Here’s something you won’t see very often at a worksite, an ultra luxurious Bentley Flying Spur ute that feels more at home in Burnside or Toorak than a building site.

Created by a British company called DC Customs, it started out as a regular 2005 Flying Spur, painted in a simple shade of silver and was nothing terribly special.

Work started in January 2020, with the rear section of the roof coming off the Bentley as it began its transformation into a pickup truck. DC Customs then found the height of the rear shock towers to be too high, and proceeded to lower them by 2 inches in order to fit the ute tray.

As befits its ultra luxurious status, the ute bed is lined with wood and comes with convenient storage cubbies on either side.

Besides the rework rear end, the Flying Spur also received a unique front bumper with re-designed air intakes for a little more aggression. The exterior makeover was rounded off with a new purple and silver paint job.

While it might not have the load carrying capacity as your typical Ranger or Hilux, the Flying Spur ute is certainly a great deal more unique and ‘Decadent’, which coincidentally, is the bespoke Bentley’s official name given by DC Customs.

Under the bonnet, the Flying Spur’s twin-turbo W12 engine has also received a tune-up to produce 435kW/864Nm.

No words on how much it costs the owner for the conversion but then if you are a Lord, money is probably not too much of a concern.

Photos courtesy of DC Custom’s Instagram page

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Bentley has unveiled its latest concept called the EXP 100 GT, a stunning fully electric luxury Gran Turismo designed to preview what Bentley customers would be driving in 2035.

Featuring a sleek and muscular body that explores the brand’s future design direction, it incorporates the company’s unmistakable DNA, with the famous R-Type Continental haunch at the rear, round headlights that overlap the grille in a nod to the famous Bentley Blower, and a long graceful body that harks back to famous models of yesteryear.

“The Bentley EXP 100 GT represents the kind of cars we want to make in the future,” said Stefan Sielaff, Bentley’s Director of Design.

“Like those iconic Bentleys of the past, this car connects with its passengers’ emotions and helps them experience and safeguard the memories of the really extraordinary journeys they take.”

Created to mark the company’s 100^th anniversary, the EXP 100 GT is powered by four electric motors with a torque vectoring system that produces a combined output of up to 1,340hp and 1,491Nm of torque. That’s up to 1,000kW of power!

Bentley claims the EXP 100 GT is capable of rushing from 0-60mph (97km/h) in less than 2.5 seconds before hitting a top speed of 186mph (300km/h).

That’s not all, Bentley also says the EXP 100 GT’s batteries can be topped up to 80 percent capacity in just 15 minutes, thanks to future battery technology that is expected to offer five times the current energy density. The result is 700km range on a full charge.

As fewer batter cells are required, along with an aluminium and carbon fibre intensive body, the luxury GT tips the scales at just 1,900kg – a remarkable feat for a car of its size. To give you an idea of how big the car is, it measures 5.8 meters long and almost 2.4 meters wide. The driver and passenger doors are two meters wide and pivot outwards and upwards for easy access. Fully open, they rise to almost three meters.

Perhaps the most impressive feature is the EXP 100 GT’s on-board artificial intelligence Personal Assistant in the form of an illuminated crystal from Cumbria, England. Bentley says it can pre-empts passenger needs and even maximise comfort based on its knowledge of its owner, such as adjusting seat surfaces for better support.

There’s also biometrics embedded throughout the car to track eye and head movements, and even blood pressure.

The airy interior comes in three different seating configurations, depending on whether it’s in autonomous driving mode or not.

What do you think? Are you excited about the future?

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Bentley has taken the wraps off the third-generation Flying Spur luxury limousine, which is billed as a technical tour de force for innovation, connectivity, passenger comfort and driver excitement.

“As with the launch of the Continental GT, the new Flying Spur is a ground up development that pushes the boundaries of both technology and craftsmanship to deliver segment-defining levels of performance and refinement,” said Adrian Hallmark, Chairman and Chief Executive of Bentley Motors.

While the new model marks a series of technological first for the nameplate, its design remains comfortingly familiar and is built on the same platform and underpinnings as the new Continental GT.

The new Flying Spur showcases Bentley’s modern sculptural design language through elegant yet muscular proportions, the marque’s latest generation cut-crystal effect LED matrix headlights enhanced with chrome sleeves and new wrap-around rear lamps with ‘B’ motifs.

A retractable ‘Flying B’ mascot appears for the first time on a modern-day Flying Spur, rising from beneath a beautifully modern Bentley badge.

Billed as “the world’s most advanced luxury Grand Touring sports sedan”, the latest Flying Spur promises to combine sporting performance with limousine luxury while adopting cutting-edge customer-focused technology. It sits on a new and advanced aluminium and composite chassis featuring 48-volt active anti-roll bars.

There’s also Electronic All-Wheel Steering for the first time on a Bentley combined with Active All-Wheel Drive and Bentley Dynamic Ride for exemplary ride and handling.

The car’s new air suspension with three-chamber air springs is said to allow a much greater range of adjustment between limousine-style ride comfort and sporty body control.

And thanks to these sophisticated systems, Bentley says the new Flying Spur delivers “a driving experience of extraordinary breadth and capability not seen in this segment before.”

A host of new Driver Assistance Systems are fitted to the new Flying Spur as standard, including Traffic Assist, City Assist and Blind Spot Warning, while the ground-breaking Bentley uses state-of-the-art, multi-material body construction.

At the heart of the new Flying Spur is an enhanced version of Bentley’s renowned 6.0-litre, twin-turbocharged W12, mated to a dual-clutch eight-speed transmission for faster, smoother gear changes. This new TSI engine delivers 467kW (635 PS/626 bhp) and 900 Nm (664 lb.ft.), 0-60mph in 3.7 seconds (0-100 km/h time of 3.8 seconds) and a top speed of 207mph (333 km/h).

A 130mm longer wheelbase means the new Flying Spur features a spacious and luxurious cabin that is said to offer peerless comfort and refinement. As well as an extensive list of Single and Dual Veneer wood options, the sedan offers both Bentley’s new fluted leather seating and the unique Mulliner Driving Specification diamond quilting on the seats and an automotive world-first: three-dimensional diamond quilted leather door inserts.

The modern craftsmanship is combined with a host of cutting-edge technologies including the HD digital instrument panel display, the unique rotating centre console with choice of 12.3 inch digital touchscreen, beautiful analogue dials or digital detoxifying veneer, and the remote control touch screen for rear passengers all combine to make the Flying Spur’s cabin the most modern, innovative and luxurious place to travel in.

Tailored specifically to the modern luxury customer, the interior can be further enhanced with a panoramic glass sunroof stretching the full-length of the roof.

Customer deliveries of the new Flying Spur will begin in early 2020 with an expected Australian on sale date towards Q3 of 2020.

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Bentley has released the first teaser image of the next-generation Flying Spur along with a short video showcasing its new retractable bonnet ornament.

Riding on the same MSB platform as the two-door Continental GT and Porsche Panamera, the Flying Spur is expected to diverge from its two-door sibling and have its own visual character and unique exterior design details.

Like the current model, range-topping versions of the luxury British sedan will be offered with a mighty 6.0-litre W12 engine, while mid-range variants will feature a 4.0-litre V8 and 2.9-litre V6 plug-in hybrid. Additionally, the go-fast Flying Spur Speed will get a tweaked version of the W12 churning out extra horsepower.

Inside, it’s unclear at this stage whether the Flying Spur will get its own unique dashboard or one borrowed from the Continental GT. Regardless, we can expect the interior to be something special.

The Bentley Flying Spur is expected to arrive in the market later this year or early 2020.

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Bentley has unveiled new V8-powered versions of its Continental GT coupe and convertible, with the new model poised to make for a more affordable and fuel-efficient entry-point to the range. 

Although a sign of the unfortunately necessary downsizing trend at the moment, the performance of the new V8 models isn’t far off that of the flagship W12-powered variants.

The new bent-eight is a 4.0-litre twin-turbocharged churns out a sizeable 405kW and 770Nm, which is channeled through an eight-speed dual-clutch transmission to a rear-biased all-wheel drive system.

The 0-100km/h sprint is achievable in a claimed 4.0 seconds for the coupe and 4.1 seconds for the convertible – both just 0.3 of a second slower than models fitted with the big W12. Top speed for both is pegged at 318km/h – just 15km/h off the larger-engined cars.

Although suffering a slight drop in power and performance, the new V8 models are still designed to deliver what Bentley claims to be “thrilling performance” in conjunction with “greater efficiency” as the new engine features cylinder deactivation technology that can shut off half of its cylinders under low load to cut fuel economy, with the transition from firing eight to four cylinders occurring in just 20 milliseconds.

Additionally, the Continental’s rear-biased all-wheel drive system has been calibrated to “use rear-wheel drive as much as possible during normal driving for maximum efficiency and dynamic performance.”

Despite the drop in power, there’s no lack of available kit for this new variant, with it being one of Bentley’s most customisable models. A total of ten wheel designs are available – with a 20-inch ten-spoke design coming standard – while seven standard paint colours and a broad range of optional ones are also on offer. Convertible buyers will also have the choice of seven fabric colours for the car’s deployable roof.

The only way to really set the V8s apart from the W12 models will be small badges on the front quarter panels and quad exhaust pipes at the rear, with owners’ engine choices otherwise going under the radar.

Both the coupe and convertible versions of the Continental GT V8 will go on sale in Q3 2019 in North America, and Q1 2020 for the rest of the world. Exact Australian pricing details will be announced closer to the local launch date.

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Bentley has unveiled the new drop-top version of its Continental GT, which now sits alongside the closely related new-generation coupe and sports more tech, more power, and a quieter cabin. 

Powering the new Continental GT Convertible is a whopping 6.0-litre twin-turbocharged W12 churning out 467kW and 900Nm, which is backed by an eight-speed dual-clutch transmission and a rear-biased all-wheel drive system. The 0-100km/h sprint is over in a claimed 3.8 seconds, while it will storm on to a top speed of 333km/h.

There’s also a Dynamic Ride system that controls the front and rear sway bars, air suspension, variable ratio electric power steering, and Continuous Damping Control to improve ride comfort and handling.

A set of specially-designed Pirelli P Zero tyres are also fitted as standard, while stopping power is provided by a beefy set of 420mm disc brakes up front with ten-piston calipers, and 380mm discs in the rear with four-piston calipers.

Most notably differentiating the convertible from the coupe, rather obviously, is its new Z-folding soft-top, which can electrically retract into its cubby hole in 19 seconds. This being a Bentley, the soft-top is even available to be finished in tweed – specifically, a “contemporary interpretation of traditional British tweed” – as an option.

To improve sound deadening in the cabin when the top is up, Bentley has improved its seals and acoustics to reduce the noise level by three decibels, making the new convertible as quiet as the outgoing coupe.

Speaking of the interior, its largely identical to that of the coupe, meaning you still get a deployable 12.3-inch central touchscreen, a digital gauge cluster, and leather covering almost every surface.

Boosting specification levels are two optional technology packs – the City Specification package that adds road sign recognition, pedestrian warning, a 360-degree camera, and a hands-free electric tailgate; and the Touring Specification, which adds safety equipment such as lane-keep assist, night vision, adaptive cruise control, traffic jam assist, and a head-up display.

No details have been announced yet as to when the Continental GT Convertible will be available in Australia, and at what cost it may be available, although in the UK it commands a premium of around $45,000 over the equivalent coupe, which retails in Australia for a hefty $422,600.

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Bentley Motorsport will return to the Nürburgring 24 Hours for the third consecutive year this week as it aims for podium success with its three Continental GT3s. Working with European racing partners Bentley Team ABT, a division of ABT Sportsline, Bentley is aiming for its strongest performance at the legendary “Green Hell”.

Competing at one of the world’s greatest racing events this year is the newly unveiled Bentley Continental 24 – a limited edition series of 24 bespoke models for Europe based on the Continental Supersports.

Bentley Team ABT has competed in three races at the Nürburgring in 2017, taking home Bentley’s highest ever result on the infamous Nordschleife with a second place finish in the second VLN irace of the season, proving effective groundwork for the main event.

With sights set on another Nürburgring podium, the Crewe-based Bentley Motorsport team will support the Bentley Team ABT entries. The three cars will all run on Yokohama tyres and the iconic Deutsche Post liveries of 2016 will be joined by a red-themed car of a similar design, sponsored by Magna.

Utilising the fastest Bentley ever – the 700 bhp (522kW), 1017 Nm Continental Supersports – as its foundation, the Continental 24 features a wealth of interior and exterior design cues that reflect the car’s motorsport themes. Available in three distinctive racing liveries, the Continental 24 rolls on black 21” lightweight forged wheels which can be finished with yellow or red accents to match the paintwork. The sporting exterior is finished with the fitment as standard of carbon fibre door mirrors, black brake calipers and all-black exterior brightware.

Under the bonnet, the 6.0-litre twin-turbo W12 soundtrack is bolstered by the Supersports’ titanium exhaust system, while the engine itself is finished with a gloss carbon fibre cover.

The interior is similarly race-themed, replete with fascias, door panels and individually-numbered treadplates finished in carbon fibre. The diamond-quilting to all four seats is in Alcantara, while an accent colour theme to match the exterior paint highlights the curves of the cabin. The headrests feature a unique emblem, while “Continental 24” inlays are fitted to the fascias

Performance figures for the Continental 24 are identical to those of the Supersports, with a top speed of 209 mph (336 km/h) and a 0-60 mph time of 3.4 seconds (0-100 km/h in 3.5 seconds).

The Bentley Continental 24 is exclusively sold in Europe with prices starting at €250,000.

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Bentley Chairman and CEO, Mr Wolfgang Dürheimer, has outlined his vision for the future of luxury mobility and Bentley’s role in defining it in an address at the annual Automotive News World Congress in Detroit, USA.

Speaking on the subject of changing customer types and tastes, Mr Dürheimer highlighted the seismic changes that face luxury carmakers in the near future.

“The next 10 years will be transformational for luxury car makers. We will see customer demographics broaden and change dramatically to incorporate millennials; the rising affluent in developing economies; and members of Generation ‘C’ – the connected generation where attitude, rather than age, is the defining characteristic,” he explained.

“And these future customers will have very different expectations and requirements to the luxury car buyer of today.”

Dürheimer continued: “Our research tells us that they will, for example, demand instant, unobstructed access to technology, information and convenience; have an entirely different attitude towards vehicle ownership; and live in an increasingly urbanised world with all the mobility challenges and opportunities that this presents. At Bentley, we are embracing this change and we are taking a leading role in defining the future of luxury mobility.”

Mr Dürheimer went on to outline how Bentley will engage these new customers in order to future-proof the luxury British brand. “Our belief is that technology on its own is not enough. Technology in isolation is cold and can never be truly luxurious. We must never lose the human touch.”

He revealed that Bentley’s extensive global research suggests luxury customers of the future will value highly tradition, heritage and craftsmanship (the story behind the product) and demand beautiful, high-quality, authentic design – with every material used demonstrating sustainability and serving a purpose.

“As those of you who know our cars and our brand will agree,” Dürheimer explained, “these are all traits that Bentley demonstrates in abundance. In particular the idea of authenticity. There is an unmistakable human touch about what we do; the ‘da Vinci’ in the detail that separates our cars from the rest.”

