2006 Bentley Continental Flying Spur on 2040-cars

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Bentley EXP 100 GT could become an ultra-exclusive topless two-seater

By most standards, Bentleys are already pretty expensive, but as the global economy funnels more and more wealth to the very top, the luxury automaker plans to cater to an ever-richer clientele with ultra-exclusive, even-more-expensive models. Britain's Autocar reports that one such proposed model is an open-topped two-seater that borrows heavily from the EXP 100 GT concept (pictured), which, if approved, would sell for 1.5 million pounds ($1.9 million) or more. Although the EXP 100 GT concept, which debuted this past summer in celebration of the brand's 100th anniversary, had a configurable two- or four-seat interior and a mostly glass roof, the proposed model is a two-seater with no roof whatsoever — practicality, evidently, not being much of a consideration for the ultra rich. Exclusivity, however, is very important, and it's said that only 12 examples would be built, with Bentley's in-house coachbuilder Mulliner tasked with the construction. Whereas the concept was an EV, the Mulliner-built car would ditch that idea in favor of a traditional Bentley W12 borrowed from the Continental GT — which currently makes 626 horsepower and 664 lb-ft of torque. From the concept, the new model borrows its styling, as well as some of it exotic materials, which included 5,000-year-old wood salvaged from peat bogs and infused with copper, synthetic leather created from wine-making byproducts, and crystal trim elements. If approved, the two-seat barchetta could arrive as soon as 2021. Bentley Convertible Luxury

Bentley Continental GT Mulliner Convertible turns thread into bling

Bentley spent 18 months developing the technique for its double diamond stitching, which uses 712 stitches to sew a diamond pattern inside a larger diamond pattern. Created for the new-generation Continental GT, the English automaker said in December 2019 that three-quarters of Continental GT customers order the feature. When a little is good, more is better, so Bentley's Mulliner division has worked up the Continental GT Mulliner Convertible, putting more of the double diamond motif all around the car. It starts with the new double diamond grille, the pattern placing a small silver diamonds inside black, diamond-shaped mesh. The black and silver theme repeats in the custom side vents, the new, 22-inch, 10-spoke Mulliner wheels picking up on the two colorways. The cabin's been laid out with double diamond all over — nearly 400,000 stitches worth of it, from the seats to the doors and, for the first time, on the tonneau cover. The diamonds can be specced in two colors that contrast against the primary leather color, a design line across the instrument panel and the doors adding a third accent. Mulliner has laid out eight different three-color combinations to get potential customers started, because Mulliner is thoughtful like that. But of course, any hue is fair game, wallet depending. Further flourishes inside include a diamond-milled finish for the center console, and a Breitling clock set inside four chrome rings. It's no wonder Mulliner chose the droptop for this showcase, intent on showing the world what the craftspeople in Crewe can do.  Upon delivery, buyers receive their two keys inside Mulliner-branded presentation boxes that match the three-way color scheme inside the convertible, the keys themselves ensconced in color-matched cases with contrast stitching. Details, details.  We'll get a closer look at the Continental GT Mulliner Convertible at the Geneva Motor Show next month, where it will share the stage with an even more intense work of Mulliner, the Bacalar, responsible for demonstrating "the future of coachbuilding." Related Video:

Bentley's new rear seat entertainment system aims to make the rich life even easier

Bentley has a new rear seat entertainment system that aims to make watching content on the rear seat screens much easier. It’s simply named Bentley Rear Entertainment, and itÂ’s going to be available on both the Bentayga and Flying Spur. What makes it noteworthy is the systemÂ’s ability to cast via your mobile device. You can simply select the BentleyÂ’s screens via your streaming app of choice on your phone (so long as the phone is connected to the in-car WiFi), and itÂ’ll splash up onto the HD screens. Thankfully, itÂ’s configured to work with both iOS and Android devices. Think of it as a glorified Chromecast situation. ItÂ’s convenient and super easy to make work. ThereÂ’s only one weird wrinkle to speak of. While you can “cast” content from any streaming service like Amazon Prime, Hulu, Disney+ and Apple TV+, Netflix comes pre-installed on the system. This means that while you can use your phone, you could also just use the entertainment system's built-in Netflix app. One last thing you can do with your phone, though, is mirror it on the screen. This literally just displays exactly whatÂ’s on your phone up on the screen in front of you, in case there were photos or videos you were interested in sharing with the backseat. Aside from the phone connectivity, Bentley equips the 10.1-inch screens with HDMI ports. That means you can bring a gaming console or even third-party streaming sticks like an Amazon Firestick. As for audio, Bentley provides you with special Bluetooth headphones for the car. You can also pair your own headphones, plug into the auxiliary jack, or simply have the audio play over BentleyÂ’s superb Naim audio system. The dual screens themselves are also new technology and feature 1080p resolution with touch controls. Bentley doesnÂ’t detail pricing for the system, but itÂ’s a no-brainer for any Bentley buyer who is being driven around, or is driving others around. WhatÂ’s another few thousand dollars at Bentayga and Flying Spur prices anyway? Related video: