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2020 Bentley Flying Spur First Edition ratchets up the exclusivity

For the 2020 Bentley Flying Spur's first year of production, the automaker will offer the First Edition model. The sedan adopts a brace of options taken from the standard car, as well as identifying badging. Outside, a set of Union Jacks with a number "1" in the center can be found on the C-pillars, just as were found on the Continental GT First Edition released last year. The words "First Edition" appear on the treadplates, and the sedan sits on 22-inch Mulliner Specification wheels. Up front, the electronic Flying B mascot with illuminated wings retreats to its den inside the grille frame when the car is locked. Inside, the instrument panel gets another Union Jack along with the Bentley Rotating Display. Owners can choose to have the First Edition Bentley Winged Emblems embroidered into the headrests. The panoramic roof and mood lighting come standard, as does Touring Specification, which adds driver assistance features like a head-up display, lane assist, night vision, and adaptive cruise control. The premier example of the breed is set to be auctioned at the Elton John AIDS Foundation's inaugural ball called the Midsummer Party, taking place at Jean Pigozzi's Villa Dorane on July 24, in Cap d'Antibes. All proceeds from the Mulsanne's sale will be given to the EJAF, but the new buyer will still have work to do. A Bentley designer will host the owner in Crewe or travel to the owner's home to spec out the car "through Bentley's exclusive Co-Creation Luxury Service." We're not sure how that's different than Mulliner, but to anyone buying a Bentley in the South of France at an Elton John event, it isn't likely to matter. They'll get whatever they want, including the right to say, "First."

Bentley, Lamborghini consider foreign production [w/poll]

Would a Bentley be a Bentley if it weren't manufactured in Great Britain? Would a Lamborghini be a Lamborghini if it were built outside of Italy? It may be hard to say either way, but we might find out sooner than later, because the latest word coming in from Europe is that the Volkswagen Group is considering expanding production for both these upscale brands outside their traditional homes.
According to the Autovisie section of Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf, the issue for both automakers comes down to their ambitious expansion programs. Both Bentley and Lamborghini plan to launch new SUVs - the former's being well under way, the latter's still awaiting approval - that would expand their annual production considerably: by 50 percent in Bentley's case, and by as much as 100 percent in Lamborghini's.
For now, both marques intend to handle the added production with additional assembly lines at their current facilities in Crewe and Sant'Agata Bolognese, respectively. But both could soon outgrow their relatively small plants - and with the Volkswagen Group operating countless factories across Europe and around the world, it wouldn't be hard to see these manufacturers shifting excess production outside of their home countries.

2019 Bentley Continental GT gets stunning new looks but keeps its W12 engine

The Continental GT is an incredibly important model for Bentley, having kicked off the British luxury brand's current resurgence. To wit, in 2003, the year the Continental GT was introduced, Bentley sold around a thousand vehicles. Just a decade later, Bentley was selling 10 times that many cars. You can be sure that the automaker doesn't want that explosive growth to slow down, and the new 2019 Continental GT you see here looks certain to keep customers flowing into Bentley dealerships for the foreseeable future. If you were expecting lots of technology in this new Continental, you'll find it front and center in the cockpit. There's a fully digital dash that mimics conventional gauges on either side of a configurable screen, but the real showstopper is the 12.3-inch Rotating Display. When the car is turned off, the infotainment screen spins to hide behind a wooden veneer – just a small part of the 107 square feet of wood inside – but that's not its only trick. In addition to the LCD screen, there's a third mode festooned with a temperature gauge, compass, and chronometer. The rest of the cabin is suitably opulent. There's diamond-stitched leather, a watch-like machined finish called Cotes de Geneve, diamond knurling, and bronze inserts in between the primary controls. 20-way power adjustable seats are heated, cooled, and massaging, and in-seat Active Bass Transducers are optional. A 6.0-liter W12 engine sends 626 horsepower and 664 pound-feet of torque to all four wheels through an eight-speed automatic transmission. The run to 60 takes just 3.6 seconds, and the top speed is listed at 207 miles per hour. If you were expecting some sort of electrification, you'll have to look elsewhere. A 48-volt electronics system with actuators to help keep the big coupe planted during corners is borrowed from corporate cousins Audi, as do LED Matrix headlights. We'll see the 2019 Continental GT in person at the Frankfurt Motor Show. Pricing has yet to be announced, but we'd expect it to be slightly higher than the $200,000 asking price of the current model. Featured Gallery 2019 Bentley Continental GT View 28 Photos Frankfurt Motor Show Bentley Coupe Luxury Performance