2013 Bentley Continental Gt $220k Msrp on 2040-cars

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Bentley officially chooses Bentayga name for new SUV

The Bentayga is here and the Bentayga cometh. The former is the Roque Bentayga, a rock formation on the island of Gran Canaria, the second is the arriving Bentley crossover, whose name is inspired by that formation. Yet that's only part of the tale: Bentley says that the taiga, a massive zone of sub-arctic forests that forms a ring around the upper latitudes of the northern hemisphere, played a part in the Betayga's name, too. Oh, and the company's founder – he's got a hand in as well. Company CEO Wolfgang Durheimer says Bentley has taken 4,000 deposits already, and some Bentayga trims will cost more than the Bentley Mulsanne. We do think it right and proper that the Bentley crossover will break the seal on super-luxe SUVs, since it was the Bentley Continental GT – 12 years ago, remember – broke open the market for super-luxe GTs. Still, everything that's gone into the Bentayga name is a lot of responsibility for crossover. We'll find out if its elevated haunches can support the load later this year, when it's revealed in advance of going on sale in 2016. For now, there's video above of it testing in the dunes of the Middle East. The press release below can tell you a bit more. BENTLEY BENTAYGA: THE NEW PINNACLE SUV - Taking luxury to new places, Bentayga is inspired by the natural world - The Bentley Bentayga combines pinnacle luxury and performance (Crewe/Detroit, 12th January 2015) Bentley's all-new and ground-breaking luxury SUV is set to be revealed to the world later this year and a name has been chosen: Bentley Bentayga. This sector-defining SUV will be able to introduce Bentley's renowned modern British luxury to limitless destinations with an impressive combination of on and off road performance. The natural world, along with the company's founder, inspired its name. Crowning the Northern Hemisphere, to the north of Bentley's birthplace in England, is the dramatic beauty of the Taiga, the world's largest transcontinental snowforest. To the south, the rugged peak of the Roque Bentayga in the subtropical Canary Islands draws attention from all directions and a challenging climb rewards with spectacular panoramic views of a rich and diverse landscape.

Weekly Recap: Auto execs face life in prison for recall delays under proposed legislation

The stiff punishments are part of broader transportation legislation, but clearly McCaskill has automakers in her sights.
Missouri Senator Claire McCaskill threw down the gauntlet this week, proposing a bill that could send auto executives to prison for life if they were found to have delayed a recall. She also wants to eliminate the limit for fines for auto safety violations, which are currently capped at $35 million.

Bentley Mulliner Bacalar is probably a roadster

The upcoming coachbuilt Bentley Mulliner Bacalar has been teased before its Geneva Motor Show reveal once again. Instead of one of the wheels or a glimpse of its rear quarter panels, we get a rather clear view of the interior. Bentley highlights the fact that there are only two seats, making this only the second two-seat car the company has offered since 1930. But looking closely, it also suggests that the Mulliner Bacalar is a convertible. The first indication is the angle of the photo, which is clearly from high up, and generally unobstructed. Perhaps it could be a design buck, but there's more to it than that. At the bottom of the photo, there's a black, horizontal object obscuring the base of the seats. It's too close to the seat backs to be the dashboard, so we think it's actually the windshield header. Then there's the placement of the seatbelts. They're mounted really low in the interior, seemingly below the window line. That's something automakers normally do if there are no pillars to mount to higher up, and if you didn't want to mount them to the seats. There also appears to be trim wrapping around behind the rear cargo area at the same height, further suggesting there's no solid roof and pillars in place. With all this under consideration, plus a previous report of a convertible in the works, we're thinking the Bacalar is a droptop of some sort. Taking a turn back to what's obvious in the photo, the interior is clearly a two-seat design, and you can see that it features matching luggage to fit the cavity behind the seats. The seats are upholstered in a nifty and sporty-looking diamond pattern with contrasting gray and yellow fabrics. Bentley doesn't specifically say what materials are used, but it says everything was sustainably sourced. The Mulliner Bacalar will be fully revealed on March 3 at the Geneva Motor Show. It will apparently take styling inspiration from the electric EXP 100 GT concept, and Bentley is stressing the sustainability aspect of the car. The same report that said a convertible was coming, though, also said it would probably get a W12 engine, and at least the convertible part of the report seems to be true. Also expect a price tag well into the seven figure range. Related Video: