Bentley Speed Six, sebuah kereta yang terkenal dengan sejarah luar biasa dalam dunia automotif, membuat kemunculan semula selepas 93 tahun. Mulliner, bahagian khas Bentley untuk kereta buatan sendiri, sedang mencipta Speed Six pelanggan pertama dengan teliti dalam masa yang lama, yang merupakan detik besar untuk peminat dan pengumpul.
Projek ini adalah kerjasama khas antara pakar British dalam kejuruteraan dan pemulihan, bersama-sama dengan juruteknik mahir Mulliner. Mereka merancang untuk membuat dua belas kereta Speed Six baharu, semuanya dibina dengan bahan dan teknik yang sama yang digunakan dalam reka bentuk asal oleh W.O. Bentley.
Selepas kejayaan menghasilkan dua belas kereta Bentley 4½ Liter Supercharged ‘Blower’, Bentley memutuskan untuk mengekalkan tradisi dengan Siri Sambungan Speed Six. Kesemua dua belas kereta telah dijual, menunjukkan betapa ramai orang menantikannya. Pelanggan juga boleh memilih kemasan dan bahan khusus untuk kereta mereka, menjadikan setiap satu unik.
Proses membuat kereta Speed Six baharu ini sangat terperinci dan tepat. Mereka menggunakan alat dan kaedah lama seperti W.O. Bentley melakukannya. Syarikat seperti Portobello Engineering dan Lomax Coachbuilders sedang membuat casis dan badan dengan teliti, manakala Mulliner menyatukan segala-galanya dan menutup badan dalam fabrik yang sama yang digunakan dalam reka bentuk asal.
Setiap bahagian Speed Six, daripada lampu depan ke enjin, dibuat dengan teliti. Mereka juga mencipta semula reka bentuk enjin daripada kereta asal Speed Six, terima kasih kepada syarikat seperti Kingsbury Racing Shop Limited dan Tom Dark Engineering.
Kereta Speed Six baharu ini diilhamkan oleh dua kereta asal terkenal: Speed Six milik Bentley, GU409, dan ‘Old Number 3’, sebuah Speed Six yang berlumba dalam perlumbaan 24 Jam Le Mans 1930. Dengan menggunakan data daripada kereta ini, mereka memastikan yang baharu adalah setulen yang mungkin.
Speed Six mempunyai sejarah legenda dalam perlumbaan, terutamanya pada perlumbaan 24 Jam Le Mans. Reputasinya untuk kelajuan, prestasi dan gaya menjadikannya klasik abadi yang disukai oleh peminat kereta di seluruh dunia.
The iconic Bentley Speed Six, a legendary model that left an indelible mark on automotive history, is making a triumphant return after 93 years. Mulliner, Bentley’s prestigious in-house bespoke and coachbuilding division, is meticulously crafting the first customer Speed Six in decades, marking a historic moment for enthusiasts and collectors alike.
This extraordinary endeavour represents a harmonious collaboration between British engineering and restoration specialists, along with Mulliner’s team of master technicians. Twelve Continuation Series Speed Sixes are set to be meticulously built, adhering to period-correct materials and techniques to ensure absolute fidelity to W.O. Bentley’s original design.
Following the successful completion of twelve Bentley 4½ Litre Supercharged ‘Blower’ Continuation models, the Speed Six Continuation Series represents a continuation of Bentley’s commitment to preserving its rich heritage. All twelve models have already been pre-sold, reflecting the immense anticipation and demand among discerning collectors. Customers have the opportunity to specify their vehicles from a selection of period-correct finishes and materials, ensuring each Speed Six is a bespoke masterpiece.
The meticulous craftsmanship involved in creating the Speed Six Continuation Series is nothing short of extraordinary. Each vehicle is meticulously crafted using tools, materials, and techniques reminiscent of W.O. Bentley’s original vision. From the precision-engineered chassis to the hand-crafted bodywork, every aspect of the Speed Six pays homage to Bentley’s illustrious legacy.
The journey begins with Portobello Engineering in Matlock, meticulously crafting the chassis legs and crossmembers according to the original engineering drawings. Meanwhile, Lomax Coachbuilders in Ludlow meticulously handcrafts the ash frame for the Speed Six body using traditional coachbuilding tools and techniques. Once united with the chassis at Mulliner workshops, the body is clad in period-correct Rexine fabric to create the iconic Weymann-style open tourer bodywork.
The attention to detail extends to every component of the Speed Six, including the vintage-design headlamps crafted by Vintage Headlamp Restoration International Ltd and the classic car radiators expertly manufactured by The Vintage Car Radiator Company. Kingsbury Racing Shop Limited, in collaboration with Tom Dark Engineering, fabricates over 600 individual parts for the new 6½ Litre race specification engine, meticulously recreating the advanced design of the original Speed Six engine.
The Speed Six Continuation Series takes inspiration from two original Speed Sixes: the company’s own Speed Six, GU409, and ‘Old Number 3’, a works Speed Six driven in the 1930 Le Mans 24 Hour race. These iconic models provided invaluable data on dimensions, materials, and components, ensuring the utmost authenticity in the Continuation Series.
The Speed Six’s illustrious racing pedigree, including its historic victories at the Le Mans 24 Hour race, underscores its legendary status in Bentley’s rich heritage. With its unparalleled combination of speed, performance, and elegance, the Speed Six Continuation Series pays homage to a timeless icon that continues to captivate automotive enthusiasts worldwide.
When production of Bentley’s W12 engine ends in April 2024, over 105,000 units of the iconic 12-cylinder engines will have been made in a 21-year period. The decision to end production has been made as part of Bentley’s acceleration towards a sustainable future through its Beyond100 strategy. This will see the company’s entire model line fully electrified by the start of the next decade
Once production of the W12 ceases next year, Bentley’s entire model line will be available with the option of a hybrid powertrain. In fact, even now, the journey of electrification has already begun with the Bentayga Hybrid and Flying Spur Hybrid.
A 70-year old Bentley with the registration JAS 949 has been a special car among Bentley models. It was one of only 208 units of the R Type Continental ever built – but the car had a greater impact than the limited numbers suggest. Quoted as ‘a modern magic carpet which annihilates great distances’, the R-Type Continental was the fastest 4-seat luxury sedan in the world when it debuted in 1952.
The first owner of JAS 949 was a Dr. Rowland Guenin in Switzerland, who received his car in December 1953. It was ordered in Ivory with a Red interior and a manual gearbox, a specification it retains today along with the original 4.6-litre engine.
In 2001, Bentley acquired JAS 949 and made it one of the models in the company’s 43-car Heritage Collection kept at the Heritage Garage in Crewe, where Bentley has its factory. It has been well maintained with the patina preserved and the car is driven on the road on a regular basis.
Since the first Bathurst 12-Hour race in 1991, the overall winning cars have been from many different brands and among them, in the 2020 event, was the Continental GT3. That year, with Bentley’s biggest ever motorsport programme, the Continental GT demonstrated its breadth of ability on the road and on the track.
That memorable victory inspired Mulliner and Bentley Sydney to create a special edition in conjunction with the recent launch in Australia of the new Continental GT S. Focused on driving performance and visual presence, the Continental GT S shares a number of characteristics with its track-based counterpart, thereby providing the perfect foundation for the pair of specially-commissioned road cars.
Bentley has placed a new version of its Continental GT Mulliner at the very top of the range and this is the ultimate version. It is the most powerful, fastest, most dynamic and most luxurious Continental GT yet created by the carmaker.
The new GT Mulliner W12 takes the best of all worlds to become the ultimate Continental GT. It combines the performance and dynamism of the Speed, the comfort of the recently-announced Azure, and the flair of Mulliner handcraftsmanship.
The W12 TFSI engine, handcrafted at Bentley’s carbon neutral factory in England, delivers 659 ps/900 Nm to take the grand tourer to a claimed top speed of 335 km/h after passing 100 km/h in 3.5 seconds from take-off. The new engine is an uprated version of Bentley’s 6-litre W12 TSI engine with a 4% increase in power over the standard W12 model.
A combination of four chassis technologies give the new Mulliner model a level of agility, performance and ride quality that has been stretched to new levels. Bentley Dynamic Ride and three-chamber active air suspension with adaptive damping play a key role in the balance of the car. The optional and newly-developed Carbon Ceramic Brakes, Variable Electronic Stability Control, All Wheel Steering, and an Electronic Limited Slip Differential bolster the agility and performance even further.
Combining the new systems delivers Bentley’s philosophy that a vehicle should feel progressive and secure, yet still be dynamic. To achieve this philosophy in BENTLEY and COMFORT mode, overall grip is balanced between the front and rear wheels while, in SPORT, this mode has been calibrated with a more rear-biased torque–split in all driving scenarios.
Bentley’s 3-chamber active air suspension with adaptive damping, and Bentley Dynamic Ride provide control and comfort. The 48V active anti-roll control system was originally pioneered on the Bentayga and third-generation Continental GT, and is now tuned even further with the knowledge and learning since the systems introduction.
This innovative system features powerful electric motors within each anti-roll bar to resist body roll. In their firmest setting, the motors can deliver 1,300 Nm in 0.3 seconds to counteract cornering forces and keep the body level.
The Electronic All-Wheel Steering enhances the dynamic nature of the Continental GT Mulliner W12 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.
The eLSD allows true active torque vectoring across the rear axle, which is then fine-tuned with torque-vectoring by brake systems. Together, these technologies improve turn-in and provide exception traction on corner exit – and, of course, allow the keen driver to induce slip angles and to balance the car on the throttle.
The cabin is one defined by luxury and showcases a level of choice and customisation that Mulliner is well known for. A unique colour split is exclusive to the car, with a new combination of primary and secondary hide joined by a third colour through a flowing design line. Eight different 3-colour combinations are proposed by Mulliner, using Bentley’s palette of hides and threads to create striking yet elegant contrast throughout the cabin.
“Diamond in Diamond” quilting to the seats, door trims and rear quarter panels is made up of almost 400,000 stitches with each diamond containing exactly 712 individual stitches. Naturally these are available in a spectrum of coloured threads, too.
For the driver, the brushed-metal finish of the Breitling clock is carried through from the physical world to the digital, with a unique design to the main gauges of the LED main instruments cluster where careful skeuomorphic design and the application of digital textures makes the virtual dials look like real metal.
The GT family now spans a range of models each with a different emphasis, to make customer choice easier. The Azure range is for those prioritising wellbeing and on-board comfort, while those customers wishing to concentrate on driving pleasure can specify the new V8-powered GT S. Going one step further, the W12-powered Speed is the pure driver’s car. And above all these sits the Mulliner.
The wheels for the first cars were made of wood, carrying over from the wheels of horse carriages. Eventually, metal was used, which provided much durability and complemented the auto industry’s manufacturing processes. Steel wheels were commonplace for many decades but as the need to reduce weight became more important, lightening the wheels led the industry to use aluminium alloy.
As the 1970s began, Michelin introduced in innovation for wheels – carbonfibre construction. The initial application was for a rallycar but before long, they were more widely available but still rare as they cost a great deal of money. It was only in 2013 that Koenigsegg offered monolithic carbonfibre wheels on its cars, with a set said to cost around US$40,000.
Why use carbonfibre?
One of the main advantages of using a composite material like carbonfibre is that it is lighter than steel or aluminium. The nature of the material also means it generates less noise and vibrations, making for a nicer, quieter ride. This makes such wheels desirable for luxury cars but their cost remains high.
After years of development with one of the world’s leading composite suppliers, Bentley now has a new carbonfibre wheel developed specifically for the Bentayga. The 22-inch wheel, engineered with Bucci Composites of Italy, is to be the largest carbonfibre wheel in production in the world. It offers a vast range of benefits beyond the initial 6-kg improvement in unsprung mass per wheel.
Meeting tough TUV standards
The new wheel has been subjected to the exceptionally rigorous TUV standards and is the first carbonfibre wheel ever produced to pass all tests. The newly developed rim has undergone the most rigorous testing for non-metallic wheels according to the new TUV standards including biaxial stress testing, radial and lateral impact testing for simulating potholes and cobblestones, tyre overpressure, and excessive torque tests exceeding the permitted limits.
One of the most severe tests of the TUV requirements – the impact test – has shown how the carbonfibre rim is extremely safe in addition to the performance benefits. After a severe impact which would crack or shatter an aluminium wheel, the carbonfibre rim allows a slow tyre deflation, thanks to the intelligent layering of fibre weaves, allowing the vehicle to come to a controlled, safe stop. This would be of great value to a vehicle like the Bentayga which has off-road capabilities.
The new wheel has also been subjected to extremely high speeds. Engineers ran numerous tests around the Nurburgring Nordschleife before final sign-off to go into production.
The technological benefits
Carbonfibre not only provides a significant weight saving, but also offers the additional benefits of increased strength and stiffness. This leads to increased safety – when the rim receives a high impact, the weave pulls apart leaving openings to allow gradual air loss rather than instant deflation like an aluminium rim.
There’s also increased steering agility, thanks to the weight saving and the high stiffness afforded by the properties of carbonfibre which create a more stable and consistent steering platform. In comparison, a forged aluminium rim can lose up to a degree of camber due to wheel flex, reducing grip and agility.
The driver will also have improved and more responsive braking due to the decrease in unsprung mass. Reduced tyre wear is also a long-term benefit as the stiffer carbonfibre rim does not suffer from the same amount of bending. It therefore allows for greater tyre stability and a more consistent contact patch on a larger tyre support surface.
The production processes
One of the main innovations lies in the rim manufacturing process, which involves the application of innovative concepts (covered by patents) combined with the use of high-pressure RTM (Resin Transfer Moulding). The materials and production parameters have been carefully studied to ensure the repeatability of the product without affecting its quality.
The process involves the cutting of carbonfibre cloth into prescribed shapes. The weave segments are then stacked, heated and draped into a mould to create three-dimensional preforms. The preforms are collated and arranged into a larger mould before resin and hardener is injected throughout. After curing time at temperature, the component assembly is removed from the mould, and the final surfaces are machined to the correct finish, before polishing.
Joining Mulliner products in late 2021
The new carbonfibre wheel for the Bentayga will be join Bentley’s existing carbonfibre products, which include the highly sought-after Styling Specification that adds a carbonfibre front splitter, sill extensions and rear diffuser, and the option of high gloss carbonfibre veneer to the interior.
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Bentley’s first SUV, the Bentayga, arrived in the market in late 2015 and since then, it has become the brand bestselling model. Now the range gets an additional variant in the form of the new Bentayga Speed which takes its place as the flagship. It combines the W12 powertrain and many of the models’ luxurious features as standard, including the Mulliner Driving Specification.
Building on a long tradition of Speed models that began with the Continental GT in 2007, the new Bentayga Speed maintains the performance credentials proved by its predecessor, which claimed the production SUV record at the gruelling Pikes Peak International Hill Climb in 2018.
The new Bentayga Speed builds on the completely refreshed design of the latest version of the SUV, adopting the same Bentley design DNA now prevalent across the entire model range. Introducing the very latest onboard technology and an even more cosseting cabin, the new model is significantly revised both inside and out.
“The new Bentayga has already raised the benchmark for luxury SUVs, against which all others are measured. Ahead of the launch of the new Bentayga Hybrid in the coming months, it’s important that we still recognise the customer desire for absolute performance. The new Bentayga Speed remains the fastest SUV in the world but, more than that, it’s also the most luxurious version of the new Bentayga – the best of both worlds, the pinnacle,” declared Bentley’s Chairman & CEO, Adrian Hallmark.
Performance and agility
The Bentayga Speed elevates already high performance levels, exploiting the 6-litre W12 twin-turbocharged engine that delivers peak power of 635 ps/900 Nm. The maximum speed is raised to 306 km/h, while the 0 – 100 km/h sprint can be completed in a claimed 3.9 seconds.
Efficiency is also an important aspect of such a powerful engine, which takes the skilled engine builders approximately 10% of the total hours required for the manufacture of the Bentayga Speed. To achieve effective cylinder deactivation with the complex layout of the W12, the engine control unit deactivates one complete bank of 6 cylinders as required.
Switching between A and B Bank using information from the inlet and exhaust sensors, minimises cylinder and catalytic convertor cool down and avoids spikes in exhaust emissions. This not only benefits carbon dioxide emissions but realises significant economy gains under part-throttle cruising conditions.
In 5th to 8th gears, when the driver releases the throttle (at motorway cruising speed, for example) the car will open the torque converter, dropping the engine to idle and simply allowing the car to roll or ‘sail’. When the throttle is re-applied, or the car starts going downhill and detects an increase in speed, the transmission is re-engaged.
To use this power appropriately, the Bentayga Speed is equipped with four on-road Drive Dynamics modes: Comfort at one extreme; Sport at the other and with Bentley mode – the balanced recommendation of Bentley’s chassis team in Crewe – along with a Custom mode for customers who opt to create their own driving set-up.
Uniquely for 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.
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 to deliver superior cabin stability, ride comfort and exceptional handling. Recalibration of Bentley’s Torque Vectoring by Brake system – whereby the car lightly brakes the inside rear wheel at corner entry to sharpen the front axle turn-in – has made Bentayga Speed even more responsive to drive.
The 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 savings of more than 20 kgs over iron brakes.
Purposeful looks
To match the elevated levels of performance, the Bentayga Speed sports a purposeful exterior look. Dark-tint headlights, body-coloured sideskirts, unique front and rear bumpers together with dark-tint radiator and bumpers grilles, and a striking, elongated tailgate spoiler characterise the performance credentials.
A unique 22-inch wheel design is available in two finishes (painted and dark tint) and Speed signature badging to add to the sporting design cues. At the rear, the exhaust finishers are now the oval design that signifies a W12 powertrain.
17 standard paint colours are supplemented by a further 47 hues in the Extended and Mulliner ranges, with an additional 24 duo-tone options. That’s 88 options but if a customer cannot find exactly what he or she wants, the paintwork colour can be matched to any sample provided. The range is complemented by a palette of 15 hide colours, 6 colour splits and 8 veneers and 2 technical finishes.
Balance of luxury and performance inside
Inside, the Bentayga Speed introduces 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 of 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 the Speed, with each of the stitch lines running through the quilting being split.
Sector-leading infotainment
Setting new standards in the sector for customer technology interfaces, the Bentayga flagship introduces a new, cutting-edge infotainment system. A bigger and brighter, high-resolution 10.9-inch touchscreen, with an anti-reflection and anti-glare coating and much improved touch functionality, now spans the entire width of the centre fascia.
The advanced navigation system features free-text, context-specific search entry, including an address or point of interest. Navigation is improved with a 3-dimensional building display, satellite maps, content in the driver’s next generation Head-Up Display and several other useful features. The Head-Up Display can now project traffic information, street names and distance to destination too.
The fully digital driver’s information panel is similar to the one found in the Continental GT and new Flying Spur. The display brings a contemporary look to the cockpit, can be customised to the driver’s requirements and features real-time lighting effects with elegant animations. The high-resolution screen can be viewed in either Classic (traditional two-dial design of speedometer and tachometer) or Expanded format that has the right dial replaced with an area for maps and media information.
Mulliner, Bentley’s bespoke commissioning division that is synonymous with exclusivity of the highest order, has come out with the new Continental GT Mulliner Convertible. Said to ‘redefine the pinnacle of roof-down automotive luxury’, the model is available with Bentley’s V8 (4 litres) and W12 (6 litres) powertrains.
With the twin-turbocharged W12, the Continental GT Mulliner Convertible is claimed to be able to go from 0-100 km/h in 3.8 seconds, 3/10ths of a second quicker than the V8-powered version. Top speed is stated as 333 km/h for the V12 while the V8 can still cross 300 km/h (318 km/h).
On each corner of the car are all-new 22-inch 10-spoke painted and polished wheels with floating, self-levelling wheel badges that remain upright as the wheel rotates.
Taking pride of position between the cut-crystal inspired, precision-made headlamps, Bentley Mulliner introduces a bold new Double Diamond front grille which is further complemented by bespoke Mulliner branded side vents that continue the unique silver on black diamond theme.
Customers can choose from the extended Bentley Mulliner range of 61 exterior colours. or specify a personal shade which Bentley’s artisan paint specialists will colour-match to any item or sample.
The new Double Diamond design has been inspired by Bentley’s exclusive Diamond-in-Diamond interior quilting design concept, which adorns all four seats, the door casings, rear quarters and now, for the first time, furnishes the tonneau cover.
The Diamond-in-Diamond interior quilting itself has been tailored to include contrast stitching in two complementary colours to accentuate the thread against the quilting. It takes almost 400,000 stitches to deliver this quilting across the cabin of the car, with each diamond containing exactly 712 individual stitches – each one precisely aligned to point to the centre of the diamond it creates. Developing the embroidery process to deliver this process alone took 18 months.
Bentley Mulliner has combined traditional and modern coachbuilding techniques to introduce new contemporary and bespoke features. A contrast diamond milled technical finish has been applied to the centre console, which is finished with a new and exclusive brushed silver Breitling timepiece set within a quartet of chrome bullseyes to provide stunning interior jewellery.
For entertainment, the top of the range Naim for Bentley audio system is available. The state-of-the-art system features 18 speakers and 2 Active Bass transducers driven by a 2,200-watt, 20-channel amplifier and 8 DSP sound modes with Active Bass.
