Tag Archives: Bentley

First Drive

Bentley Bentayga S Hybrid 2023 UK review

Car manufacturers like Bentley face the challenge of deciding how and when to commit to the electrification of their cars. With premium brands releasing new plug-in hybrid SUVs with impressive electric ranges, Bentley cannot afford to ignore the growing market. Although buyers of the new Bentley Bentayga S Hybrid may not be concerned about benefit-in-kind tax bills, they will start to question why their Bentayga can only manage 30 miles between charges while their colleagues’ Range Rover can do 70 miles. As a result, Bentley has revisited its big SUV and made some improvements to the hybrid model.

The Bentley Bentayga Hybrid was introduced in 2019 as the brand’s first electrified car. Following the success of the Flying Spur Hybrid, Bentley has now expanded the Bentayga Hybrid model line to include the comfort-oriented ‘Azure’ and sporty ‘S’ derivatives. However, one disappointment is that Bentley did not replace the 3.0-litre V6 petrol engine with the more powerful 2.9-litre twin-turbocharged engine found in the Flying Spur Hybrid. Despite this, the Bentayga S Hybrid offers slightly more power and torque than its predecessor, along with a longer electric range. It also features a sporty exhaust and a sound generating resonator to compensate for the less audible combustion engine. On the outside, the car boasts sporty seats, bumpers, and carbon fibre body trim options. However, the driving experience falls short of transformational.

Motorsport

Bentley Used Biofuel In Its Cars At Goodwood, No Engine Mods Required

Bentley has recently joined the ranks of companies exploring sustainable fuel alternatives. At this year’s Goodwood Festival of Speed, the luxury automaker showcased six vehicles that successfully completed 32 hill climb runs using biofuel.

No modifications were necessary for Bentley’s vehicles to run on biofuel, as it can directly replace regular gasoline. This includes the 1920 EXP2, the oldest surviving model in the company’s lineup.


Motorsport

McLaren Prioritizes Profitability Before Launching SUV

While many brands in the performance/luxury/exotic car segment have already introduced SUV models to their lineups, McLaren is still one of the few marques that hasn’t ventured into this market yet. Despite rumors circulating about McLaren’s first SUV, the company has other plans that it considers more crucial before diving into the SUV segment.

McLaren’s CEO, Michael Leiters, recently attended the Goodwood Festival of Speed, where he discussed the automaker’s short- and mid-term plans with Autocar. Leiters emphasized that two goals take precedence over launching an SUV: reorganization and recapitalization. McLaren aims to regain profitability and set itself back on the right path.


Motorsport

First Bentley Speed Six Continuation Series Debuts At Goodwood FoS

Bentley brings back the legendary Speed Six model with the introduction of the Speed Six Continuation Series at the Goodwood Festival of Speed. This model holds great significance in the brand’s history, as it secured victories at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1929 and 1930. Mulliner, Bentley’s in-house coachbuilder, will produce a limited run of 12 Speed Six Continuation cars, all of which are already sold to enthusiastic buyers.

The heart of the Speed Six is a 6.5-liter inline-six engine. Through rigorous dyno testing, the powerplant has been measured to produce an impressive 205 horsepower. This output is within a mere 5 horsepower of the original competition-spec engines used in the 1930s.


News

Rolls-Royce, Bentley, Aston Martin bypass dealers in bespoke push

Bentley Mulliner designer Hugo R Chizlett recalls a unique customer request where the design manager traveled to Texas and was given a lump of sandstone. The customer desired a car that matched the color of their house, and Bentley’s bespoke Mulliner service was happy to accommodate. Chizlett humorously mentions that the design manager had to pay extra due to overweight luggage.

There is significant profit to be made from customizations, leading ultra-luxury brands like Bentley, Rolls-Royce, Aston Martin, and Mercedes-Benz’s Maybach unit to go the extra mile. They are now sending members of their design teams directly to customers during the car purchase process, creating opportunities to sell highly profitable personalized options.

To facilitate this approach, brands like Rolls-Royce, Maybach, and Aston Martin are even establishing their own luxurious spaces in close proximity to their customers’ locations, which maintain a direct connection to the brand headquarters.

It’s important to note that this model isn’t a direct-selling, agency-type format.

Motorsport

Bentley Celebrating W12 Models At Goodwood Festival Of Speed

Bentley will be showcasing their W12 engine at this year’s Goodwood Festival of Speed before it is retired. Additionally, their Mulliner division will debut the Speed Six Continuation Series, a revival of the classic Le Mans winner. The festival will commence on July 13.

A parade of 12 W12 Bentleys will participate in the Goodwood hill climb, featuring the Batur, the new Continental GT Le Mans Collection, and a Mulliner-customized Continental GTC Speed.

Notably, seven of these vehicles will be from Bentley’s Heritage Collection of special models.

Gallery: Bentley At 2023 Goodwood Festival Of Speed


Motorsport

Bentley Batur Completes Development, Gears Up For Production Start

The Bentley Batur, which made its debut in August 2022, has finished its on-road development phase. The British luxury brand can now begin production of 18 models for its customers.

Prior to the production phase, Bentley conducted extensive testing with two pre-production Baturs. These vehicles underwent real-world testing, covering a total of 18,641 miles, and were evaluated for a combined period of 58 weeks. Car Zero, one of the pre-production models, featured a lively Purple Sector body with a Gloss Dark Titanium grille adorned with Black Crystal elements. As for Car Zero-Zero, it sported a Marina Teal body and was specifically utilized for development in Europe and high-speed driving on closed circuits.


Featured

Why Bentley Mulliner Created The New de Havilland Collection

Bentley has a long history of producing luxurious performance cars. Recently, the brand celebrated the grand opening of its new showroom, Bentley Hatfield, in the United Kingdom. The showroom is operated by H.R. Owen and is located on the site of the former de Havilland factory, which manufactured British aircraft. This brings together two iconic names with a shared history.

Many de Havilland aircraft were powered by Merlin engines manufactured at Bentley’s Crewe facility. To commemorate the opening of the new facility at the former de Havilland factory, Bentley collaborated with its Mulliner bespoke division to create a special collection of cars called the de Havilland Collection. This collection includes the Continental GT S and GTC S, the Flying Spur S, and the Bentayga S. These cars draw inspiration from historic de Havilland aircraft, such as the Comet Racer.

The cars in the de Havilland Collection feature Tornado Red accents, reminiscent of the Comet Racer’s red paint, which it wore when it won the 1934 England-Australia air race. The interior of the cars also pays tribute to de Havilland, with a split configuration featuring Hotspur and Beluga leather, Mulliner White piping, a chrome pinstripe, and de Havilland commemorative details. This collection is not only a celebration of the new Bentley showroom, but also the reunion of two iconic British names in engineering and transportation.

For those interested in purchasing a Bentley, there are many options available. Visit the link below to view all the Bentleys for sale:

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Bentley Hatfield - 1

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