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Bentley Continental GT commemorating Pikes Peak win is one green machine

Back in June, the Bentley Continental GT set a production-car record for the Pikes Peak hill climb, and now there's a limited edition to celebrate. Maybe the wait was so the brand's Mulliner division could work up a batch of the car's special green paint, which Bentley calls Radium. The green hue is taken from the hill climb car's livery, and it appears not only on the body, but also on the Pirelli P Zero tires and inside as contrast stitching, floor mat edging, and embroidery of Pikes Peak on the headrests. The not-quite-matching color on the brake calipers is Bentley's Acid Green. Besides Radium, the model also is offered in black. The special edition also features Pikes Peak graphics on the front fenders, a carbon fiber body kit, a black roof panel, black side mirrors, and 22-inch wheels also in black. Buyers can opt for Bentley's "100" grille (honoring the brand's centenary year), as pictured here. Besides the Radium green accents, the interior also comes with carbon fiber and gloss-black trim. A graphic showing one of five different sections of the track appears above the glove box, along with the record time of 10:18.488. Bentley's rotating center display also is included along with comfort-spec front seats and deep pile floor mats. All of the cars will be fitted with the 626-hp W12 engine. Pricing for the Pikes Peak limited edition depends on buyer specification, so there's no official MSRP. Nor is there a specific model name. But Bentley is saying that only 15 cars with this special set of extras will be built, and even without a name, it shouldn't be hard to distinguish them from other Continental GTs.

The myth and mystery of The Bentley Cocktail

The other day, we were trying to find ways to delight a visiting relative who requested a cocktail made with apple brandy (don't ask), and after poring through Mr. Boston and The Playboy Bartender's Guide we were fortunate enough to come across a recipe. This particular concoction piqued our interest not just because it was a means to get rid of that bottle of Calvados that had been malingering on our bar cart, drawing fruit flies and quizzical scorn, since it was gifted to us at the launch of the Peugeot 407 in 2004. It was because of the automotive connection. (Duh.) The cocktail is called The Bentley, and it has a sexy, if probably apocryphal, origin story. According to the legend, the Bentley Boys – rich, Jazz Age, car-loving, British playboy racers – invented the drink after their first of five Le Mans victories, in 1924. Canadian-born WWI hero and Olympic swordsman John Duff and local English Bentley test driver and Bentley 3-Liter Super Sport owner Frank Clement were the only British team and vehicle in this second-ever endurance race, surrounded by more than three dozen French drivers and cars (and a couple of Germans). But despite typical British maladies ­– broken shocks, seized lug nuts, and a dysfunctional gearshift – and a slew of fires, punctures, and chassis-snapping wrecks amongst the field, they persevered. Arriving at their celebratory party at their club near their adjoining apartments in London's exclusive Mayfair neighborhood, they discovered that all of the alcohol had been consumed, with the exception of Calvados and Dubonnet. Mixing these together in equal parts, and adding some bitters, they allegedly invented a drink to settle their affluent nerves. Like most folkloric explanations for the existence of some gross cocktails – the wisecrack-inspired Tom Collins, the whole-cloth-concocted Seelbach – the tale seemed as compelling to us as it was ridiculous. Fortunately, among our friends are many with mastery in mixology, so we decided to put the mystery (and recipe) to them. "To be honest, I'd never even heard of the cocktail," said Tokyo-based international beverage expert Nick Coldicott, the most skeptical of our potation pundits. "And that story smells fishy to me. It seems unlikely that a party venue would have enough of a booze collection to have Calvados and Dubonnet, but not enough whisky or gin or champagne to see the party out.

Bentley Mulliner Bacalar will be inspired by the EXP 100 GT

On March 3, 2020, at the Geneva Motor Show, Bentley and in-house customization shop Mulliner will unveil a new limited-edition vehicle that is billed as the "future of coachbuilding." Ahead of the debut, the official name has been announced: Bentley Mulliner Bacalar.  Thus far, there are few official details about the vehicle. Bentley says it will use ethically sourced and sustainable materials and will have a design inspired by the electric and autonomous EXP 100 GT concept that debuted in 2019. It is described as representing grand touring "at its most exhilarating," so it sounds like it'll be focused more on luxury rather than performance.  If a previous report is true, the Bacalar could be a two-seater with absolutely no roof. In the unconfirmed proposal, the supposed vehicle would be similar in looks to the EXP 100 GT, would be limited to roughly 12 examples, and would cost in the millions of dollars. Only time will tell how accurate this report proves to be, but considering other manufacturers such as McLaren, Aston Martin, and Ferrari have recently released similar windshieldless vehicles, we know the interest for this type of vehicle currently exists in high-end circles. It's anybody's guess as to what Bacalar references or means. Quick Google sleuthing shows nothing more than an extremely nice-looking vacation destination in Mexico. It's home to Lago Bacalar, or "The Lake of Seven Colors." Translated to Latin, bacalar is bacalao, which is salted and/or dried codfish eaten in Spanish and Latin American cultures. Maybe it will somehow tie into the sustainability aspect, but it's unclear. Expect small teasers and more information to drip before the full deluge in March. Related Video: