- click picture for the Bentley Zagato high-res gallery-
There will be nine examples of the Bentley Zagato GTZ manufactured exclusively for collectors. As of now, one of them is ready for an owner, and it is for sale on JamesList.com from a broker in Villorba, Italy for €1.3 million, or about $1.7 million USD. Purportedly the only one ready for delivery, this particular GTZ has just 10k (6.1 miles) on its odometer.
Unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show last March, the GTZ leaves the engineered perfection of the Bentley Continental GT as is, merely clothing it in a Zagato treatment consisting of two-tone coachwork, a twin-bubble roof that glides into a sculpted rear window, and more added creases you could shake a Picasso at.
On March 3rd, Bentley will reveal its fastest and most powerful production car ever at the 2009 International Geneva Motor Show.
This new model is very much the extreme Bentley, delivering the performance of a supercar.
Importantly, it pioneers FlexFuel technology, running seamlessly on biofuel, gasoline or a mix of the two, thereby underpinning Bentley’s environmental commitment to the use of renewable and sustainable fuel in the future.
- click picture for the Bentley Continental GTC Speed gallery -
Even though the Bentley Continental GTC has only been out for two years Bentley considered it was time to perform a light facelift to the luxury four-seater convertible. And while at it Bentley has finally taken the drophead into their Speed garage for the 600 bhp W12 transformation.
With 600 horsepower - 100 horses more than the Azure T, it makes the Continental GTC the most powerful convertible Bentley has ever made. The Speed treatment alters the front end, with a more upright, dark-tinted matrix grille. The GTC Speed version also gets a lowered suspension by 10 mm at the front and 15 mm at the rear with revised spring and damper settings for improved handling, a ‘Dynamic’ mode for the ESP system and wider 20-inch multi-spoke alloy wheels.
- click picture for the Hamann Bentley Continental GT gallery -
Hamann has been known for tuning various supercars like Ferrari, Lamborghini, and Porsche. Shortly Hamann will add the Bentley Continental GT and and GT Speed to their parts catalog. It has not been revealed what will be available for the luxury two-seater. First pictures indicate new bodykits will include front fascia, side skirts, rear wing, and a lower rear fascia. Inside, carbon fiber will replace the wood trim. We’ll bring more details and photos as soon as they are available.
The Australia CarAdvice has both speed tested and road tested the 2008 Bentley Continental Flying Spur.
Exhilarating performance, commanding status and absolute prestige.
While the tone of this statement may well reflect the sentiment of a conceited commercial for some lesser European marque, the Bentley Continental Flying Spur Speed is one car that doesn’t need to indulge in cheap marketing gimmicks or clever phrasing to sell its cars.
In fact you could say with complete honesty that the Speed is the epitome of all of these qualities, and then some, and for those very reasons the car sells itself.
Should you be lucky enough to be in that elite group who can afford to indulge in such refinement then take heed - for this car is a cracker, and if you are able to splurge on such a vehicle then you deserve the fastest and the finest money can buy, and truly this is it - the quickest four-door Grand Tourer in the world.
Since 2006, Bentley has been conducting the ‘Power on Ice’ driving experience program. This year the ‘Power on Ice’ event will take place in Finland.
Finland is known throughout the motorsports world for its production of some of the all-time greats to ever step behind a wheel, but also for its treacherous and enticing roads. Bentley will be capitalizing on both factors in February and March 2009, when it begins its ‘Power on Ice’ driving experience, which puts drivers on a frozen Finnish lake with 560-610hp (418-455kW) Continentals.
That much power in a rear-drive car is sure to make for some powersliding excitement, and Bentley hopes students of the school wil come away with a new appreciation for the cars. With temperatures commonly dipping to -30 degrees Celsius in the region during winter - the site is just 60km from the Arctic Circle - it will also be an adventure simply being there.
Despite earlier claims that Bentley needs not to build low-emission models, Bentley now realises it needs to react to the changing market conditions.
Volkswagen chairman Martin Winterkorn stated “I could well imagine a six-cylinder twin-turbocharged diesel in a Bentley.”
The quote comes from a recent interview conducted by German publication Auto Motor und Sport regarding VAG’s luxury marques.
The engine Winterkorn speaks of is currently being developed by Audi and is speculated to be employed first by the third-generation A8 sedan due out at next year’s Frankfurt show. The commonrail diesel will reportedly produce in the neighborhood of 300 hp and 440 lb-ft when finalized.
- click picture for the Bentley Azure T image gallery -
The latest member to join the Bentley family is the Azure T, a more powerful and exclusive version of the drop-top Azure. The most important change is hidden under the massive hood as Bentley fitted the Azure T with a twin-turbocharged V8 engine producing 500 HP and 1000 Nm (737 lb-ft) of torque. If you like numbers, that’s an 11% increase in power and a 14% increase in torque over its 450 HP/875 Nm Azure stable mate.
While the Azure T weighs as much as two subcompact cars at 2,695 kg (5699 lbs), it manages to sprint from 0 to 60 mph in just 5.2 sec (0-100 km/h 5.5 sec), 100 mph in 12.1 sec (160 km/h in 12.0 sec) and on to a top speed of 179 mph (288 km/h). Then again it also emits a staggering 465 g/km (combined) of CO2 as well as consuming an average of 28.8 lt/100km (9.8 mpg) in the city and 14.1 lt/100km (20.1 mpg) on the highway.
Bentley has also enhanced the Azure’s exterior looks with the addition of 20-inch 5-spoke wheels and tires, ‘Le Mans’ front wing vents, dark tint matrix grille and a sculpted, retractable Flying ‘B’ mascot.
[Source: Carscoop]
In contrast to rival luxury automaker Rolls-Royce, seeking to increase its staff to keep up with demand, Bentley is axing the night shift on the Continental production line at its Crewe plant in response to falling sales for its high-end cars. The British manufacturer is looking to cut between 200 and 300 jobs from its 3,800 staff and is offering voluntary severance. In addition, Bentley is also further cutting back its overall output by sending workers on an extra-long Christmas break this year as the company will shut down its production lines on December 10 re-opening them on January 12.
