BENTLEY SPOTTING

It's the Rolls-Royce of Bentley websites.

Thursday, February 26, 2009

Bentley Continental Supersports

The details of the new Project Victoria are now released.

The car is the new Bentley Continental Supersports.



From the Press Release:

The fastest most powerful Bentley in the company’s 90-year history

* 6-litre W12 engine twin-turbocharged engine now produces 630PS (621 bhp/463 kW) at 6000 rev/min and 800 Nm (590 lb ft) of torque at 1700 – 5600 rev/min
* 0 – 60 mph in 3.7 seconds (0-100 km/h in 3.9 seconds)
* 0 -100 mph (0-160 km/h) in 8.9 seconds
* 50 – 70 mph in 2.1 seconds
* 80 – 120 km/h in 2.6 seconds
* Top speed of 204 mph (329 km/h)



Continental Supersports reaffirms Bentley’s environmental commitment by pioneering the use of biofuel in the luxury sector

* Capable of running on petrol and E85 biofuel or any combination of the two
* Power and torque remain constant whatever the ratio of petrol to E85 biofuel
* A Fuel Quality Sensor detects the blending ratio of the fuel in real time sending a signal to the engine control unit (ECU), initiating the correct engine mapping. This ensures all performance parameters remain balanced and consistent.
* Offers a reduction in CO2 emissions of up to 70% (well-to-wheel), a measure of a fuel’s net contribution to the atmosphere, not just tailpipe emissions



Continental Supersports is the extreme Bentley, delivering a highly focused driving experience

* Revised ZF 6HP26 transmission with ‘Quickshift’ system that cuts shift times by 50% and enables double downshifts
* New 40/60 rear-biased torque split for the all-wheel drive system reduces understeer when powering out of bends and provides for better modulation of line and attitude by ‘throttle steering’
* Uprated front suspension with aluminium forward levers, stiffer bushes together with retuned anti roll bar and Servotronic steering for sharper turn-in
* Revised Continuous Damping Control (CDC) for improved body control
* Unique lightweight, 20-inch, 10-spoke alloy wheels offer 10 kg (22 lb) weight saving per car, reducing unsprung and rotating mass and improving brake cooling. Increased 25 mm (I inch) offset on rear wheels improves grip and stability
* 275/35 ZR20 Pirelli Ultra High Performance tyres
* Advanced ESP system fully exploits potential of the most powerful W12 engine and improved chassis
* Standard-fit carbon-ceramic brakes – the largest and most powerful brakes ever fitted to a production car - contribute 20 kg (44 lb) weight saving
* 110 kg (243 lb) weight saving compared to Continental GT Speed




Continental Supersports combines the looks of the iconic GT with a distinctive style that reflects its supercar character



* Form follows function: distinctive centre air intake and vertical grilles feed larger volume of air (+ 10%) to turbocharger intercoolers while bonnet vents extract hot air from engine bay



* Subtly curved rear wheel arches with newly tooled side panels accommodate increased rear track of the uprated chassis and provide muscular stance
* Distinctive ‘smoked steel finish’ to all exterior ‘brightware’, including the first automotive application of ‘Physical Vapour Deposition’ to stainless steel
* Larger, twin elliptical exhaust tailpipes and rear valance with discreet vertical divider
* 2 new pearlescent and 2 new matt finish colours
* Unique driver-focused, two-seater cabin with lightweight sports seats, giving a 45 kg (99 lb) weight saving



* Rear seats replaced by stowage deck with carbon fibre luggage retaining beam



* AlcantaraTM, carbon fibre and ‘Soft Touch’ leather’ provide a very different interpretation of Bentley craftsmanship with choice of Single Tone and Duo Tone combinations

And were does the 'Supersports' name come from?



This one.



Source (Bentley Media)

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Saturday, February 21, 2009

The New Rolls Royce

Let us simply take a close up look at the new Rolls Royce.



The name is yet to be announced.



But with precedence the name should follow the Rolls Royce convention.



The precedence of naming this car is as follows:
Silver Ghost
Silver Wraith
Silver Dawn
Silver Cloud
Silver Shadow
Silver Spirit
Silver Seraph



So the name of Rolls Royce 200EX should be the Rolls Royce Silver 'Something Quite and a touch Mystical'. Start the guessing game.



Now to the body shape longevity. It has a lot to live up to.



Again let us look at precedence:
Silver Shadow ~ 30 years
Silver Spirit ~ 20 years
Silver Seraph ~ 12 years



So according to the imaginary graph the new body shape should last for 5-6 years. Somehow I think that is a little short.

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Rolls Royce 200EX

Having a bow peep at experimental cars is always a little exciting. RR4 was pre-empted to be number EX102, but it seems Rolls Royce have jumped a few numbers in their experimental car numbering.

Take a look at the first time EX200 was written about in January 2008 here.

Then from a spy shot, I drew what the car was expected to look like here.



Now that the car has been revelled, the guess was pretty bloody close!



It is not that often you get to see the Spirit of Ecstasy dancing around. I think the model does resemble Eleanor Thornton.

Let's take a look.



To find out more about the new Rolls Royce 200EX, previously referred to as the RR4, Rolls Royce have made a microsite.

http://www.rolls-roycemotorcars.com/200EX/

It is a wait a see game for the new name of the car.

Traditionally this size of car should be called the Rolls Royce Silver 'something silent'.

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Sunday, February 08, 2009

Beim Winterraid in a Bentley Donington

Beim Winterraid 2009 in St. Moriz Schweiz

Der WinterRAID - der Mythos

In der Ferne die Alpen, die Dolomiten.
Immer näher, steil hinauf ins Weiss des Schnees.
Blau der Himmel, leuchtend die Sonne.
Spüren – das ist Fahren der anderen Art.
Aber auch das: Grau in grau, stiebender Schnee, blankes Eis,
die Strasse, die Kurven nur zu erahnen.
Herausforderung! Beweisen: Alles ist möglich!
Abends dann, unter Gleichgesinnten im komfortablen Hotel.
Das Essen, die Wärme, die Gespräche geniessen.
Die Gewissheit, nicht Alltägliches erlebt zu haben.

My German is rubbish, so using google to translate comes up with this:

The WinterRAID - the myth

In the distance, the Alps, the Dolomites.
More and more, steep climb into the white snow.
Blue of the sky, the sun is shining.
Feel - that is driving the other Art
But also: gray in gray, stiebender snow, bare ice,
the road, the curves only be guessed.
Challenge! Prove: Everything is possible!
Then the evening, among peers in a comfortable hotel.
The food, the warmth, enjoying the conversations.
The certainty, not to have experienced everyday.


It certainly sounds fun!

Herbert Rey came in third in his 1951 Bentley Donington Special.



It is always great to see a Bentley Special out working the circuits, no matter how hard they are!

Thank you Herbert for letting us know! It looks like you are having a great time.

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New Mansory Kit

Body kits can generally be really bad, ok, or really good. It kind of depends on how you feel.

This front bumper bar is a new one from Mansory of Germany.

The fantastic wheels have been around for a while, and hopefully will stay available, as they are something else!



Mansory are probably the leading turners of modern Bentley cars.

I wonder how long it will take for the bumper bar of Project Victoria - The Extreme Bentley to be re-manufactured by the after market.

Thanks to Gerald who took the photo outside Mall of the Emirates in Dubai this week.

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Saturday, February 07, 2009

Tasmanian Ute Mate

Take a look at this Aussie invention.

Yep the ute, or Coupé utility vehicle was invented in Victoria, Australia. The story goes that a farmers wife wanted a car that was nice enough to go the church in, but a practical load carrier on the farm. And the combination car truck was born.



Ute's are quite culturally significant to Australians, and past times are based around this body shape, including their own racing series, beaut ute compititions and even ute musters.

There is even a Bentley S1 ute in the National Motor Museum of Australia. Check out the previous post here.

Ticked away in a shed in Tasmania is this Bentley Mk VI ute, stored below some cheeky pigeons.



I like that the interior is well protected by snail bate from an ice cream container. Good thinking mate.



I love it. It is actually quite similar to a South African Bentley Mk VI ute here.

Thanks Steve for sending in the photos.

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