Feast your eyes on the mighty new Bentley Supersports – billed as the “most driver-focused Continental GT ever”.
A century after the birth of the first Bentley “Super Sports”, which was the first Bentley capable of exceeding 100mph, the nameplate returns for only the fourth Supersports model in the luxury car company’s history.
The new Bentley Supersports brings rear-wheel drive and sub-two-tonne weight to the Continental GT for the first time.
Under the bonnet is a non-hybrid twin-turbo 4.0-litre V8 producing 657bhp and 800Nm of torque with power fed through an eight-speed double-clutch gearbox to the rear wheels only.
The 0-62mph sprint will be dispatched in 3.7 seconds, and the Supersports will top out at 192mph, though Bentley says the car’s improved dynamics are more important than the headline figures.
Carbon ceramic brakes, new 22-inch lightweight forged wheels developed with Manthey Racing and an Akrapovič full-length titanium exhaust system are standard, while Pirelli Trofeo RS tyres are available.
The exterior represents the most purposeful Continental GT ever, with a series of form-following-function developments to maximise downforce and save weight.
A new front bumper integrates the biggest front splitter ever fitted to a Bentley road car, feeding cooling air to the engine and front brakes.
Aerodynamic aids include carbon fibre dive planes, side sills and a rear diffuser, plus a fixed rear wing.
The weight saving regime extends to the roof, which is now a carbon fibre panel to also lower centre of gravity whilst maintaining structural stiffness.
Inside, the two-seat cabin features new sports seats, positioned lower in the car, with the rear cabin environment replaced with a carbon fibre and leather shell.
“The new Supersports is more than just the most driver-focused Bentley yet,” said Bentley’s Chairman and CEO, Dr Frank-Steffen Walliser.
“It signifies a return to Bentley making more extreme cars – ones that combine extraordinary breadth of ability with true driver engagement, while remaining pieces
of automotive artwork unique and bespoke to each customer.
Bentley has always thrived when revealing a more daring side, and the new Supersports is a statement of our intent while celebrating 100 years of the name.”
No official word on the price, but we wouldn’t expect there to be any change from £400,000.
We experience the epic Lexus LM luxury people carrier – from the driver’s seat, and as a pampered passenger…
Lexus appears to have pulled off a masterstroke with its LM (luxury mover). An exclusive niche market has been identified and LMs will soon be seen shuttling the wealthy between airports and plush hotels, depositing celebs on red carpets, and generally ferrying movers and shakers around the country.
The ubiquitous Mercedes-Benz V-Class isn’t for everyone and limousines are a little ostentatious, so Lexus is on to a winner with the LM. What’s more, the price range of £89,995 to £112,995 doesn’t appear to have put off buyers. Orders are already way above expectations.
Lexus LM four-seater
The secret of the LM is that it’s not too flash and it offers a flexible space that can be used as a sumptuous people mover, spacious mobile office, or somewhere to simply relax in abject luxury on the move.
Two versions are offered, with four or seven seats. The flagship four-seater features two “captain’s chair’ rear seats (inspired by those found in first class airline cabins) which can also be fully reclined.
The seven-seat model has two seats with massage functionality, plus a third row of flip-up seats which can be folded away when more load space is required.
Lexus LM seven-seater
The standard Lexus LM is front-wheel drive (AWD is optional) and comes with a 14.0-inch screen in the rear, dual sunroof, a 21-speaker Mark Levinson sound system, and a goodies list as long as your arm.
The top-of-the-range Takumi gets the wow factor with a partition between the front and rear cabin housing a 48-inch screen, plus a fridge and 23-speaker 3D surround Mark Levinson sound system.
First impressions count, and it’s fair to say that the Lexus LM is more of a statement than a looker. The designers have done their best to make it special, and not just another slab-sided MPV.
The combination of clever contours, bold creases, massive signature ‘spindle’ grille with slim LED headlights, plus the illusion of a floating roof, result in a people mover with serious road presence.
And at 5.1m long, 1.9m tall and 1.89m wide, it’s no shrinking violet. Though weirdly, behind the wheel it’s far more manageable than you might think, as long as you steer clear of narrow country lanes.
Built on the GA-K platform shared with the NX and RX SUVs, Lexus is keen to emphasise that the LM has more in common with a car than its rivals, which tend to be van-based.
Lexus LM seven-seater
The driving experience proves the point. The front cabin and seating position have the feel of a big crossover.
We suspect most LM buyers and users are unlikely to get behind the wheel themselves, but for the record, here goes…
From a driving point of view, all-round visibility is best in the seven-seater without the partition and widescreen (a rear-view digital mirror helps), but otherwise it’s a comfortable, spacious and well-equipped place to be, with a car-like dashboard layout.
There’s no shortage of power, thanks to the same 247bhp self-charging hybrid system you’ll find in the NX 350h and RX 350h models, combining a 2.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine with electric assistance.
Acceleration from rest to 62mph can be accomplished in 8.7 seconds (9.1s for the FWD model) and maximum speed for both models is 118mph. CO2 emissions are in the 152-163g/km range, while fuel economy is as high as 42.1mpg.
Like the NX and RX 350h models, the LM uses a CVT gearbox which spoils the ambience of the cabin if progress is anything but stately. You see, the revs shoot up if you’re anything but soft with the right pedal, producing a temporary din.
It may not be possible, but I’d suggest fitting the hybrid powertrain from the RX 500h F Sport which uses a six-speed automatic gearbox and is far more relaxed.
That said, chauffeuring is all about smoothness, so the LM is still a delight to be driven in by a professional, even with the CVT.
At nearly three tonnes (gross weight), it’s a substantial vehicle, yet it’s easy to drive and surprisingly manoeuvrable. It would be an exaggeration to call it agile, but it floats around nicely, switching seamlessly between petrol and electric modes at lower speeds.
Lexus LM four-seater
I can’t help feeling that a plug-in hybrid or 100% electric version might further boost sales where regular journeys take in ultra-low emissions zones, but maybe that’s one for the future.
However, the Lexus LM is all about the rear compartment. Both the four-seater and three-row options are a treat to travel in, though being able to fully recline in the former is particularly relaxing.
Each of the main two seats in both versions get individual digital handsets to control everything from the audio to the window blinds (they all close), while the seats are super comfy. There’s also an overhead console with some storage and controls for features such as the power-sliding doors.
Lexus LM four-seater
Overall, as you’d expect from Lexus, the materials used in the cabin are top notch and the quality is faultless.
A special mention for the panoramic screen in the top spec version which can also be split so that one passenger could be watching a movie, while the other is scrolling through a presentation.
A ‘Rear Comfort’ drive mode has also been developed to further refine the passenger experience with new braking and body control systems. There’s also tech to counter cabin noise and vibration, which worked particularly well.
Lexus LM four-seater
I’m very sensitive to travel nausea and I managed perfectly well as a back-seat passenger while in a normal sitting position, but not so much when I was lying down on anything other than smooth, straight roads.
The two versions have their plus and minus points. As a passenger I prefer seeing out front, so the seven-seater without the partition works best, but nothing can quite match the opulence of the widescreen, two seats and extra space of the top-of-the-range Takumi model.
Verdict: The bold new Lexus LM luxury people carrier recaptures the feeling of flying on a private jet, offering a winning combination of superb comfort, quality, practicality and privacy.
The all-electric Rolls-Royce Spectre has concluded winter testing in Arjeplog, Sweden – just 55km from the Arctic Circle.
Temperatures dropped to -40˚C temperatures and Rolls-Royce estimates 25% of a 2.5 million km testing programme (simulating 400 years of use) is now complete for the “Electric Super Coupé”.
“The announcement of every new Rolls-Royce motor car carries a great weight of expectation, but Spectre is unquestionably the most anticipated product in the marque’s modern history,” said Torsten Müller-Ötvös, Chief Executive Officer, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars.
“This is because it is much more than a product. It is a symbol for our bright, bold electric future, and it represents a seismic shift in our powertrain technology.
“It is for this reason that we have created a testing programme that is as significant and historical as Spectre itself.”
There are several reasons for subjecting the marque’s products to such extremes. When the first prototypes are built, engineers perform very basic tests in extreme conditions to ensure that each system is operational and functions at a basic level in a cold weather environment.
This test is combined with the beginnings of the refinement process, focusing on noise and vibration, for instance. The variables that affect this include the materials selected for major hardware components to the density of the door rubbers, bushing compounds, fastening materials and even properties of bonding agents.
The performance of these variables can change considerably when subjected to extreme temperatures – likewise the efficiency of the motor car’s heating, ventilation, air conditioning and cooling systems.
By driving on low traction surfaces, such as snow and ice, and wilfully destabilising the car, the engineers can create dynamic circumstances at low speeds that would ordinarily occur at high speeds.
This can be reviewed and guided in situ and in slow motion, in doing so parametrising and finessing cold-weather vehicle performance in areas such as handling, controllability, stability, predictability and the “waftability” that defines the Rolls-Royce experience.
The iconic Spirit of Ecstasy figurine has been redesigned for the most aerodynamic Rolls-Royce ever.
The streamlined mascot will grace the bonnet of the upcoming all-electric Spectre, 111 years on from when it was was first registered as the intellectual property of Rolls-Royce.
The figurine has been remodelled with a lower, more dynamic stance that brings her much closer to the drawings made by her original creator, the illustrator and sculptor Charles Sykes.
The new Spirit of Ecstasy stands 82.73mm tall, compared to her predecessor’s 100.01mm. Her robes, which flow behind her in the slipstream – often but erroneously characterised as ‘wings’ – have been subtly reshaped to make them more aerodynamic and realistic.
The most visible change is her stance. Previously, she has stood with her feet together, legs straight and tilting at the waist. Now, she is a true goddess of speed, braced for the wind, one leg forward, body tucked low, her eyes focused eagerly ahead.
These changes have both practical and stylistic benefits, contributing to Spectre’s remarkable aerodynamic properties. The earliest Spectre prototypes have a drag coefficient (cd) of just 0.26, making it the most aerodynamic Rolls-Royce ever created.
“The Spirit of Ecstasy is the most famous and desirable automotive mascot in the world,” said Torsten Müller-Ötvös, Chief Executive Officer, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars.
“More than just a symbol, she is the embodiment of our brand, and a constant source of inspiration and pride for the marque and its clients.
“Like our brand, she has always moved with the times while staying true to her nature and character. In her new form she is more streamlined and graceful than ever before – the perfect emblem for the most aerodynamic Rolls-Royce ever created, and for gracing the prow of our bold electric future.”
BMW is conducting driving dynamics evaluation of its upcoming i7 – billed as the world’s first pure-electric luxury saloon.
The team is based at the BMW Group’s winter test centre in Arjeplog, Sweden.
Situated just a short distance from the Arctic Circle, the freezing environment and snow-covered roads present the perfect conditions for engineers to fine-tune the performance of all drive and suspension systems.
The intensive winter testing programme also focuses on the components of the all-electric drive system, including the motor, high-voltage battery, power electronics and charging technology.
The BMW i7 (pictured in heavy camouflage) is due to launch in 2022.
Gareth is a versatile journalist, copywriter and digital editor who’s worked across the media in newspapers, magazines, TV, teletext, radio and online. After long stints at the BBC, GMTV and ITV, he now specialises in motoring.
