Bentley – Pulpaddict

Bentley announces hot Supersports edition of the Continental GT

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.

First Bentley T Series returns home to Crewe

The world’s oldest Bentley T-Series has returned home to Crewe after 59 years.

Sensitively restored and retaining much of its original components and running gear, it takes its place in the Bentley Heritage Collection, which celebrates the marque’s 105-years history.

The standard saloon in Shell Grey, chassis number SBH1001, was used as a company trials car and featured in the original press coverage following the model launch at the 1965 Paris Salon de l’Auto.

When found under a cover in storage, the car had not run for decades and was missing several key areas – including its entire interior.

The car’s significance as the first T-Series – or equivalent Rolls Royce Silver Shadow – off the production line prompted the decision to recommission it, preserving as much of the original car as possible.

“The T-Series is one of the final two pieces of the puzzle to complete our rejuvenated Heritage Collection,” explains Mike Sayer, Head of the Bentley Heritage Collection.

“Our Chief Communications Officer, Wayne Bruce and I quite literally found it under a tarpaulin in the back of a warehouse, and given it was the first-of-line chassis we knew we had to save it.

“Together with our T-Series Mulliner Coupe, this revitalised sedan completes the Bentley heritage story of the 1960s and 1970s, and is now an outstanding example of the model, which was the first Bentley to use a unitary monocoque construction.”

Using the freshly developed 225bhp, 6.23-litre V8 engine, seven prototypes undertook significant testing including endurance runs of over 100,000 miles.

Design innovations included separate sub frames to carry the engine and transmission, suspension, steering and rear axle assemblies, with ‘Vibrashock’ rubber sub frame mounts developed to isolate road noise and vibration.

Its relatively lightweight construction gave impressive performance for a saloon in 1965, with a maximum speed of 115mph and 0-62mph achieved in 10.9 seconds.

A total of 1,868 examples of the first-generation T-Series were produced, with a pre-tax list price of £5,425, and the majority were standard four-door saloons.

Platinum Jubilee for the Bentley Continental

Bentley R-Type Continental and Bentley Continental GT

Bentley is celebrating 70 years since the start of production of the R-Type Continental – one of the most celebrated cars in the company’s 103-year history, and the first Bentley to wear the iconic Continental name.

With only 208 examples produced, the R-Type Continental was as rare a sight in the 1950s as it is today – but it went down in history as a benchmark Bentley, and the embodiment of the brand’s grand touring DNA.

Its ethos and its exterior design were the inspiration for the first Continental GT in 2003, and it has inspired Bentley Design teams ever since.

While the first prototype R-Type Continental (known as ‘Olga’ thanks to its OLG490 registration) was on the road in August 1951, it wasn’t until May 1952 that the car went into production, with customer deliveries starting in June.

At the time, it was the fastest four-seat car in the world – a mantle that was picked-up by the modern-day Continental GT in 2003. It was also the most expensive, at £6,928 – nearly four times the 1952 average UK house price.

The brainchild of Chief Projects Engineer, Ivan Evernden and Chief Stylist, John Blatchley, the R-Type Continental was described in period by Autocar magazine as “a modern magic carpet which annihilates great distances”.

A sleek coupé based on the R-Type Bentley saloon, it was powered by a 4,566cc, six-cylinder in-line engine producing 153bhp. The prototype averaged 118.75 mph over five laps (with a best lap of just under 120mph) at the banked Montlhèry track near Paris.

To keep down to the target weight, coachbuilders HJ Mulliner crafted the bodywork, window frames, windscreen surround, backlight, seat frames and bumpers in aluminium. Even at a pared-down weight, tyre choice was critical; no standard road tyre existed which could carry a two-ton car at speeds in excess of 115 mph, and Dunlop Medium Distance Track tyres were specified.

The first production model was delivered to its owner in June 1952 and by the time production ended in 1955, 208 R-Type Continentals had been made. Of these, 193 were bodied by HJ Mulliner. Others included Park Ward (four dropheads and two coupés), Franay (five), Graber (three) and Farina (one).

Bentley to build its first electric car in Britain

Gareth Herincx

2 days ago
Auto News

Luxury car maker Bentley has announced that it will develop its first fully electric car in the UK, investing £2.5bn to upgrade its Crewe headquarters.

The first Bentley EV is scheduled to roll off the production line in 2025 and will mark a significant moment in Bentley’s long history.

It is also a critical step in the company’s Beyond100 strategy – the ground-breaking plan launched in 2020 that will ensure Bentley is exclusively electric and end-to-end carbon neutral by 2030.

Key to the ambitious programme will be the Five-in-Five plan, which commits Bentley to launching a new electric model each year, from 2025, redefining the company’s credentials as the benchmark manufacturer in sustainable luxury mobility.

“Today is arguably the most important day in Bentley’s modern history, and is a testament to the hard work and skill of our colleagues in Crewe,” said Peter Bosch, Board Member for Manufacturing at Bentley Motors.

“The journey really does start now. We are already marking the pinnacle in luxury car production and have already transformed our factory to become carbon neutral, with industry-leading environmental credentials.”

The Volkswagen-owned company sold a record number of vehicles last year. In all, 14,659 cars found buyers in 2021 – a 31% increase on 2020.

The Bentayga SUV remained its best seller (accounting for 40% of Bentley’s total sales) and sold more examples in 2021 than any other previous year, thanks in part to the addition of a hybrid powertrain to the range.

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One-off multi-coloured Bentley makes diversity statement

Unifying Spur - one-off Bentley Flying Spur celebrates diveristy

Bentley Motors has unveiled a uniquely-designed Flying Spur to highlight its aim to become the most diverse luxury car manufacturer.

Dubbed the ‘Unifying Spur’, the car has been wrapped in a design capturing the themes of love, progress and unity.

As European Diversity month draws to a close, and Pride celebrations begin around the world, Bentley has set itself a target of increasing diversity in management to 30% by 2025.

Bentley challenged its design team to create an automotive artwork that celebrates diversity in all its forms.

Designer Rich Morris, who paints and sculpts in his spare time, created a piece of four-wheeled art using the nine colours of the Progress flag.

His design joins the words “Love is Love” through a single, unbroken line, that traces faces, dancing figures and shapes – representing the unifying power of humanity, regardless of race, creed or sexuality.

“We know that diversity drives success, by bringing a greater range of experience, creativity as well as inclusion allows co-operation to play in business strategy, innovation and decision-making,” said Bentley’s Dr Astrid Fontaine.

“We also want our our business to reflect our global customer base and most importantly of all, to ensure that we all work in an environment where everyone feels safe to bring their true self to work and valued for who they are and what they can do.

“For us this means ensuring there are colleagues from all walks of life in our management structure.”

The 101-year old company is going through unparalleled change on its journey towards a climate-positive future.

In 2020, it announced its Beyond100 strategy with the aim of becoming a global leader in sustainable luxury mobility, which will see the brand reinvent every aspect of its business.

This also includes switching the model range to offer exclusively plug-in hybrid or battery electric vehicles by 2026, and fully electric vehicles only by 2030.