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Bentley recalls 27,640 Continental, Flying Spur models

Even the world's most luxurious automakers aren't immune to recalls. Bentley is proving this point with a campaign on 27,640 of its posh models worldwide for a loose battery cable connection, Reuters reports. The problem affects all examples of the Continental GT, GTC, and Flying Spur with build dates between February 2011 and June 2014, and there are 7,778 of them in the US, according to company spokesperson Erin Bronner to Autoblog. "On a limited number of cars, a bolted connection for a battery cable joint could be loose where it passes through the front bulkhead," Bentley said in a statement. According to Bronner, there were four incidents were this electrical joint overheated, but there have been no reports of any injuries. As a repair, dealers will install a new connection system, which will take around two hours. Scroll down below for the entire statement. Related Video: Bentley Statement: Bentley Motors is conducting a precautionary voluntary recall of all Continental GT/GTC/Flying Spur and new Flying Spur models built between February 2011 and June 2014. On a limited number of cars, a bolted connection for a battery cable joint could be loose where it passes through the front bulkhead. To address this, we will replace the components with a new connection system for all vehicles, which will take approximately two hours per car. All Bentleys built outside of these dates, and all Mulsanne models, are unaffected. The safety of our customers is Bentley's foremost priority and we pride ourselves on the highest standard of quality and service. We are working quickly to ensure that all vehicles are checked and resolved efficiently and effectively. Customers are being contacted by their local Bentley dealer to arrange an appointment. This is a voluntary recall and is in no way connected to any other recalls from other automotive manufacturers.

Bentley unveils 202-mph Continental GT Speed Convertible

That purple haze all in your eyes is the 2013 Bentley GT Speed Convertible. The cynical view is, "Bah, take a GT Speed and cut the top off. There. Pass the salt, please...". But when you're Bentley, more than 90 years old, and charging these kinds of ducats, there's no reason to take the cynic's shortcut. So of course the GT Speed Convertible gets all of the Speed-family accoutrements: matrix radiator grille hiding a twin-turbocharged, 6.0-liter W12 with 616 horsepower and 590 pound-feet of torque, eight-speed ZF transmission enabling 15 percent better fuel economy, beefier lowered suspension, larger rifled exhaust tips, inlet manifold finished in black crackle and a Mulliner Driving Specification cabin.
Among the many refinements added to the convertible, though, are neck warmers in the seats, the 21-inch wheels unique to this car, class-leading stiffness - admittedly, it's a very small class, but its torsional rigidity of 22,500 Nm/degree is only 500 Nm below that of the Lamborghini Gallardo coupe. The stiffening required to achieve that number will undoubtedly have something to do with the 485-pound weight gain over the GT Speed Coupe.
Still, when the GT Speed Convertible weighs 5,500 pounds, what's a few hundred between friends? More importantly, the weight doesn't scuttle performance: 0-60 comes in 4.1 seconds, a tenth shy of the coupe. The gap stretches as you approach The Ton, the GT Speed Convertible needing just 9.7 seconds to get there, the coupe just nine seconds. Trust us, though, everyone will be too busy blasting along to notice. Everyone will want to pack light, however, because the Speed Convertible loses 3.5 cubic feet of trunk space. It remains the fastest four-seat convertible in the world with a 202-mph top speed.

Car-crazy 5-year-old boy writes automakers for treasures, gets big response

Part of the beauty of children is that they can find worth in something adults might deem unworthy or overlook entirely. Five-year-old Patch Hurty didn't see garbage or a broken piece of a car when he spotted a Ford badge lying on the side of a road. He saw an artifact, a souvenir, a start to a collection he could only dream of. Ezra Dyer of Popular Mechanics tells the story of Patch and his quest to turn that one lost badge into a museum of manufacturer logos. According to the article, Hurty is a car fanatic through and through, even using car names as a way of learning to read. After finding the Ford badge near his Connecticut home, he and his mom put together a plan to reach out to dozens of automakers, confessing his love of things on four wheels. In each letter, Patch assembled a picture of himself standing next to one of the cars, and a penny to pay for whatever he hoped was sent his way. The response was unexpectedly and overwhelmingly positive. Of the more than 50 letters he sent out, including to obscure or defunct companies such as Bugatti, Suzuki, and Saturn, a majority responded with warm notes and some type of souvenir. Two of the coolest responses came from Lincoln and Bentley. Lincoln sent a sketch of a Continental (all car lovers enjoy drawing cars, right?), and Bentley sent a wheel center cap. How awesome is that? The story reminds us of something that can easily be lost in all of the negativity involved with the auto industry: Everybody is in this because of a common infatuation with automobiles. For more details on the souvenirs Patch received and accompanying photos, read the rest of the story. Related Video: News Source: Popular Mechanics Read This Bentley Bugatti Ford Lincoln Saturn Suzuki