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Bentley to unveil zero-emissions EXP 100 GT on July 10

Some people take part in excessive celebrations with a birthday week. Bentley went the extra mile and has been celebrating a full all-out birthday year, with a variety of special-edition models and events. The British manufacturer has been milking its centenary leading up to July 10, 2019, when it will unveil the EXP 100 GT, a zero-emissions autonomous car that Bentley bills as "the future of grand touring."  During the past year, Bentley has released Centenary Specifications for all of its models, a $250,000 book, the Continental GT Convertible No. 1 Edition by Mulliner, a Bentley Continental GT No. 9 Edition, and a Mulsanne W.O. Edition, all in honor of 100 years of the company. These special products have created a build-up toward one of Bentley's biggest launches ever in the EXP 100 GT.  The EXP 100 GT is expected to be Bentley's first electric car, but the EXP nomenclature indicates it will only be a concept, for now. It will also be autonomous, as the ultimate level of grand touring is supposedly having the choice to drive or be driven.  Bentley says it will be "a physical embodiment of the future brand," and will "set the new benchmark for luxury craftsmanship." This will be accomplished with "a fascinating array of materials," all of which are handcrafted to Bentley's over-the-top standards.  The unveiling event will be livestreamed on BentleyMedia.com, or enthusiasts can register for the event on a microsite called Extraordinary Journeys. The sheet is expected to be pulled at 11 a.m. EDT Wednesday, July 10. 

2017 Bentley Mulsanne defines the latest in handcrafted luxury

It takes 144 craftsmen roughly 399 hours to build a Bentley Mulsanne. In today's world of automation and just-in-time parts delivery, such statistics sound ridiculous. But this old-school approach to vehicle assembly earns this beast its status as Bentley's flagship. It takes about a third of that time to assemble a Continental GT, for instance, which is one reason the Mulsanne is so expensive. It's also why Bentley moves more than five Continental models for every Mulsanne it sells. Bentley has a brand-new crown jewel coming soon to dealerships as a 2017 model, and it will debut next week at the 2016 Geneva Motor Show. An Extended Wheelbase version joins the base Mulsanne and the Speed, pushing the lineup to three for the first time. Although Bentley officials take pride in the fact they are the largest producer of 12-cylinder engines in the world, the Mulsanne continues to soldier forth with the long-serving 6.75-liter V8. While this L-Series engine traces its roots all the way back to 1959, as evidenced by its cam-in-block overhead-valve design, it's been fully modernized with electronic controls and twin turbochargers. The result is 505 horsepower and 752 pound-feet of torque (or 530 hp and 811 lb-ft in the Speed), routed through a ZF eight-speed automatic transmission to the rear wheels. This is the same engine that has powered flagship Bentleys since 2010, and it's effortlessly capable of pushing the Mulsanne from 0-60 in 5.1 seconds and all the way up to a top speed of 184 miles per hour. The upgraded Mulsanne Speed improves those figures to 4.8 seconds and 190 mph. That's plenty of performance for this kind of vehicle, weighing as it does nearly 6,000 pounds. With that kind of power and heft, a solid chassis is a must. Active engine mounts join new suspension bushings for 2017, and the air suspension system has been updated. Continuous Damping Control and a Drive Dynamics Control System with three factory and one custom setting are standard. Also new are tires codeveloped with Dunlop that have foam-filled cavities to reduce interior cabin noise. Where the styling of the outgoing Mulsanne is smooth and stately, the new one is more angular and modern. At the front, the traditional upright grille remains, but it's over three inches wider than before, and is slatted with vertical vanes in polished stainless steel that are meant to recall Bentley classics from the 1930s.

The Bentley Flying Spur V8 shows even a basic Bentley is a nice place to be

While it is hard to call any Bentley entry-level, the Flying Spur V8 that's debuting at the Geneva Motor Show is technically the lowest rung among Bentley's four-doors. However, if our experience with the Continental GT V8 is anything to go by - the Spur and the Conti still share a platform, despite the former dropping "Continental" from its branding - the loss of a few cylinders won't harm the overall experience.
The latest model uses the 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 with cylinder deactivation that produces 500 horsepower and 487 pound-feet of torque. It is capable of accelerating to 60 miles per hour in 4.9 seconds to a top speed of 183 mph. Power is sent to all four wheels through an eight-speed automatic transmission, and it rides on an air suspension.
Buyers wanting a little more luxury (and who doesn't?) can opt for the Mulliner Driving Specification that adds diamond-quilted leather, a leather headliner, power rear seats and 20-inch wheels. The Flying Spur V8 will join the Flying B's lineup this spring.