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Bentley and Skoda capitalize on the coronation

Most likely, King Charles won’t be riding in a Czech-made Skoda this weekend when he is crowned king of England, even though the car company has introduced a Coronation Edition in a “Royal Green” color “in honor of the Coronation.” However, should they ride to the fancy investiture at Westminster Abbey in a home-grown Bentley, the royal tushes of he and Queen Camilla may be resting on bespoke, handcrafted “cabin cushions” created by BentleyÂ’s “Dream Factory” to celebrate the occasion (not likely, since the royal couple is expected to travel in the 260-year-old Gold State Coach). The upcoming, day-long event has inspired lots of tchotchkes of course — chocolate Charleses, crowns for dogs, Lego kings — as well as an outpouring of affection by the public and commercial opportunities to sell them things royalty-related. On the matter of the new KingÂ’s rear end, the Bentley cushions are described as being quite fabulous. It took craftsmen three days to embroider them with the special “Coronation Emblem,” which consists, according to the firm, "of two separate thread colours ... three different colourways of the emblem were used, to contrast the individually-selected hides for different colours of cushions to match the interiors of the Bentleys that will use them." The colors of the cushions include Cricketball and Cumbrian Green, accented by piping of Beluga, Porpoise, Newmarket Tan and Imperial Blue respectively. Should they require more modern transportation, a fleet of Bentleys will be on hand for special guests.  Regarding the Skodas, the Royal Green color will be available to order by commoners as well as by the royal couple, available on selected Superb, Kodiaq and Octavia models in the UK.

A diesel V8 is the perfect engine for the Bentley Bentayga

Endless, effortless torque is something that's so often taken for granted. Sure, horsepower figures make all the headlines, but the sensation that comes with immediate and readily available thrust is something that can't be overstated, especially in luxury vehicles. High-strung, high-horsepower engines are great in certain applications, but Bentley owners don't want to work for the power, they just expect it to be there. That's why the 4.0-liter diesel V8 from the Audi SQ7 and its 664 lb-ft of torque make perfect sense for the new Bentley Bentayga. We've known for a while that Bentley is planning a diesel variant of the Bentayga, but it wasn't clear from where the engine was being sourced. According to Telegraaf in Holland, Bentley is pulling the diesel from the heart of its sibling Audi, and it won't be an effort to improve fuel efficiency. The all engine features two exhaust-driven turbos plus a 48-volt compressor that effectively cuts lag to nothing and propels the SQ7 TDI to 62 mph in 4.8 seconds. Expect a similar number in the Bentley. This engine is exactly what the Bentayga needs. There is nothing wrong with the W12 in the standard model, and you could argue a 12-cylinder engine is a better fit in a Bentley. But that's just because W12 sounds better than diesel. While the gasoline engine may more powerful and therefore make the vehicle quicker (leading to that " fastest SUV" claim Bentley loves), no owner will actually be racing their Bentayga to its theoretical top speed of 187 mph. They will be racing away from stoplights, though, in an effort to leave more plebeian cars and SUVs behind. All that low-end grunt is what those owners really want. It's unclear if Bentley will bring the Bentayga diesel to the United States, and given the current state of diesel here, the proposition seems unlikely. Expect an official debut at the Paris motor show in October. Related Video: News Source: Telegraaf Rumormill Bentley SUV Diesel Vehicles Luxury bentley bentayga audi sq7

2023 Bentley Flying Spur Speed keeps the W12 alive with 626 horsepower

Bentley has expanded the Flying Spur range with a performance-oriented variant appropriately called Speed. The sedan stands out from other members of the Flying Spur lineup with a powerful W12 engine between its fenders, a firmer chassis setup, and a specific design. The company has traditionally reserved the "Speed" designation for its driver-focused models, and the Flying Spur lives up to this badge with a 6.0-liter W12 engine that's twin-turbocharged to develop 626 horsepower and 664 pound-feet of torque. In comparison, the next model down is the Flying Spur S, which uses a 4.0-liter, twin-turbocharged V8 rated at 542 horsepower and 568 pound-feet of torque. Bentley pegs the Speed's zero-to-60-mph time at 3.7 seconds, and the big sedan doesn't stop accelerating until its speedometer displays 207 mph. An eight-speed automatic transmission transfers the 12-cylinder's output to the four wheels via a rear-biased all-wheel-drive system, and reaching the Speed's top speed requires leaving the gearbox in sixth. Seventh and eighth are overdrive gears used to keep the engine's revolutions relatively low at higher speeds. Four-wheel steering, Torque Vectoring by Brake technology, and the 48-volt Bentley Dynamic Ride system help drivers make the most of the extra power. Massive brakes are found on the list of standard features as well. Visually, the Speed gains black exterior trim, "Speed" emblems on the lower part of the fenders, and model-specific 22-inch wheels. Buyers have several options to choose from, including the Styling Specification and Blackline Specification packages. Inside, the Speed features Dinamica Pure upholstery, a redesigned instrument cluster, sport pedals, 24-way power-adjustable front comfort seats, and 14-way power-adjustable rear seats. Both rows of seats are heated, ventilated, and equipped with a massage function; Bentley argues that performance and comfort aren't mutually exclusive. Piano Black trim comes standard but other types of wood (like Crown Cut Walnut) are no-cost options. Pricing information for the 2023 Bentley Flying Spur Speed hasn't been released yet.