1994 Bentley Brooklands Base Sedan 4-door 6.8l V8 Ohv 16v Turbo on 2040-cars

Auto blog

2014 Bentley Flying Spur

Redefining Super Luxury On A Shrinking Planet
Anyone on Earth with access to the Internet, a television or radio for the last 20 years knows that China is no longer the poor stronghold for strict Communist ideals that it was for much of the 20th Century. (Well, at least not in some places.) Traveling to China twice in less than a month - first to Shanghai for a very international auto show and now to Beijing to drive and review the 2014 Bentley Flying Spur - I've learned that there's no lack of personal wealth, at least in two of the world's largest cities.
And yet, even I think the scene before me is a little bit ridiculous. Here I am, slowly climbing up a hillside to reach a fortification at something called Zhuanduo Pass, where roughly a dozen pristine examples of Western decadence sit idling their hand-built 12-cylinder engines in the shadow of China's revered and awesome Great Wall. Not five kilometers south of here, I'd passed an old man in traditional all-black garb, literally carrying a bundle of sticks on his back from one side of a village to the other. Now as I look through the snug-fitting and silent side glass of the my $200,000+ palace on wheels, I'm more apt to see fat German tourists crisping in the hot Chinese sun while blowing the equivalent of an average Chinese monthly paycheck on lunch and a few Great Wall souvenirs.

Bentley's first electric car will arrive in 2025 at the earliest

Now that it's back in the black, Bentley is busily planning its move into the electric car segment. The company's chief executive shed light on how his team will link the past and the future. When it comes to new products, company boss Adrian Hallmark told Automotive News Europe that "it's all about electrification." The first Bentley with a plug is the Bentayga Hybrid unveiled at the 2018 Geneva Motor Show. Looking ahead, an electric car will join the range, but executives haven't decided what form it will take, or what it will be powered by. Several options remain on the table. What's certain is that Bentley won't stuff an electric powertrain into one of the cars in its current portfolio. "We could take one of the existing nameplates, and that could be the first electric car, but we wouldn't take an existing car and try to fit batteries into it, because there's a compromise from a range and efficiency point of view," Hallmark explained. The challenge isn't simply to make an electric Bentley; the British firm wants to ensure its first battery-powered model credibly lives up to the badge on its nose. That means it needs to blend effortless power with an acceptable amount of driving range. Bentley is part of Volkswagen, so using one of the platforms in the group's growing arsenal of architectures isn't out of the question. And, Hallmark affirmed engineers will take advantage of the innovative packaging possibilities made possible by electric powertrains. He explained the firm isn't about to release a Mini, but an electric Bentley could have a smaller footprint than, say, a Mulsanne while offering a comparable amount of interior space. He cited the Jaguar I-Pace as an example, which he said is nearly 14 inches shorter than Land Rover's Range Rover, yet is about as spacious inside because electric motors require less space than a comparable gasoline- or diesel-burning engine. The trade-off is that an electric Bentley would need a sizable battery pack, and designers would likely have to put the car on stilts to leave enough room in the cabin for people and gear if they were to pen an electric car in 2020. Solid-state battery technology will solve that problem when it's ready for production, according to Hallmark, though he didn't reveal whether he's open to waiting for the new chemistry or if Bentley's first electric car will ship with a lithium-ion battery pack.

Bentley introduces Bentayga First Edition at VIP event in LA

The first customers to place their orders for the new Bentley Bentayga will get a special First Edition model. Each is outfitted with unique trim inside and out, and comes with a special wristwatch. Bentley just unveiled the new Bentayga First Edition at a special VIP event ahead of the Los Angeles Auto Show opening this week. The Bentley Bentayga First Edition features 22-inch two-tone wheels, special Union Jack badging, and illuminated treadplates. Inside it benefits from unique diamond quilted leather, embroidered seats, contrast stitching, and ambient lighting. Along with those specifications, this initial run will be limited to just ten exterior colors. Those fortunate first customers will also get their choice between one of three timepieces crafted by Breitling: one with a multifunction electronic movement, another with an integrated emergency transmitter, and a third automatic designed for women. All told, only 608 examples of the First Edition will be offered. The quantity is a reference to the metric output from the 6.0-liter twin-turbo W12 engine, which produces 600 horsepower – or 608 ps. That's enough to rocket the luxury off-roader to 60 in 4.0 seconds flat and on to a top speed of 187 mph, making this the fastest and most powerful SUV currently on the market. Related Video: BENTLEY DEBUTS BENTAYGA FIRST EDITION AT EXCLUSIVE VIP CUSTOMER EVENT - First 608 Bentaygas to be exclusively designed and highly equipped - Bentayga is the most powerful, most luxurious, most exclusive and fastest SUV in the world - Limited edition celebrates the creation of an all-new luxury SUV market segment - Each owner to receive one of three special-edition Breitling chronographs (Los Angeles/Crewe, 16 November 2015) Bentley Motors is debuting the Bentayga First Edition to a select group of VIP customers tonight at the iconic Sunset Marquis Hotel, Los Angeles. The exclusive limited edition of the most powerful SUV in production is restricted to just 608 cars globally. The eye-catching specification with exclusive details and unique components demonstrates the Bentayga's abilities to the fullest. The First Edition's unique design includes Union Jack badging, illuminated treadplates and 22" black painted and polished wheels. Just ten exterior colours are offered, highlighting the exclusivity of the model.