley Brooklands Coupe, which Bentley unveiled at Geneva 2007.

The name Brooklands pays a tribute to the immortal “Bentley Boys” on the famous Brooklands racetrack in the 1920s. The classic design cues were also meant to reflect the era.

Associating the Bentley Brooklands Coupe with the racetrack is nothing mismatched though, as this Bentley coupe features the most powerful V8 engine ever Crewe-built, sporting 530bhp and 1050Nm of torque from it’s 6.75 litres of displacement, thanks to twin turbocharging.

This is mated to a ZF 6-speed autonmatick with a sophisticated quick-locking torque converter, with semi-automatic manual gear selection.

More photos after the jump.

This story originally appeared on Paul Tan's Automotive News on Sun, 27 May 12 15:30:37 +0000.

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