201 Bentley Continental Flying Spur Speed. Thunder With Portland. on 2040-cars

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Bentley Bentayga dives deep into luxury with touches of pearl

As some of the most luxurious vehicles on the planet, Bentleys are inspirational (and aspirational) to thousands of customers and fans around the globe. But sometimes, Bentley is the one finding inspiration in its customers. As a special commission for a Middle Eastern client, Bentley and in-house specialty shop Mulliner have created the limited-edition "Pearl of the Gulf" Bentayga, complete with pearl trim and a fingerprint safe. Only five examples, each different from the one before it, will be made. The Pearl of the Gulf proudly ties in the cultural history of the Middle East. For centuries, pearl diving and harvesting has been a major economic key to cities around the Arabian Gulf. And it just so happens, the gleaming stones are beautiful enough to complement the Bentayga's high-class personality. On the car shown here, Bentley artistically integrated a mother-of-pearl-laced dhow diving boat within the Dark Fiddleback Eucalyptus wood dashboard. Mother of pearl is also seen on the Breitling clock in the center of the dash. Furthering the elevated feel of the cabin is a special technological add-on. Bentley installed a high-pressure die-cast aluminum storage unit that only unlocks with the touch of the owner's finger. The biometric fingerprint sensor is intended to secure any valuables while the car is left in an exposed environment or handed off to drivers. The rest of the cabin is a two-tone blend of light Linen and dark Brunel leather, a theme meant to evoke the coloring of a pearl and its shell. The quilted seats and door paneling have Camel and Brunel contrast stitching, and gold embroidery adds extra sparkle. Linen lambswool rugs turn the floor into a delightful rest area for the feet, and door sills highlight the car's "1 of 5" status. The remaining examples will be built by Mulliner's crew in Crewe, England. Featured Gallery Bentley Bentayga Pearl of the Gulf by Mulliner View 10 Photos News Source: Bentley Bentley SUV Luxury bentley bentayga Mulliner

2021 Bentley Flying Spur V8 returns with less weight, equipment than W12

Following up on the launch of the W12 version, the 2021 Bentley Flying Spur is once again getting an "entry-level" variant with a V8. It's not as powerful as the W12, and a couple fancy features aren't included. But it's lighter, more fuel efficient, and we expect it will be cheaper. Like past V8 Spurs, this new model has a twin-turbocharged 4.0-liter V8. It's more powerful than its predecessors, though, making 542 horsepower and 568 pound-feet of torque. The previous-generation V8 S made 521 horsepower and 502 pound-feet of torque. The W12's 626 horsepower still towers over the V8, but the V8 boasts a weight savings of 220 pounds. Combined with cylinder deactivation, Bentley claims a 16% improvement in fuel economy, though doesn't give specific numbers. Applying that increase to the W12's combined fuel economy number, we'd expect around 17 mpg for the V8 versus 15 for the W12. There's one other key mechanical change to the Flying Spur V8, and that's the lack of standard electronic adjustable anti-roll bars and four-wheel steering. Both features are part of an option package now, whereas they're included on the W12. The adjustable anti-roll bars are automatically controlled to optimize ride quality while reducing body roll, and the steering allows the Flying Spur to more easily negotiate tight corners and spaces. Otherwise, the V8 Flying Spur is nearly identical to the W12 version, save for the standard 20-inch wheels and quad exhaust tips. It's available in either four- or five-seat configurations. First Edition and Blackline trims are available that include extra options and unique visual tweaks. And among some of the more opulent upgrades are the rear-seat refrigerator, illuminated Flying B hood ornament and rotating center stack display. Pricing for the Flying Spur V8 starts at $200,725 with destination, a healthy discount to the W12's nearly $215,000 price tag. It's also more affordable than the the Continental GT V8's price of around $204,000. The V8 Flying Spur will be available early next year. Related Video:

Watch a Bentley Continental GT Speed hoon around an abandoned Sicilian air base

If your morning caffeine dose isn't quite getting the job done, watching a 12-cylinder Bentley Continental GT Speed drift around the former NATO Comiso Air Station in Sicily may just do the trick. While "Continental Drift" may have nothing to do with plate tectonics in this context, it's highly appropriate that the GT Speed is powered by a W12 producing enough torque to shape the Earth's crust from above. Too bad Land Rover has dibs on "Pangea Green" as a paint finish. Per Bentley, the short was filmed during the recent Global Media Drive for the GT Speed. Bentley converted the abandoned NATO base into a gymkhana-style track. "Abandoned almost 30 years ago and having been slowly reclaimed by nature since, Comiso proved to be the ideal place to create a safe yet challenging environment to demonstrate the performance credentials of the GT Speed," Bentley said in the accompanying announcement.  Comiso is no stranger to ground-based missiles, but the Continental GT Speed is an entirely different breed. Its 6.0-liter twin-turbo W12 makes 650 horsepower (up 24 over the standard W12) and 664 pound-feet of torque, dropping the GT Speed's 0-60 mph time to 3.5 seconds on the way to a top speed of 208 mph.