On the subject of how this approach could be realised in practical terms, Mr Dürheimer identified a number of potential features and ideas that Bentley could potentially introduce in the future.

“I believe there is a big future for more diverse and sophisticated concierge-style services that will enhance the lives of our customers. We are also investigating a global Bentley customer network – a ‘club’ where ownership does not relate to a single vehicle, but rather it entitles you to a luxury mobility solution in selected cities around the world.”

Dürheimer continued: “We will certainly use new technology to enhance traditional and authentic materials in new and contemporary ways. One possible example of this could be to overlay OLED screens across wood veneers. These ultra-thin screens would be invisible except when in use, for example, to control the audio or HVAC systems.”

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Bentley has unveiled what it bills as ‘the world’s fastest and most powerful luxury four-seater’, the Bentley Continental Supersports.

With figures like a top speed of 336km/h (209mph), 0-100km/h in 3.5 seconds and a mighty redeveloped W12 engine packing 522kW and a potent 1,017Nm of torque, the Continental Supersports would make most supercars burst out in cold sweat. Not surprising then that it is the most powerful Bentley ever, too!

The upgraded W12 lump features new high-performance turbos, a revised charged-air cooling system which create more boost and upgraded cranktrain, including new main and conrod bearing.

The Supersports also benefits from a new torque converter which locks up faster, allowing the car to make best use of its enhanced torque.

To rein in its immense power, the new Supersports is fitted with high-performance carbon ceramic brakes with enhanced cooling. The brake discs are said to be the largest of their type in the world.

The brakes sit behind lightweight 21” forged alloy wheels, together offering a 20kg weight saving in unsprung mass. A further 5kg can be trimmed via the optional titanium exhaust system. According to Bentley, the Supersports is the lightest-ever iteration of the current Continental GT and lighter than the 2009 four-seat Supersports. Even then, the car still weighs more than 2 tonnes at 2,280kg.

The luxury cruiser retains the rear-biased torque split of Bentley’s all-wheel-drive system, sending 60 percent of the power to the rear wheels as standard but with the ability to adjust the front-rear power split depending on available traction.

Outside, the Supersports features new front and rear bumpers which incorporate a carbon fibre splitter and a diffuser, respectively, new side skirts and bonnet vents made out of carbon.

There’s also gloss-black front wing vents and a new gloss-black, rifled exhaust tailpipe design, while all lights are dark-tinted to match the black-finished brightware to the front grilles, lights, rear bumper, door handles and window surrounds.

The car shown also includes the optional, aerodynamically balanced rear spoiler and front splitter.

Inside, the interior is finished in a unique tri-tone trim, with a diamond-quilted design applied to the seats and doors panels in Alcantara, while chequered Supersports carbon fibre fascia panels join the existing list of ten veneers and technical finishes available.

The interior is completed by new Supersports emblem stitching and a bespoke Supersports steering wheel and unique gearlever, both featuring Alcantara accents.

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A couple of 2018 Bentley Continental prototypes have been spotted undergoing testing at the Nürburgring in Germany recently.

The duo, in coupe and convertible body styles, sport an entirely new sheet metal inspired by the stunning EXP10 Speed 6 concept. While the front fascia may look relatively familiar, the new model is sleeker and looks more refined than before.

The cars also look more muscular, too, with squared-off rear wheel arches that first appear on the Bentley Bentayga SUV.

Underneath the camouflage-clad sheet metal is the same MSB platform that underpins the latest Porsche Panamera, pointing to significant weight savings over the current model, courtesy of intensive use of aluminium.

Like the car today, the next-generation Continental will feature a 6.0-litre W12 engine, albeit an entirely new one as seen in the Bentayga, which delivers 447kW/900Nm in the SUV.

Besides the twin-turbo W12, the 2018 Continental range will also be offered with a 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8, as well as a plug-in hybrid further down the track.

Source: Bridgetogantry.com

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