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2015, Bentley, Mulsanne Speed, News

2015 Bentley Mulsanne Speed

4:30 PM

Bentley's flagship model has typically been left out of the performance equation applied to its nouveau-riche stablemates, but that ends here and now with the introduction of the new Mulsanne Speed.

With 530 horsepower on tap (25 more than the standard model), the new Mulsanne Speed ranks among the more (if not most) powerful sedans on the market.

But it blows everything else out of the water when it comes to torque: Bentley's signature 6.75-liter twin-turbo V8 has been augmented to produce a freight train-rivaling 811 pound-feet of twist, available from as low as 1,750 rpm.

As far as torque goes, that puts the Mulsanne Speed out ahead of every so-called muscle car on the market and eclipses most million-dollar hypercard. It's also around triple the output of the same engine when it was introduced way back in 1959, and could be enough to put the prospect of the Bugatti Galibier ever reaching production out of the question once and for all.

Source: AutoBlog

2016, Bentley, Spyshots, suv

2016 Bentley SUV Spy Shots

4:30 PM

Bentley’s new SUV is due to enter production in 2016 and should be in showrooms either that year or in early 2017. Today we have our first spy shots of a prototype for the new SUV, which in addition to testing new mechanicals is being used to promote a new microsite that already contains a few teasers and will be updated with more information as we approach the eventual reveal.

The prototype is heavily camouflaged, with most of the panels found at the front and rear sections tacked on to hide the true shape. However, we can still ascertain a number of details from the latest shots and also peer into the lavish interior.

The styling of the new SUV is based on Bentley’s EXP 9 F concept from 2012, although the somewhat gaudy design of the concept is being updated to something more elegant and athletic. A previous teaser image shows that Bentley designers have adopted four individual lights for the production SUV’s headlights as opposed to the two lights fitted to the concept, and this is confirmed in the latest spy shots.

The interior features Bentley’s traditional leather, wood and metal elements. We can also see that the vehicle is getting a new design for the air vents as well as a digital instrument cluster complete with head-up display. Expect a sophisticated electronic interface to go along with the new instrument cluster. Third-row seating is planned, though it’s not clear if this will be standard or optional.

News Source: MOTORAUTHORITY

Bentley, motorsports

Motorsport influence will be the future of Bentley

4:30 PM

The Telegraph reported that The new Bentley GT3-R, which is making its global debut at Goodwood Festival of Speed,is likely to be followed by other motorsport-inspired Bentleys.The GT3-R was heavily influenced by the company’s GT3 race car,andjust 300 examples will be built. However, Bentley’s sales and marketing director Kevin Rose, said: “Depending on what we do in motorsport in the next few years, there could well be other [motorsport-inspired] models.”

Bentley’s CEO Wolfgang Durheimer added: “I remember the reaction to our Le Mans win in 2003 and seeing how passionate people were about the brand. We need to give this passion back to our customers.” The GT3-R is based on the Continental GT V8S, but its engine has been tuned to produce 572bhp and 516lb ft of torque (up from 521bhp and 501lb ft). This, combined with shorter gearing and a 100kg weight saving, helps make it Bentley’s fastest-accelerating road car yet, with a 3.5sec 0-60mph time.

The GT3-R is also the first Bentley to feature torque-vectoring, which helps improve its agility, but this is likely to filter down to other Bentleys in the near future. Rolf Frech, the company’s board member for engineering, said: “This was always the idea, that we have the possibility of spreading the technology [developed for the GT3-R] on to other models in our range.”

Bentley might have made the GT3-R lighter than other Continental GTs, but it’s still a luxuriously trimmed – and heavy – road car rather than a rival to stripped-out specials such as the Porsche 911 GT3 or the Ferrari 458 Speciale. “It would have been technically possible to make it lighter, of course,” said Frech . “But then we wouldn’t have the customer demand. It still had to feel like a Bentley.”