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Bentley Continental GT Speed gets a little more juice

The latest version of the Bentley Continental GT Speed packs 633 horsepower, up ever so slightly from the 626 hp in the outgoing version launched in 2014, the 616-hp model that arrived in 2012, and the 602 hp offered in the first iteration from 2007. It also leaves the previous, 621-hp Supersports model in its wake, and further separates the flagship twelve-cylinder version from the lighter but less potent V8 model. Along with the relatively negligible 7-horsepower increase, the crew from Crewe also raised the torque figure by 15 pound-feet to a total of 619. As a result, Bentley says the latest flagship Conti will hit 60 in 3.9 seconds, down from the 4.0 flat the previous version was quoted at. No word on the top speed changing, but at 206 miles per hour, it didn't need much improvement in the first place. The Flying B marque has also launched a new Black Edition of the same model that offers a whole array of visual enhancements inside and out. As you might have guessed, it consists mostly of black trim, but also some contrasting aero components and leather trim. That's all well and fine, but we doubt most occupants would be paying much attention once all that power is deployed. Related Video: BENTLEY LAUNCHES NEW GT SPEED AND STRIKING BLACK EDITION - Continental GT Speed increases power and torque - Bold new Black Edition joins GT family - New and unique styling cues handcrafted to perfection at Bentley's Crewe factory (Crewe, 4 April 2016) Bentley unveils today the revised Continental GT Speed, raising the bar even further in terms of exclusivity and performance. The fastest production Bentley ever, with a top speed of 206 mph (331 km/h), now delivers even more power and torque, and a striking new Black Edition model joins the Speed family. Engineers at Bentley in Crewe have developed even more muscle from the Continental's iconic 6.0-litre twin-turbocharged W12 engine. The GT Speed now produces 642 PS - up from 635 PS - and 20 Nm of extra torque, bringing its total to a forceful 840 Nm. This additional torque is applied through the entire rev range via careful reoptimisation of boost control, raising the Grand Tourer's renowned "torque plateau" of continuous maximum torque delivery from 2,000-5,000 rpm, and bringing even greater acceleration performance. As a result, the 0-60 mph sprint time has dropped to just 3.9 seconds (0-100 km/h in 4.1 secs).

Bentley wants to get into the coachbuilding business

There was a time when a customer would buy a chassis from an automaker like Bentley and then take it to a coachbuilder to have whatever bodywork they wanted put on it. The practice was particularly prevalent in Bentley's earlier days, but the industry has progressed in such a way - with tighter regulations and unibody construction - that such a practice is no longer feasible. But Bentley wants to get back into that business.
Speaking to UK trade publications recently, Bentley sales chief Kevin Rose indicated that the company is looking into setting up a special division within itself to meet the demands of extremely wealthy customers who want to commission their own coachbuilt custom creations. It's an emerging trend that's seen Ferrari Special Projects build one-offs like the F12 TRS and SP12 EC and McLaren Special Operations the outlandish X-1, and Bentley wants to get in on the action.
It wouldn't be the first even to rebody a contemporary Bentley in recent years. Carrozzeria Touring Superleggera offers the Flying Star (pictured above) that turns the Continental GT into a shooting brake, and Dany Bahar's new coachbuilding outfit Ares plans to do the same. By bringing it in-house, however, Bentley would be able to pick the chassis up off the assembly line at the right time and provide the necessary support and factory backing.

VW pulls Lamborghini and Bentley from the Paris Motor Show

It's been slightly more than a year since the news that Volkswagen had intentionally cheated on diesel emissions testing broke. Since then, the company's reputation and image have suffered and it has struggled to regain its footing and composure. The automaker is shelling out billions in fines, so cost cutting is inevitable. Today, Reuters reports that Volkswagen subsidiaries Lamborghini and Bentley won't bring their elaborate displays to the Paris Motor Show next week. Auto shows can cost automakers millions of dollars, especially for supercar and luxury car brands that constantly try to compete and one-up with each other. Much of the money and fanfare goes to catering the media, and if an automaker has nothing new to reveal it can be difficult to justify the expense. The company told Reuters that it plans to attend smaller events that focus more on potential buyers. The Volkswagen group as a whole has shifted it's focus, both when it comes to products and auto shows like Paris. Next week, the automaker will be focusing on electric vehicles and electromobility. The company plans to reveal a new EV with 373 miles of range, eclipsing both the Tesla Model 3 and Chevy Bolt. Volkswagen has plans for 30 new electric vehicles by 2025. Lamborghini and Bentley aren't the only major automakers skipping Paris. Ford, Volvo, and Aston Martin have all decided to save money and focus their efforts elsewhere. Related Video: