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Bentley considering smaller coupe

Only halfway through the year, Bentley reports that it's on track to post record sales. Thanks in no small part to the introduction of its new V8 engine in the Continental family, sales are up nearly a quarter over last year. And they only stand to increase even more with the introduction of new models currently in the pipeline. The upcoming SUV will surely form a large part of that, but it won't be the end of the story for the storied marque.
Car and Driver reports that, after the SUV, Bentley plans to introduce a new coupe line below the Continental to square off against the Aston Martin V8 Vantage. Details are few and far between at this point, but considering how much Bentley manages to do with the relatively heft Continental GT, a lighter and more nimble sports car sounds promising.
In related news, rumors are gathering pace that Bentley is planning to introduce a new Mulsanne Speed at the upcoming Paris Motor Show, its Jurassic-era 6.75-liter V8 massaged from 505 horsepower - already the most that engine has produced in its half-century history - up to around 550.

Ian Fleming's Bentley R-Type rediscovered in an L.A. garage

James Bond creator Ian Fleming commissioned a left-hand-drive 1953 Bentley R-Type Continental Fastback in Deep Grey with black Connolly leather as a gift for his American friend Ivar Felix Bryce. Fleming's choice of that car was probably no accident: Bond drove an R-Type Continental in the book Thunderball – one he bought as a wreck and restored, and he had it done up in gray with black leather. In Skyfall, this is the car that would have been behind that garage door. Gullwing Motor Cars recently discovered the real-life car wasting away in a garage in Hancock Park, Los Angeles for nearly 30 years. Bryce was Fleming's inspiration for CIA agent Felix Leiter in the Bond books. The US agent showed up in six installments in the series starting with Casino Royale, bowing out in The Man with the Golden Gun. Just as cool as the Fleming/Bond connection is this car's connection to the Bentleys of today. This was the "Speed" of its time, and like Continental GT Speed of one today, it was the fastest production four-seater in the world. A review of the time said, "it is difficult to put into words the gulf that separates a Continental from the average car in all the qualities that have a bearing on safety at speed." And you can see where those outboard lights on today's Bentleys come from. The Continental designation signified a power upgrade over the standard R-Type, and Fleming built it up with extras like rear spats, lightweight seats, fitted luggage, and a racehorse mascot. The Bryces flew their gift around the world to their various homes in England, Nassau, New York, and Vermont. After they sold it the coupe had several owners, ending up in the hands of a Beverly Hills surgeon in 1978, and according to Gullwing it's been sitting in a garage almost since that time. It has matching numbers and the original interior, and Gullwing says, putting it mildly, it is "an ideal restoration candidate." The asking price is $1,495,000, which is quite the premium for pedigree. Hagerty values a pristine example at $1.4 million, and two recent pristine examples have been sold by RM Auctions for $1.2M and Bonham's for $822,000. This Fleming car one went to auction at Pebble this year with an estimate of $1.4M - $1.8M but didn't sell, so don't be afraid to ask a few hard MI6-like questions about it if you're interested.

Bentley EXP 10 Speed 6 coming, but not before hotter CUV

Bentley appears closer than ever to giving the green light for production to the curvaceous EXP 10 Speed 6 concept, but expect to see a hotter, more stylish crossover before the coupe arrives in showrooms. During the Bentayga launch, company CEO Wolfgang Durheimer hinted that both models would be perfect additions to the luxury brand's lineup, according to Car and Driver. The EXP 10 Speed 6's shapely design received glowing reviews when Bentley unveiled it at the 2015 Geneva Motor Show, and customers prodded the automaker to manufacture the coupe. "We want to build on this and make it a reality," Durheimer told Car and Driver about the positive buzz, but the boss said he couldn't put a production date on the two-seater yet. Durheimer has made positive statements about the EXP 10 Speed 6's production chances before, but it might be 2020 before the coupe goes on sale because the company's board still needs to approve the model. Rumors suggest the possibility of an electric version with 400 to 500 horsepower from tech similar to the Porsche Mission E concept and a more traditional variant with a 600-hp twin-turbo V8. In the nearer term, we could get the first look at Bentley's high-performance crossover as a concept at the 2016 Geneva Motor Show in March, according to Auto Express. The model allegedly shares the Bentayga's platform but features a revised body with an arching, coupe-like roofline. The company would also add more power to the twin-turbo W12 to match the exterior's more aggressive look. Related Video: