Excellent Condition, Almost Perfect! on 2040-cars

Auto blog

2024 Bentley Bentayga runs the luxury meter to its 'Ludicrous' setting

The 2024 Bentley Bentayga Extended Wheelbase (EWB) Mulliner leads the SUV's way into the coming model year. The rest of the range is ready to follow, bringing new standard and optional equipment and tech, a new trim, and the most discrete cosmetic changes. Starting from the bottom of the trim ladder, the rank goes Bentayga, new Bentayga A, Bentayga Azure, Bentayga S, and Bentayga EWB. The new A trim will be limited to certain markets that Bentley hasn't identified yet. For cosmetics, re-profiled grilles bring the front fascia into line with changes made to the Flying Spur range. The exterior paint menu grows with eight new satin colors, taking the total menu of standard colors to 112 choices, and new 21-inch wheel designs come in three finishes. Inside, and slightly more than cosmetic, the Bentayga A and Azure feature deep-pile carpeted mats created using more sustainable wool treatment processes. Beneath them, the cabin carpet is now 100% recycled nylon instead of virgin nylon. The A goes with a straight-vaned grille above black lower intakes, as well as "A" badging and 21-inch black-and-bright machined wheels. At the top, the EWB gains access to a Mulliner Design Specification that appends a large rear spoiler to the top of the hatch, plus copious carbon fiber accents around the body. A new electrical architecture enables features like adaptive cruise control, surround-view cameras, and lane departure warning, as well as some app-based remote features like Intelligent Park Assist. And there's a new option in sound with a Bang & Olufsen Beosonic audio system alongside Bentley's traditional Naim partnership. Among the equipment changes, rear-wheel steering trickles down from the EWB as standard equipment on the Azure and S trims, optional for the rest, shrinking the turning circle by about three feet. Another EWB feature descends from the heights, too: The Airline Seat Specification with Postural Adjust and Seat Auto Climate is an option on all the regular Bentaygas. These seats not only recline, they can be set to one of seven temperature zones and then measure the seat occupant's temperature and humidity to know whether to add more heat or ventilation. They also possess a massage function that cycles through 177 pressure points over three hours so that no part of a body suffers static fatigue. Or, put another way, the seat tosses and turns for you — and always keeps the cool side up — so that you don't have to.

Bentley Batur Convertible is a coachbuilt, W12-powered stunner

Remember the Bentley Batur from a couple of years ago? Well, it’s back, but this time itÂ’s without a roof, so allow us to introduce you to the Bentley Batur Convertible. Many of the details are similar to the coupe, meaning it has an uprated twin-turbo W12 engine and is a coachbuilt car by BentleyÂ’s Mulliner division. Unlike the Continental GTC that can seat four, the Batur Convertible is only a two-seater, eschewing the rear seats for a gorgeous “airbridge” behind the front two seats – itÂ’s meant to remind of roofless sports cars of old. Plus, if you look underneath the airbridge and tapered cowls, youÂ’ll notice it offers a little bit of storage space for luggage to augment the trunk. The W12 engine under its long hood is more potent than most of BentleyÂ’s W12-powered cars thanks to a revised intake, upgraded turbochargers, new intercoolers, titanium exhaust and a unique engine tune, bringing output to 740 horsepower and 738 pound-feet of torque. This particular reveal car (car number 0) is an engineering development vehicle so wonÂ’t be counted toward the 16 Bentley plans to build. Customization options are truly limitless, Bentley says. The one youÂ’re looking at here is finished in Vermillion Gloss over Vermillion Satin Duo, or in other words, orange. YouÂ’ll notice it features BentleyÂ’s ombre effect front grille option that flows from a dark color to the bright Vermillion Gloss as the grille traverses from the center to its edges. An added splash of sportiness is visible with its carbon fiber front splitters, side skirts and rear diffuser. And those 22-inch wheels with Vermillion accents look fantastic, too. Its interior features limitless customization options, and Bentley says its design is inspired by the wraparound interior seen in the Bacalar. ItÂ’s revealed via an electronically operated soft top that goes down in 19 seconds at speeds up to 30 mph. Essentially every surface of the interior is customizable in both color and finish, Bentley says. It highlights the use of 3D-printed rose gold thatÂ’s seen on the engine start/stop buttons, drive mode selector, vent controls and as an insert on the steering wheel itself. In case you were curious, the gold comes from the centuries-old Jewelry Quarter of Birmingham, England. Bentley didnÂ’t say whether the Batur Convertible is sold out yet, but we suspect it could be considering only 16 slots are available.

2014 Bentley Continental GT V8 S Convertible

There are few things in this world I enjoy more than an enthusiastic drive down tree-lined backroads on a warm summer evening. If you're familiar with the geographic location of Detroit, you won't be shocked to learn that we don't have the sort of very-involving roads found all throughout California and other gorgeous parts of the country, but we still have some stretches of pavement that can be pretty darn fun when driven in the right car. The vast majority of our scenic roads, however, are of a more relaxed nature. And that's why, despite my tendency to prefer high-strung hot hatches above all, I will never say no to a big, fast convertible during the warm season.
As far as said big, fast convertibles go, perhaps none is more exquisite than the 2014 Bentley Continental GT V8 S Convertible, pictured here in the striking shade of St. James Red. Not long after returning from my trip across the pond to drive Bentley's V8-powered Flying Spur sedan, I was given the chance to sample another one of its eight-cylinder wares, this one carrying less heft, offering a smidge more power, and, oh yeah, a roof that neatly stows behind the rear seats.
As luck would have it, the weather for my Conti weekend was the absolute definition of perfection. And so I took to those sweeping, tree-lined roads way outside of Detroit to see how this Bentley's "S" badge improves upon the lovely GT V8 Convertible I drove last year. Hard work, but somebody's gotta do it.