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Bentley designer calls Lincoln Continental concept a Flying Spur 'copy' [w/poll]

When you first laid eyes on the new Lincoln Continental concept, we'd wager you were likely impressed, because it's an impressive design. But if you also thought it looked familiar, you're in good company. According to Car Design News, design chief Luc Donckerwolke over at Bentley thinks the Lincoln concept bears more than a passing resemblance to another Continental: Bentley's own Flying Spur. "This behavior is not respectable. Building a copy like this is giving a bad name to the car design world," Donckerwolke told CDN, after posting some disparaging comments on Facebook and offering in jest to send over the tooling. "It is very disappointing, especially for an exclusive brand like Lincoln," added Sangyup Lee, his deputy for exterior design. The irony is further entrenched by the name, which Bentley only dropped from its Flying Spur in its latest iteration but still uses for the coupe and convertible models. Both automakers have a deeply routed history with the nameplate, but Lincoln's stretches back further, having first used the handle in 1939 before Bentley did in 1952. However it's not the nameplate that's the subject of controversy here, rather the design of the vehicle to which it's applied. So what do you think, did Lincoln borrow too heavily from its British counterpart? Related Video:

Bentley and Skoda capitalize on the coronation

Most likely, King Charles won’t be riding in a Czech-made Skoda this weekend when he is crowned king of England, even though the car company has introduced a Coronation Edition in a “Royal Green” color “in honor of the Coronation.” However, should they ride to the fancy investiture at Westminster Abbey in a home-grown Bentley, the royal tushes of he and Queen Camilla may be resting on bespoke, handcrafted “cabin cushions” created by BentleyÂ’s “Dream Factory” to celebrate the occasion (not likely, since the royal couple is expected to travel in the 260-year-old Gold State Coach). The upcoming, day-long event has inspired lots of tchotchkes of course — chocolate Charleses, crowns for dogs, Lego kings — as well as an outpouring of affection by the public and commercial opportunities to sell them things royalty-related. On the matter of the new KingÂ’s rear end, the Bentley cushions are described as being quite fabulous. It took craftsmen three days to embroider them with the special “Coronation Emblem,” which consists, according to the firm, "of two separate thread colours ... three different colourways of the emblem were used, to contrast the individually-selected hides for different colours of cushions to match the interiors of the Bentleys that will use them." The colors of the cushions include Cricketball and Cumbrian Green, accented by piping of Beluga, Porpoise, Newmarket Tan and Imperial Blue respectively. Should they require more modern transportation, a fleet of Bentleys will be on hand for special guests.  Regarding the Skodas, the Royal Green color will be available to order by commoners as well as by the royal couple, available on selected Superb, Kodiaq and Octavia models in the UK.

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: