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Shortened course prevents Bentley Continental GT3 from setting new record at Pikes Peak International Hill Climb

As reported earlier, Bentley is participating in this year’s Pikes Peak International Hill Climb, which took place in the American state of Colorado over the past few days. The car used this year is the Continental GT3 Pikes Peak and apart from its powerful 750+ bhp engine, it has also been tuned to run on renewable fuel.

On the course up the hill, the Continental GT3 proved to be the fastest car running on renewable fuel, finishing 2nd in the Time Attack 1 and 4th overall among all competitors. The car, driven by former ‘King of the Mountain’ Rhys Millen, crossing the finish line in 6:36.281 despite suffering a late engine issue. The time was good enough to beat all other sustainability-focused entrants, including fully electric competitors.

The course was shortened due to snow and ice near the 4,300-metre high summit of Pikes Peak. For safety reasons, the organisers repositioned the finish line at a point at 3,896 metres. This cut out the last third of the normal course which has 156 turns, many of them ‘open-air’ corners. The shortened route also meant that Bentley’s attempt to set a new record could not be achieved.

Nonetheless, the Continental GT3 Pikes Peak – regarded as ‘the most extreme road-going Bentley ever built’ – set a blistering pace over the first two sectors, entering the third and final sector 12 seconds ahead of its nearest rival. A few corners from the finish, a boost pressure problem meant 16 seconds were lost, dropping Millen back to second place in class.

“We know we had the pace today both to win our class, and to break the Time Attack 1 record. The weather sadly wasn’t with us though, with the shortened course meaning our assault on the record was never a possibility. While that’s a bitter pill to swallow, I’m proud to have entered such a strong renewably-powered racing car – the fastest at the event – and equally proud of the team that’s delivered this project. This is the first step on Bentley’s renewable fuel journey, and there will be many more opportunities to come. Perhaps we’ll even come back to Pikes Peak next year…,” said Bentley’s Director of Motorsport, Paul Williams.

Bentley’s participation in the 2021 Pikes Peak International Hill Climb was the company’s third in recent years, following successful record runs in both a specially-prepared Bentayga (Production SUV record) and a Continental GT (outright Production Class record).

With regard to the RON98 Renewable Racing Fuel, this fuel is a dedicated blend of advanced biofuels specifically designed for motorsport. It is a technological stepping stone to sustainably-created eFuel with a greenhouse gas reduction of up to 85%.

Steering wheel of Bentley Continental GT3 for Pikes Peak Hill Climb can also be used for sim racing (w/VIDEO)

Steering wheel of Bentley Continental GT3 for Pikes Peak Hill Climb can also be used for sim racing (w/VIDEO)

Racing simulators are very realistic today, certainly a very, very big difference from the cartoon-like VGA displays of the early programs. And not only is the imagery photorealistic but even the hardware is sophisticated to replicate driving sensations as closely as possible.

Now, for even greater realism, Bentley and Fanatec have co-developed a unique steering wheel that can be used for both real and virtual motor racing. The wheel was designed specifically for the Bentley Continental GT3 Pikes Peak challenge car, crafted from lightweight carbonfibre and magnesium alloy. The quick release system meets FIA standards, allowing it to connect to a real car and compatible FANATEC wheel bases.

For racing as well as display
It’s the first steering wheel of its kind to be actually used in a racing car, making it a highly desirable accessory for gamers. When not being used for driving a real Bentley or one in the virtual world, the steering wheel can be detached and displayed on a wall or desk, proudly posed on a special mount. If you need to take it around, a robust hard travelling case is also provided.

Powered by a USB connection, the wheel can be displayed as a clock inspired by the traditional timepiece found in the Continental GT. It can also replay preloaded race telemetry from famous laps, showing pedal and steering inputs, gear changes, G-meter, and a track map. The centre of the GT3 steering wheel houses a circular digital display that offers the driver vital telemetry and information about their performance. Exclusive Bentley design details include signature knurling on the rotary encoders.

Full functionality for racing car
Other key features include a forged carbonfibre display bezel, two 7-way FunkySwitch directional sticks with encoder functionality, a pair of aluminium thumbwheels with optical encoders, and four magnetic paddles – two for gearshifting and two auxiliaries, based on the design of the Continental GT road car.

More realism for gaming enthusiasts
“Our detailed collaboration with Fanatec, the world leader in gaming hardware, has repurposed the steering wheel from the Bentley Continental GT3 Pikes Peak car for virtual use. There cannot be a more realistic way for gaming enthusiasts to experience the thrill of driving one of our fastest ever vehicles, from home,” said Paul Williams, Director of Motorsport at Bentley Motors, and a keen sim racer himself.

Fanatec has not mentioned the price for this steering wheel although it may be among the more expensive ones available. Prices in its wide range start from 100 euros and go up to 1,800 euros (about RM500 to RM8,900).

Aiming for a new record at Pikes Peak
Bentley will be entering the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb again this week. It already holds the course record for the fastest production SUV, set by a Bentayga in 2018, and the production car class, set the following year in a Continental GT.

This year’s competition car is a specially developed Continental GT3 car with a twin-turbocharged, 4.0-litre V8 engine producing more than 750 bhp and 1000 Nm of torque. Designed to run on renewable synthetic fuel, it will attempt to set a new record for a production-based racing vehicle. To achieve this, the car will have to complete the climb of around 1,500 metres along a distance of almost 20 kms at an average speed of more than 125 km/h to cross the finish line in less than 9 minutes and 36 seconds.

Bentley aiming for a third record at Pikes Peak International Hill Climb this month with Continental GT3

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Bentley aiming for a third record at Pikes Peak International Hill Climb this month with Continental GT3

Up till the 1980s, the Pikes Peak Hill Climb in the US state of Colorado was pretty much an American event, largely unknown to the rest of the world. The first run for the ‘Race to the Clouds’ was held in 1916 and thereafter, it became an annual event that saw new records being set every so often. Then in 1984, Audi showed up; as the era of the Group B super rallycars ended, Audi looked for other events where it could still enter its cars and the Pikes Peak Hillclimb was one of them.

French rally driver Michele Mouton came with the Audi Quattro and, within two years, was able to win overall as well as set a new course record. Other European teams also brought their powerful rallycars to Pikes Peak and the power game escalated. Even electric vehicles started to race up the hill, one of them from Mitsubishi Motors.

Two previous records
Bentley also saw the event as a good place to demonstrate the superior performance of its cars, especially to the US market which takes a lot of them each year. In 2018, it sent Rhys Millen in a Bentayga W12 up the 20-km route with 156 turns and the New Zealander set a new Production SUV record. The following year, Millen used a Continental GT and set the outright Production Car record.

This year, on June 27, Millen will again be racing up the hill and for this run, he has a Continental GT3. The car is now in final preparations which have included three dynamic test sessions and renewable fuel engine development.

Most extreme road-going Bentley
Regarded as ‘the most extreme road-going Bentley ever built’, the Pikes Peak racer will run on renewable fuel, initiating a R&D programme that aims to offer renewable fuels to Bentley customers in parallel to Bentley’s electrification programme. This two-strand strategy is set to maximise the pace of Bentley’s progress towards outright carbon neutrality, as part of its ‘Beyond100’ journey.

Upgraded twin-turbo V8 engine
From the start line at 2,834 metres, the course climbs to around 4,300 metres. As the altitude increases, the air becomes less dense, which has major implications in engine performance. The car’s engine – based on Bentley’s race-proven version of its 4-litre V8 road car engine – can cope with the reduced air density as it is turbocharged. It has been thoroughly reworked to generate more than 750 bhp/1,000 Nm at sea level for testing – and the engine will run even higher power levels for the race itself.

New pistons and conrods are installed to turn additional boost pressure (over 2.2 bar) into power, having to handle an increased dynamic pressure ratio. The carbonfibre intake manifold is thicker and reinforced versus the standard item, for the same reason. Custom, one-off Inconel exhaust manifolds have been 3D-printed via laser sintering by Abramovic, and lead to larger turbos paired with external wastegates, venting into very short exhausts and dedicated screamer pipes that exit behind the front wheels.

The high performance engine places additional demands on the cooling system and for Pikes Peak, the engineering team developed a secondary cooling system that’s installed at the back of the car. Air scoops replace the rear windows, and channel air through a secondary radiator that exhausts through ducts in the boot lid. The system runs via a dedicated secondary water pump.

RON98 eFuel
The engine runs on RON98 Renewable Racing Fuel. The fuel is a dedicated blend of advanced biofuels specifically designed for motorsport, and is a technological stepping stone to sustainably-created eFuel with a greenhouse gas reduction of up to 85%.

The gearbox is Bentley’s standard racing unit, already designed to handle the torque loads involved, but rear driveshaft diameter has been increased to provide additional durability. The gearbox runs a specially-formulated lubricant created specifically for the car by Mobil1, who have also supplied high-performance oil for the engine.

The chassis has been set up and tuned to suit the specific nature of the Pikes Peak course. Both front and rear axles run significantly reduced camber to the standard Continental GT3 setup, focusing the car on low-speed cornering performance. The softest springs and anti-roll bars from Bentley’s range have been fitted, to allow more movement in the body and so maximise weight transfer for braking. The brakes themselves are water-cooled, to handle the increased loads that an all-out attack on the course will bring.

Aerodynamic modifications
The aerodynamic modifications see a 30% increase in overall downforce at sea level, while maintaining the standard car’s aerodynamic front/rear balance – validated during the first track sessions. The biggest rear wing ever fitted to a Bentley dominates the rear of the car, sitting above a highly efficient rear diffuser that surrounds the transaxle gearbox. To maintain the aerodynamic balance front-to-rear, these devices are paired with a comprehensive front-end aerodynamic package comprising a two-plane front splitter flanked by separate dive planes. The majority of these parts were made with carbon nylon filament using rapid prototype, additive manufacturing techniques at the Bentley factory in Crewe.

To break the record, the car will have to complete the climb of around 1,500 metres at an average speed of more than 125 km/h to cross the finish line in less than 9 minutes and 36 seconds.

New Bentayga Speed now available in Malaysia

Building on a long tradition of Speed models that was born with the Continental GT in 2007, the Bentayga Speed maintains the performance credentials proven by its predecessor, which claimed the production SUV record at the gruelling Pikes Peak International Hill Climb in 2018.

The latest Bentayga Speed – the fastest SUV in the world – is now available in Malaysia, joining the other Bentley models offered by Bentley Kuala Lumpur. The handbuilt SUV has the vaunted W12 powertrain and many of the model’s luxurious features are standard, including the Mulliner Driving Specification.

Power, performance and agility
The new Bentayga Speed utilises the 6.0-litre W12 twin-turbocharged engine that delivers peak power of 635 ps/900 Nm, the full amount of torque generated from 1500 rpm and available to 5000 rpm. It gives the SUV a claimed maximum speed of 306 km/h, while the 0 – 100 km/h sprint can be done in 3.9 seconds.

2021 Bentayga Speed — *The 6-litre W12 engine accounts for 10% of the time taken to build a Bentayga Speed.*

While pursuing high performance, Bentley’s engineers have not forgotten the need to use fuel efficiently and also keep exhaust emissions down. To achieve this, the engine control unit can deactivate one complete bank of six cylinders as required. Switching between A and B Bank using information from the inlet and exhaust sensor, minimises cylinder and catalytic convertor cool-down and avoids spikes in exhaust emissions. This not only benefits CO2 emissions but also enables significant economy gains under part-throttle cruising conditions.

Four Drive Dynamics modes are available for the driver to use according to personal preference or conditions. Uniquely in the Speed, the Sport mode has been recalibrated to enhance response from the W12 engine and the 8-speed automatic transmission, together with the air suspension system and Bentley Dynamic Ride.

The Bentley Dynamic Ride is the world’s first electric active roll control technology that utilises a 48V system. This system instantly counteracts lateral rolling forces when cornering and ensures maximum tyre contact. Recalibration of Bentley’s Torque Vectoring by Brake system has made Bentayga Speed even more responsive.

The Bentayga Speed’s optional carbon ceramic brakes are the largest and most powerful brakes available from Bentley, with a maximum braking torque of 6,000 Nm and engineered to withstand temperatures up to 1,000 °C. They also provide a weight saving of more than 20 kgs over iron brakes.

Purposeful exterior
To complement the elevated levels of performance, the Bentayga Speed sports a purposeful exterior look. Dark-tint headlights, body-coloured side skirts, unique front and rear bumpers and a striking, elongated tailgate spoiler characterise the performance credentials. At the rear, the exhaust finishers are now the oval design that signifies a W12 powertrain.

Customers can choose from 17 standard paint colours, supplemented by a further 47 hues in the Extended and Mulliner ranges… with an additional 24 duo-tone options. If the customer still cannot find something appealing from these 88 choices, Bentley can have the bodywork colour-matched to any sample they provide. This exceptional range is complemented by a palette of 15 hide colours, 6 colour splits and 8 veneers with 2 technical finishes.

Dramatic design theme within
Inside, the Bentayga Speed has a dramatic design theme that balances luxury and performance. The unique Speed colour split is achieved through the use of dark colours enhanced by primary hide accents running throughout the seats and interior trim. Elegantly crafted ‘swooshes’ of contrast leather swipe around the doors, along the edges of the seat cushions and backrest bolsters, and on the lower console.

‘Speed’ seat embroidery on the backrest of all the seats is included as standard, and as a no-cost option, customers can choose to replace the ‘Speed’ embroidery with that of the Bentley logo.

A new contrast stitching design through the diamond quilting of the Mulliner Driving Specification (included as standard) is unique to Speed, with each of the stitch lines running through the quilting being split – one to match the leather, the other in the contrast colour.

There is also the option of the Black Specification, a striking package that replaces all exterior chrome work, bright detailing and some elements of the body with gloss black or carbonfibre versions. With this package, the standard roof spoiler is replaced with a curved carbonfibre version.

50% of sales tax exempted
The Bentayga Speed is priced from RM1,062,000 (excluding all taxes and insurance). With the recent announcement that the exemption of sales tax will continue till the end of 2021, there will be considerable savings with half of the applicable sales tax removed.

For now, viewing the Bentley Speed won’t be possible as the Bentley Kuala Lumpur showroom is closed during the FMCO period from June 1 – June 14, 2021.

How Bentley ensures the highest quality for its cars

Four Chassis Technologies That Give The New Bentley Continental GT Speed Its Superlative Driving Dynamics

Bentley declares the new Continental GT Speed Coupe and Convertible are the most dynamic road-going cars ever made by the company in its 102-year history. The superlative driving dynamics have not been achieved with any compromise to comfort or luxury, thanks to a combination of 4 chassis technologies.

The biggest brakes in the world
The first is the new carbon ceramic braking system with the largest brakes installed in any production car. Measuring 440 mm in diameter for the front discs, this latest generation of carbon-ceramic disc has been specially formulated to provide class-leading braking performance with copper-free brake friction material for reduced environmental impact.

The new ceramic brake system offers weight-saving of 33 kgs compared to the iron braking system, and most importantly, this is unsprung weight which lowers inertia and gives the car more responsive handling.

The ceramic brake has been extensively tested around the world including at the Nurburgring Nordschleife where it set levels of braking performance never before achieved by a Bentley. In objective tests, the ceramic brake has proven itself to be exceptionally fade resistant – after 10 consecutive applications from 80 mph (about 130 km/h), the stopping distance only increased by 1.1 metres, to just 61.1 metres.

Electronic All-Wheel Steering
A new Electronic All-Wheel Steering system enhances the dynamic nature of the car in each of the driving modes. This is even more apparent in SPORT mode, as the steering combines with Bentley Dynamic Ride and the electronic limited slip differential for a level of agility unlike any other Bentley road car, utilising up to 4° of steering lock on the rear wheels.

At low and medium speeds, the GT Speed’s rear wheels are steered in the opposite direction to the front wheels to aid a rapid change of direction, noticeably increasing the feeling of nimbleness. The steering feels sharper and with a quicker ratio, and a commensurate increase in steering feel provides even more driver confidence.

At high speeds, the rear wheels steer in the same direction as the front, to improve stability. The system is significantly more active on the GT Speed than it is on the Flying Spur, where its primary purpose is a reduction in turning circle and enhanced high-speed stability.

Electronic Limited-slip Differential
For the first time in a Bentley, the latest generation of the Continental GT Speed introduces the use of an electronic limited slip differential (eLSD). Specifically tuned hand-in-hand with the traction control and active chassis systems, the eLSD provides increased lateral capacity, improved longitudinal stability, enhanced on-throttle adjustability and delivers better traction in adverse road conditions.

In all modes, this provides improved traction, creating a greater level of confidence for the driver and makes the car feel more stable at high speeds. Improved cornering dynamics and the extra grip provided allows the driver to exit any corner with an increased level of precision and confidence. In turn, maximum performance can be extracted from the available traction for the strongest acceleration and composure from the apex. Torque distribution can vary across the powertrain according to the selected Drive Mode.

Advanced Electronic Stability Control
Finally, there is the advanced Electronic Stability Control (ESC) system which allows the driver to experience an even greater level of freedom before the GT Speed’s safety systems intervene to correct any anomalies. With the ESC system engaged, the car provides reassuring stability over uneven surfaces, abnormal cambers or in bad weather conditions. When switched to Dynamic mode, the ESC system allows an experienced driver to set and alter the cornering stance of the car at his discretion.

With the ESC switched off, the mechanical grip and inherent balance of the GT Speed comes to the fore, allowing a driver-focused experience previously only seen in Bentley’s racing machines. After utilising strong turn-in performance, thanks to the All-Wheel Steering and eLSD, the driver can choose to balance throttle and steering to deliver effortless, progressive yaw angles.

The Convertible (above), which made its debut last month, is the most driver-focused convertible of the Continental GT range and uses a revised version of renowned 6-litre W12 TSI engine which delivers 659 ps/900 Nm. It is fitted with a tailored, ‘Z-fold’ roof that can be deployed or stowed in just 19 seconds, transforming it from a luxurious coupe to an open-top Grand Tourer at the touch of a button.

FEATURE – The German engine that was born on a Japanese bullet-train

Most extreme roadcar-based Bentley to compete in Pikes Peak event on biofuel

Bentley is no stranger to the famous Pike Peak International Hill Climb event in the USA, have set records in previous years – the Production SUV record in 2018 with a Bentayga W12, and the outright Production Car record scored in 2019 with a Continental GT.

For this year’s event, to be run in late June, the carmaker will again compete in the ‘Race to the Clouds’ and the car it will enter will be the first competition Bentley to run on renewable fuel, ahead of a goal to offer sustainable fuels to Bentley’s customers around the world. It is related to a major new sustainability initiative with a renewable fuels research and development programme spearheaded by the most extreme roadcar-based Bentley in its 101-year history.

The modified Continental GT3 racer, based on Bentley’s race and championship-winning car, will power its way up the 19.99 km course running on a biofuel-based petrol. Various blends of fuels are currently being tested and evaluated, with possible Greenhouse Gas reductions of up to 85% over standard fossil fuel.

All-electric range by 2030
This first step marks the start of a longer programme that will investigate both biofuels and e-fuels for their potential to power the Bentleys of past and present in a sustainable way. Bentley’s ambitious and transformational Beyond100 programme aims to make the brand the world’s leading sustainable luxury mobility company, with the entire Bentley model range offered with hybrid variants by 2023 ahead of its entire range running only on electricity by 2030.

Combustion-engine Bentley models will still be produced for the next 9 years – and Bentley’s new project aims to make those cars as sustainable as possible through the use of innovative fuel technologies. With more than 80% of all the cars it has ever built still on the road, a genuinely sustainable and customer-facing renewable fuel offering will also allow customers to enjoy their current and classic Bentleys responsibly for years to come.

*At the 2018 Pikes Peak Hillclimb, Millen claimed the outright record for a production SUV with a Bentayga.*

“We are delighted to be returning to Pikes Peak for a third time – now powered by renewable fuel, as the launch project for another new element of our Beyond100 programme. Our powertrain engineers are already researching both biofuels and e-fuels for use by our customers alongside our electrification programme – with intermediate steps of adopting renewable fuels at the factory in Crewe and for our company fleet. In the meantime, the Continental GT3 Pikes Peak will show that renewable fuels can allow motorsport to continue in a responsible way, and hopefully it will capture the third and final record in our triple crown,” said Bentley’s Member of the Board for Engineering, Dr. Matthias Rabe.

Partnered by Fastr and M-Sport
The project is being run together with British Continental GT3 customer team Fastr, who have successfully campaigned their Bentley racing car in time attack competitions across the country. Technical teams from Bentley and Fastr are working together with specialists from M-Sport to extract the maximum possible performance from the Continental GT3 package.

156 corners at average speed of 125 km/h

To break the record, the car will have to complete the climb, which includes 156 corners, at an average speed of more than 125 km/h to cross the finish line in less than 9 minutes and 36 seconds. To help achieve this target will be 3-time Pikes Peak champion and former ‘King of the Mountain’ Rhys Millen who holds individual class records and who set Bentley’s two existing Pikes Peak records.

With the start line at 2,835 metres, the course climbs to almost 4,300 metres – where the air is 1/3 less dense than at sea level. The reduced air density will have implications on engine performance and the high speed the car must run at will also require a good aerodynamics package. It will have biggest rear wing ever fitted to a Bentley, sitting above a highly efficient rear diffuser that surrounds the transaxle gearbox. This rear aerodynamic package is balanced by a two-plane splitter at the front, flanked by separate dive planes.

2019 Bentley Continental GT Pikes Peak Edition — *The dashboard of the Limited Edition Pikes Peak Bentley Continental GT has a diagram of the mountain course with 156 corners.*

The engine is Bentley’s proven racing power unit, developed from the 4-litre turbo V8 fitted to the Continental GT V8. For the Continental GT3 Pikes Peak, engine modifications together with the use of carefully selected biofuel will ensure the engine develops significant horsepower despite the rarefied conditions it will operate in. Short side-exit exhausts will ensure the car sounds as dramatic as it looks.

Further modifications include cooling airscoops in place of the rear windows, and the obligatory stopwatch mounted to the roll cage next to the steering wheel to allow Millen to keep track of his progress up the mountain.

New Bentley Flying Spur V8 arrives in Malaysia, priced from RM839,000

At the uppermost end of the car market, ‘best’ is rather subjective and those who spend a million ringgit and more would consider that what they have purchased is ‘the best’. Nevertheless, each carmaker in that sector would present its car as being the best and Bentley declares its Flying Spur as ‘the best luxury sedan in the world’.

The Flying Spur is now available through the officially importers for Malaysia, Bentley Kuala Lumpur, and is available in both 4-seat or 5-seat configurations. The basic price starts from RM839,000 excluding taxes and registration, and a typical customer would obviously pay a higher price.

Driver-centric experience
While most Bentley customers in Malaysia are likely to be chauffeur-driven, the company’s research shows that an increasing number of its customers prefer to drive the car themselves. In fact, global research (including two customer clinics in America and China) indicated that over 40% of customers travel with rear seat passengers at least once a week.

For this reason, Bentley’s engineers focussed on offering a more driver-centric experience, with a class-leading portfolio of intelligent and intuitive equipment and technology tailored to the driver and also the passengers.

V8 that can become an I4
Under the bonnet is Bentley’s 4.0-litre, twin turbocharged V8 engine, an alternative choice to the iconic W12 unit. With turbocharging, it produces 550 ps/770 Nm with responsiveness and a top speed claimed to be 318 km/h.

When the driver is not blasting along at high speeds, the engine can save fuel by literally halving its displacement and running on 4 cylinders. It does this by shutting down one bank of cylinders under light-load conditions, when torque demand is below 235 Nm and the engine speed is below 3000 rpm.

The transition from V8 to what is essentially an inline four is imperceptible to the occupants and can be executed within 20 milliseconds (a tenth of the time it takes to blink). The result is savings of up to 16% in fuel consumption, allowing a longer range and less stops to refuel if driving very long distances.

Advanced chassis
The latest Flying Spur has powertrain and chassis advancements; Adaptive Air Suspension, Torque Vectoring by Brake, Drive Dynamics Control, and Electric Steering, all of which are standard features. The technically advanced, adaptive chassis can feature Bentley’s pioneering 48V electric active anti-roll control system (Bentley Dynamic Ride) and Electronic All-Wheel Steering are available as options.

Recognisable as a Bentley
The bold exterior design is new and modern but still recognisable as a Bentley. It has increased road presence and stronger, more muscular lines that sweep the full length of the car. Compared to the second generation, the latest one has a wheelbase that is 130 mm longer, benefitting interior space and comfort.

For the Flying Spur V8, there are seven Bentley paint finishes to choose from and for those who want even more exclusivity, there is an extended range of over 60 colours, including Mulliner and personal commission.

Cabin with fine materials and craftsmanship
The interior has comfortable, spacious seats available in 5 hide colours, with Bentley’s ‘Wing’ theme across the lower console and fascia. Sweeping horizontal veneer flows across the dashboard and into the doors, emphasising the spacious width of the cabin. Besides Crown Cut Walnut as standard, there are 7 other veneers to choose from, plus a High Gloss Carbonfibre technical finish.

The industry-first Bentley Rotating Display is also available on the new Flying Spur V8. When the engine start button is pressed, the veneer section in the middle of the dashboard rotates to reveal a 12.3-inch touchscreen, displaying three, customisable digital tiles. The second side of the display reveals three elegant analogue dials showing outside temperature, a compass and a chronometer. A complete digital detox can be selected on the third side, to simply enjoy the seamless wood veneer fascia continuing around the cabin.

Needless to say, the range of equipment is extensive and can be supplemented with options like Rear Seat Entertainment tablets, Naim for Bentley audio system and even the luxury of an onboard 2-bottle drinks cooler. A completely new design means that the cooler is packaged into a much smaller space than the previous generation of the Flying Spur, resulting in less intrusion into the 420-litre boot space.

Only electric power for Bentley vehicles by the end of this decade

2021 Bentley Continental GT Speed

Bentley Motors has revealed details of its new Continental GT Speed which will go on sale in mid-2021 and be the flagship of the Continental GT range. Presented as ‘the most dynamic road car in Bentley’s 101-year history and ultimate performance-focused interpretation of the world’s benchmark luxury Grand Tourer’, the new Continental GT builds on a long tradition of Speed variants, starting with the original in 2007. That first generation itself was inspired by the 3-Litre Speed models of the 1920s.

“The world’s most luxurious Grand Tourer is now truly more capable than ever before, with a new sportier edge which will appeal to performance-focused drivers,” declares Dr. Matthias Rabe, Member of the Board for Engineering at Bentley Motors. “The Speed is the latest chapter in the Continental GT story, helping Bentley customers to create their own extraordinary journeys.”

New chassis technology
The pinnacle performance Continental GT features advanced chassis technology that includes a new Electronic All-Wheel Steering system and an electronic limited slip differential (eLSD) for a level of agility said to be unlike any other Bentley road car. The system is significantly more active on the GT Speed than it is on the Flying Spur, where its primary purpose is a reduction in turning circle and enhanced high-speed stability.

For the Active All-Wheel drive system, the traction control and torque distribution has been recalibrated in all driver modes to provide a noticeable character shift relative to the standard Continental GT. Maintaining Bentley’s philosophy of the vehicle feeling progressive and secure, yet still be dynamic, this approach rewards drivers of all abilities. To achieve this philosophy in BENTLEY and COMFORT mode, overall grip is balanced between the front and rear wheels; in SPORT, this mode has been calibrated with a more rear-biased torque–split in all driving scenarios.

Improved cornering dynamics and the extra grip provided by the new systems allows the driver to exit any corner with an increased level of precision and confidence. In turn, the car is able to extract the maximum performance from the available traction for powerful acceleration with composure from the apex.

Working alongside these systems are the key chassis technologies that deliver body control and ride comfort with no compromise to one another – namely Bentley’s 3-chamber active air suspension with adaptive damping, and Bentley Dynamic Ride – the 48V active anti-roll control system that Bentley pioneered on the Bentayga and third-generation Continental GT.

Depending on the mode, the Electronic Stability Control (ESC) System allows the driver to experience an even greater level of freedom before the Speed’s safety systems intervene to correct any anomalies. When switched to Dynamic mode, the ESC extends the freedom of the driver, allowing an experienced pilot to set and alter the cornering stance of the car at their discretion.

ESC can also be switched off, allowing a driver-focused experience previously only seen in Bentley’s racing machines. After utilising strong turn-in performance on-track, thanks to the All-Wheel Steering and eLSD, the driver can choose to balance throttle and steering to deliver effortless, progressive yaw angles.

To complement the extra capability of the chassis, a newly-engineered Carbon Ceramic brake system has been introduced as an option on the GT Speed. The carbon ceramic material saves over 33 kgs of weight (all of it un-sprung mass) and produces extremely low levels of brake dust.

659 ps W12 TSI engine
The new GT Speed is equipped with an uprated version of Bentley’s 6-litre W12 TSI engine, delivering 659 ps – a 4% increase (24 ps) over the current W12 model – whilst maintaining a massive 900 Nm of torque. Factory testing shows a top speed capability of 335 km/h) and 0-100 km/h time of 3.6 seconds. The dual-clutch, 8-speed transmission shift is twice as fast in SPORT mode as in the standard W12 model.

During the journey, the Variable Displacement system can shut down half of the engine’s 12 cylinders under certain conditions, with the transitions between the two being imperceptible. Intake and exhaust valves, fuel injection and ignition are all shut down on defined cylinders, with the engine running as a 6-cylinder for improved fuel efficiency.

Unique and luxurious cabin
The 4-person cabin of the new Continental GT Speed showcases Bentley’s expertise in creating the world’s finest automotive interiors. Handcrafted materials blend with unique trim and badging that are only available in the Speed and can be further personalised if desired. Bentley’s Diamond in Diamond quilting is included as standard, and Speed embroidered headrests distinguish the cabin of the most potent Continental.

The interior can be further personalised with a choice of 15 main and 11 secondary hide colours, as well as the use of leather in lieu of Alcantara for the Speed colour split. The centre console can be finished in new dark tint engine turned aluminium, bringing a geometrically perfect machined surface and a beautifully patterned finish. GT.

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FEATURE – The German engine that was born on a Japanese bullet-train

The most common engine layout is the in-line arrangement with the cylinders next to each other in a row. Many people would also be familiar with the vee layout, and Subaru owners would know their engine has a horizontally-opposed arrangement of cylinders. But most motorists would not be familiar with the ‘W’ which is prominently featured in Bugatti and Bentley models.

The initial W engine was conceived in 1997 in an unlikely place far from Germany – a Shinkansen bullet-train running between Tokyo and Nagoya in Japan. Then-Volkswagen CEO, Ferdinand Piech, had been having a conversation with Karl-Heinz Neumann, then head of powertrain development at Volkswagen, and sketched out an idea on an envelope on the fold-out table behind each train seat.

*The sketch by Ferdinand Piech on the back of an envelope which gave birth to the W engine.*

The idea had been in his head for some time and was something like a modular concept. The 6-cylinder VR6 engine was in wide use by Volkswagen by the mid-1990s; its uniquely offset cylinder banks made it compact enough to fit transversely even in small cars like the Golf. By marrying two of the relatively narrow engines in a further vee, a compact 12-cylinder could be made. The offset cylinders of the merged VR6 engines formed a ‘W’.

But what also emerged during the train ride was even more emblematic of the person who drew it: a massive 18-cylinder engine comprising three VR6 engines, configured in a tilted double-W shape. Springing from the back-of-the-envelope sketch into the real world, the W18 was a naturally aspirated 555 bhp, 6.25-litre powerhouse.

Piech was spearheading a growth movement as CEO of Volkswagen AG in the 1990s. As part of that movement, he was seeking a high-end, luxury brand to bring into the fold. Enter Bugatti which Piech’s son had recently insisted his father purchase a model of a Bugatti Type 57SC Atlantic for him, so the company was on his mind… and it also happened to be for sale. “An amusing stroke of fate,” he would write later in his autobiography.

In 1998. Volkswagen acquired the French car company which had been founded 89 years earlier. Piech immediately set about his goal of restoring Bugatti’s standing as producer of elite, state-of-the-art cars, and the new W18 engine found just the right place to make its debut.

With the aid of automotive designer Giorgetto Giugiaro of Italdesign, the Bugatti EB 118 design prototype was developed within a few short months. With its W18 engine mounted up front, the EB 118 debuted at the 1998 Paris Motor Show. Other concepts followed and by 2000, Piech announced that Bugatti would be launching a car that would be ‘the most exciting, innovative, and unprecedented of all time’. It would have 1,000 metric horsepower, break 250 miles per hour (400 km/h), and accelerate from 0 – 100 km/h in less than 3 seconds.

*Bugatti Veyron showcased the production W engine to the world.*

The Veyron, as the supercar would be known, would need to go through some revisions and refinement on the way to becoming a production model. The most dramatic of these was to its engine; a 2001 concept model, the EB 16:4 Veyron, had a W16 engine—essentially, two V8s joined at a 90-degree angle. Thanks to the W16 cylinder banks being separated at a 15-degree angle, the engine was compact enough to allow for the use of 4 turbochargers (the ‘4’ in ‘16:4’). The stats for the production Veyron were as staggering as promised: 8 litres, quad-turbocharged W16 engine with 987 bhp and 1,250 Nm of torque, 0 – 100 km/h in less than 3 seconds, and a top speed of more than 400 km/h. Succeeding Veyron models would eclipse even those numbers.

*W12 engine in the Bentley Continental GT (above) and Audi A8 (below).*

Of course, the W18 and W16 engines weren’t the only Volkswagen efforts to bring W engines to the road. Back in 1997, as Piech was sketching out what would become the W18, he and Giugiaro were also talking about a concept that Piech hoped would become a Volkswagen supercar, featuring a W12 engine. The W12 Syncro debuted the W engine to the world at the 1997 Tokyo Motor Show, with a W12 Roadster appearing at the 1998 Geneva Motor Show.

The best known W12 concept, however, was the Nardo. Revealed in 2001, the W12 Nardo had a 6-speed manual transmission that sent the 591 bhp from the 6-litre W12 engine to the rear wheels. However, this Volkswagen supercar never materialized in production form although the W engines did appear in some models.

*2001 Volkswagen Nardo prototype with W12 engine.*

2002 Volkswagen W8 Passat — *The rare Volkswagen Passat with a W8 engine which was sold in the early 2000s.*

From 2001 to 2004, a W8 engine was available as an option in the Passat and this particular variant is rare today, sought after by enthusiasts. The W12 saw production in the Phaeton and Touareg, as well as the Audi A8 and in a new generation of Bentley models from 2003 onwards. Spyker also bought a batch of W engines for use in some of its sportscars.

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80,000 Bentley Continentals delivered in 18 years

The Continental model line has a special place in Bentley’s history, having begun in 1952 with the R-Type Continental. This was a Mulliner-bodied coupe with a top speed of just under 195 km/h. It was the fastest 4-seater car in the world during that period of the 1950s, and very quickly earned a reputation as the ultimate in high-speed luxury.

In 2003, the Continental GT was launched – the first car of the modern Bentley era. Inspired by the R-Type, the first Continental GT established an entirely new market segment – the modern luxury Grand Tourer. Ever since, an average of nearly 5,000 examples have been delivered to customers around the world each year.

This year, after 18 years, the Bentley factory in England produced the 80,000th Continental GT. It should be noted that every Continental GT has been customised, meaning there are 80,000 very individual examples of the car. The 80,000^th unit was a right-hand drive Continental GT V8 in Orange Flame and it was completed earlier this week.

“At its launch in 2003, Bentley redefined the modern grand tourer with the revolutionary Continental GT. Now in 2021, the GT continues to be the ultimate luxury grand tourer, encompassing the latest technology, performance and style. This success is a testament to the skills of our designers, engineers and craftspeople here in Crewe,” said Bentley’s Chairman & CEO, Adrian Hallmark.

Many of the skilled craftspeople will have worked on the very first example of the Continental GT (still owned by Bentley). Over this period, the style, technology and engineering beneath the car has evolved significantly, seeing an increase of up to 27% in peak power, whilst models within the range have also achieved a reduction over the original Continental GT of 48% in CO₂ emissions.

The platform beneath the car was upgraded to a Bentley design for the third generation, allowing a totally new stance, proportions and levels of dynamic ability that raised the bar again. Wrapped in a totally new bodywork design, with sharper lines and more flowing surfaces, the Continental GT remains a stylish and thoroughly contemporary grand tourer.

With a choice of powertrains, one of the most extensive colour palettes in the world and with almost limitless interior options, unique configurations can run into billions of variations. Bentley suggests that there are currently a total of 17 billion ways in which a customer can personalise his or her Continental GT.

Beyond that there are also the services of Bentley Mulliner – the company’s in-house bespoke division – which will make the requirements of each customer a reality. Apart from safety aspects, there are no limitations to what can be done for the customer.

To mark the production milestone, Bentley drew on its heritage fleet to show the evolution and achievements of the Continental GT since 2003. These included the very first production unit, still a taxed-and-tested car on Bentley’s fleet, a Continental Supersports coupe, considered by many to be the pinnacle of the first-generation GT family as well as second generation Continental GT V8 S coupe, finished in Jetstream.

*A Continental GT setting the Production Class record at the 2019 Pikes Peak International Hillclimb.*

The Continental GT has also supported Bentley’s long tradition of racing and record-breaking that started in the 1920s when the Bentley Boys set the pace at European circuits. Some recent achievements: the first Ice Speed Record GT, driven by 4-times World Rally Champion Juha Kankkunen; and the 2019 Pikes Peak GT, which still holds the Production Class record at the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb.

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