Latest news with #ContinentalGTSpeed
News.com.au
5 days ago
- Automotive
- News.com.au
What makes the Goodwood Festival of Speed so special
Ever-stricter speed limits, emissions controls, noise requirements and rising prices make life hard for those who live behind the wheel. Thankfully, there are a few sanctuaries where speed is celebrated, roaring engines are met with enthusiasm and incredible rare cars are everywhere. The best of them might be the Goodwood Festival of Speed. Set against the grand backdrop of the Goodwood House in West Sussex, England, it draws more than 200,000 people to celebrate the full spectrum of motoring. From vintage race cars to legendary F1 machines, road cars and outlandish concepts, Goodwood has it all. As soon as you step through the iconic gates of Goodwood, you're immediately immersed in a breathtaking display of automotive evolution. Leading car manufacturers from around the world showcase cherished historic models alongside modern metal and revolutionary conceptsthat will shape the roads of tomorrow. I stood in awe, absorbing the atmosphere and watching historic cars conquer the iconic hill climb, and thought the event couldn't get any better. However, one moment sealed it in my memory forever. I strapped into the passenger seat of a Bentley Continental GT Speed for a ride up the hill. Bentley's GT Speed launches from 0 to 100 km/h in just 3.1 seconds, and being in the thick of it was nothing short of heart-pounding. We hit over 180 km/h through corners, tyres screeching as the road tightened and twisted beneath us on the charge uphill. It was an unforgettable experience, one countless people dream of having. For me, it stands out as a truly prominent moment I will forever cherish. But it was the slow parade back down the hill that captured my perception and revealed what makes this event truly special. As we crawled back towards the tent where the Bentley would be placed back on display, crowds lined the return route, and people began stepping closer. If you want a perfect example of just how far #F1 has come in its 75-year history, then look no further than this dual run up the #FOS Hill featuring the 1954 title-winning #Mercedes W196 and the 2022 race-winning Mercedes W13. There's many differences between these two, but both… — Goodwood FOS (@fosgoodwood) July 12, 2025 Phones came out, kids pointed, and some even leaned in for a better look, almost close enough to touch it. No barriers, no aggressively attentive marshals telling people off — just genuine excitement. This is what makes it so unique. With unrestricted access, you are free to wander through rows of priceless machinery, talk to drivers and engineers, and soak in the atmosphere. It's a weekend for anyone and everyone. Whether that's claiming a long-sought-after autograph, turning your gaze skywards for an incredible aerial display, or staring in bewildered awe at a multimillion-dollar car as it muscles its way up the Goodwood hill. The sound is also truly unforgettable. You hear everything from the thunderous growl of classic V8 muscle cars to the high-pitched shriek of modern F1 engines to the crowd's cheer of approval. There's even the whizz of hyper-electric performance cars that may not sound as appealing, though their looks more than make up for it. The event also has a rally stage, an off-road area, a supercar corral, a concours, an auction, and an exhibition for vendors. The enthusiasts who attend the event in their wide variety of classic cars, sports cars, and supercars make the parking lot one of the best car shows you'll ever see. Goodwood is brilliant. If it isn't on your bucket list, I'd highly recommend adding it. Whether you're a lifelong racing nut or just someone who appreciates a beautifully engineered machine, Goodwood has a way of pulling you in. Even if you don't know your GT40 from your GR Yaris, it's hard not to get swept up in the atmosphere.
Miami Herald
05-07-2025
- Automotive
- Miami Herald
A Bentley Pick-Up Truck Is More Likely That You'd Imagine
A few years ago, if you wanted a comfortable and quick daily-driver truck, your choices were pretty limited. Maybe a Ram TRX or a Ford F-150 Raptor if you wanted power with some plushness. But what if you had a nearly unlimited budget, wanted uncompromising luxury, and still needed a bed big enough to haul more than golf bags? Believe it or not, Bentley's in-house coachbuilder, Mulliner, could be your answer. On its website, Bentley says, "With Mulliner, the possibilities are endless." Mulliner was the very first coachbuilder and has been reimagining Bentleys since 1923. Most of the time, Mulliner builds involve custom paint colors, personalized interiors, and bespoke details. One of their most recent projects, the Bentley Mulliner Batur, shares the majority of its mechanical parts with the Continental GT Speed, but is built from the ground up to meet its client's request. Only 18 examples will be built, and cost $1.2 million a pop. In a recent interview with Australia's CarSales, Bentley sales and marketing executive, Christophe Georges, confirmed that a Bentley pickup isn't beyond the realm of possibility. When asked if Mulliner could build such a vehicle, Georges responded, "Fundamentally, there is no real limitation." That might sound like PR fluff, but we think it holds some real weight. All that's needed is enough customers willing to bankroll the build. At first, the idea of a Bentley pickup sounds far-fetched. But think about how much the auto industry has changed in just a decade. Lamborghini makes an SUV. Rolls-Royce does too. Ferrari sells a V12-powered family car. Minis have grown larger than some crossovers, and Dodge makes the Charger muscle car without an engine. Bentley's current lineup includes a grand touring coupe, a convertible, a luxury sedan, and an SUV, with an electric version on the way. The next logical step would be to reinvent the pick-up truck. The name and price remain a mystery, but if history has taught us anything, it'll probably be something overly pretencious like "Ascendant" and cost ast least $500,000. Copyright 2025 The Arena Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Miami Herald
17-06-2025
- Automotive
- Miami Herald
Bentley Continental GT Prototype Heralds The Return of the Supersports
When one thinks of the Flying B's contemporary wares, there's never any shortage of horsepower, but the racing pedigree that made the brand so successful at the start of the 20th century is a second thought to supreme serenity. Indeed, a Bentley is an ultra-luxurious machine first and foremost, but even among buyers who can tell what forest their wood trim came from just by the grain, there is always a small group of individuals who are bored by opulence alone, seeking to push the limits of performance beyond what their peers think is reasonable. In the 1920s, the Bentley Boys personified this attitude of extremism. In the 2020s, those who choose to get behind the wheel of the monster Bentley is now testing at the Nürburgring will be stealing stares and grabbing glances. Based on the Continental GT Speed, this prototype captured by our spies is preparing to become the most hardcore Bentley yet. Unlike the regular GT Speed, this prototype has a large spoiler on the trunk and aggressive canards on the front end, and such aggressive bodywork has previously characterized the Supersports. Until the 2017 Supersports, the aesthetic changes were always subtle, but Bentley went hardcore with a vented hood, more aggressive front and rear ends, and a sizable wing on the trunk. It's unclear if this prototype will swap its spoiler for a wing at a later stage, but then again, this may not even be the most aggressive Continental in the Bentley pipeline; previous Supersports variants have arrived at the end of the life cycle, not near the start, so this may well be a hotter Continental, but not necessarily the hottest. That said, the sinister taillights and quad tailpipes are signature styling characteristics of the Supersports. Our spies have also floated the idea of this being named the Continental GT Speed RS. The wheels on this prototype appear to be fairly vanilla, but other sightings of this hardcore Bentley have shown a more intricate, aggressive dual-five-spoke design. Nevertheless, the Pirelli P Zero tires and large brakes suggest this won't just be an appearance package; we expect more power. The current Continental GT Speed's twin-turbo V8 hybrid delivers a combined 771 horsepower and 738 lb-ft of torque, so a figure close to or just beyond 800 hp seems reasonable. After all, the last GT Supersports had 79 more horsepower than the car upon which it was based. As we touched on earlier, the current Continental GT Speed has only been around a little more than a year (and this is our first sighting of the sportier special edition), so we doubt this hardcore version, whatever name it bears, will be revealed before the end of the year. Copyright 2025 The Arena Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Auto Blog
04-06-2025
- Automotive
- Auto Blog
W12 is Dead, Long Live the V8: The New Bentayga Speed is Bentley's Fastest SUV Yet
Fewer cylinders don't mean less fun Last year, British ultra-luxury powerhouse Bentley said its final goodbye to one of its most legendary creations. It wasn't a car, but rather a monster motor that exuded as much brashness and excess as the vehicles it was shoehorned under the hood of. In July 2024, the last 6-liter W12 engine left the masters of chaos at Bentley's Crewe factory. For over two decades, the twin-turbocharged twelve cylinders of fury would find themselves under the hood of multiple Bentleys, including the Continental GT coupe, Flying Spur sedan, and even the Bentayga SUV. The W12 found a special home in the Flying B's SUV, where an uprated version powered the high-performance Bentayga Speed model. However, as demonstrated with the latest iteration of the Continental GT Speed and its hybrid twin-turbo V8, the departure of the W12 doesn't mean that Bentley's Speed models are no more. A new kind of Speed Bentley's newest version of the Bentayga Speed may not feature the twin-turbo W12, but it doesn't entirely mean it is down on power. Notably, Bentley did not opt for the plug-in hybrid system that resides under the hood of the Continental GT Speed; instead, it chose an uprated version of the twin-turbo 4-liter V8, which comes standard with the vehicle. The new Bentayga Speed makes 641 horsepower, 99 horsepower more than in its 'standard' configuration and 15 more horsepower than the W12. While it is up on power, the new, smaller motor makes 37 pound-feet less torque than the outgoing W12, though it still makes a back-breaking 627 pound-feet of torque through its wheels. As a result, Bentley claims that its large and in charge SUV goes from 0-60 mph in 3.4 seconds, and can rocket up to a top speed of 3.4 seconds. The new big Speed also weighs 95 pounds less than the W12 model and should feel more agile behind the wheel, thanks to new rear-wheel steering. Autoblog Newsletter Autoblog brings you car news; expert reviews and exciting pictures and video. Research and compare vehicles, too. Sign up or sign in with Google Facebook Microsoft Apple By signing up I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy . You may unsubscribe from email communication at anytime. If you opt for the huge 23-inch Speed wheels, you can also opt for carbon-ceramic brakes for some extra help trying to stop the Speed's 5,435 pounds. The new Speed also features a new Sport driving mode, which tightens the suspension dampers by 15% compared to the Bentayga V8, as well as enhanced torque vectoring, making the steering sharper for spirited drives with the family. Bentley states that the Sport mode features an enhanced stability control setting, allowing the driver to execute 'exhilarating drift angles or power-on oversteer when appropriate.' As a bonus, Bentley gave the new Speed a standard sports exhaust, as well as the option for a quad-tip Akrapovič titanium exhaust, which it claims 'accentuates the power, drama and potency of the V8, with its aural expression of the performance that awaits at the merest flex of the throttle.' Not-so-boy-racer Bentley kept the Speed relatively classy with its exterior and interior accouterments compared to other 'sport' or high-performance luxury SUVs with similar power numbers. The only distinct way to tell a Speed from the outside is darker-tinted chrome elements, subtle speed badges on the front doors, and unique wheels available in chrome or dark-tinted chrome. In addition, the Speed gets some unique headlights and taillights with darker housing and a contrasting black roof in a satin or gloss finish, which it says 'makes a powerful, assertive visual impact.' Bentley continues the 'dark mode' theme on the inside. Its standard chrome accents can be ordered in a dark tint to match the outside, while the seat upholstery features darker hides and a new diamond-stitch pattern. The Speed-exclusive graphics on the gauge cluster, Speed badges on the dashboard and doorsills, and a Speed logo on the seats themselves remind you of just how special the SUV you're in is. Final thoughts I feel that Bentley lopping off four whole cylinders from its engine is not a dealbreaker for many Bentley buyers. On its own, a Bentley Bentayga is already a fast, luxurious package offering many comforts and power that go above and beyond compared to other luxury offerings. That said, I think this is a nice addition for the kind of Bentley buyer who isn't all into the 'old money' look with all the chrome and pomp and circumstance. Bentley did not specify any pricing in its release, but I expect pricing to be prohibitively expensive.
Miami Herald
03-06-2025
- Automotive
- Miami Herald
W12 is Dead, Long Live the V8: The New Bentayga Speed is Bentley's Fastest SUV Yet
Last year, British ultra-luxury powerhouse Bentley said its final goodbye to one of its most legendary creations. It wasn't a car, but rather a monster motor that exuded as much brashness and excess as the vehicles it was shoehorned under the hood of. In July 2024, the last 6-liter W12 engine left the masters of chaos at Bentley's Crewe factory. For over two decades, the twin-turbocharged twelve cylinders of fury would find themselves under the hood of multiple Bentleys, including the Continental GT coupe, Flying Spur sedan, and even the Bentayga SUV. The W12 found a special home in the Flying B's SUV, where an uprated version powered the high-performance Bentayga Speed model. However, as demonstrated with the latest iteration of the Continental GT Speed and its hybrid twin-turbo V8, the departure of the W12 doesn't mean that Bentley's Speed models are no more. Bentley's newest version of the Bentayga Speed may not feature the twin-turbo W12, but it doesn't entirely mean it is down on power. Notably, Bentley did not opt for the plug-in hybrid system that resides under the hood of the Continental GT Speed; instead, it chose an uprated version of the twin-turbo 4-liter V8, which comes standard with the vehicle. The new Bentayga Speed makes 641 horsepower, 99 horsepower more than in its "standard" configuration and 15 more horsepower than the W12. While it is up on power, the new, smaller motor makes 37 pound-feet less torque than the outgoing W12, though it still makes a back-breaking 627 pound-feet of torque through its wheels. As a result, Bentley claims that its large and in charge SUV goes from 0-60 mph in 3.4 seconds, and can rocket up to a top speed of 3.4 seconds. The new big Speed also weighs 95 pounds less than the W12 model and should feel more agile behind the wheel, thanks to new rear-wheel steering. If you opt for the huge 23-inch Speed wheels, you can also opt for carbon-ceramic brakes for some extra help trying to stop the Speed's 5,435 pounds. The new Speed also features a new Sport driving mode, which tightens the suspension dampers by 15% compared to the Bentayga V8, as well as enhanced torque vectoring, making the steering sharper for spirited drives with the family. Bentley states that the Sport mode features an enhanced stability control setting, allowing the driver to execute "exhilarating drift angles or power-on oversteer when appropriate." As a bonus, Bentley gave the new Speed a standard sports exhaust, as well as the option for a quad-tip Akrapovič titanium exhaust, which it claims "accentuates the power, drama and potency of the V8, with its aural expression of the performance that awaits at the merest flex of the throttle." Bentley kept the Speed relatively classy with its exterior and interior accouterments compared to other "sport" or high-performance luxury SUVs with similar power numbers. The only distinct way to tell a Speed from the outside is darker-tinted chrome elements, subtle speed badges on the front doors, and unique wheels available in chrome or dark-tinted chrome. In addition, the Speed gets some unique headlights and taillights with darker housing and a contrasting black roof in a satin or gloss finish, which it says "makes a powerful, assertive visual impact." Bentley continues the 'dark mode' theme on the inside. Its standard chrome accents can be ordered in a dark tint to match the outside, while the seat upholstery features darker hides and a new diamond-stitch pattern. The Speed-exclusive graphics on the gauge cluster, Speed badges on the dashboard and doorsills, and a Speed logo on the seats themselves remind you of just how special the SUV you're in is. I feel that Bentley lopping off four whole cylinders from its engine is not a dealbreaker for many Bentley buyers. On its own, a Bentley Bentayga is already a fast, luxurious package offering many comforts and power that go above and beyond compared to other luxury offerings. That said, I think this is a nice addition for the kind of Bentley buyer who isn't all into the "old money" look with all the chrome and pomp and circumstance. Bentley did not specify any pricing in its release, but I expect pricing to be prohibitively expensive. Copyright 2025 The Arena Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
