2006 Bentley Continental Flying Spur Sedan 4-door 6.0l on 2040-cars

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Bentley Continental GT Speed gets a little more juice

The latest version of the Bentley Continental GT Speed packs 633 horsepower, up ever so slightly from the 626 hp in the outgoing version launched in 2014, the 616-hp model that arrived in 2012, and the 602 hp offered in the first iteration from 2007. It also leaves the previous, 621-hp Supersports model in its wake, and further separates the flagship twelve-cylinder version from the lighter but less potent V8 model. Along with the relatively negligible 7-horsepower increase, the crew from Crewe also raised the torque figure by 15 pound-feet to a total of 619. As a result, Bentley says the latest flagship Conti will hit 60 in 3.9 seconds, down from the 4.0 flat the previous version was quoted at. No word on the top speed changing, but at 206 miles per hour, it didn't need much improvement in the first place. The Flying B marque has also launched a new Black Edition of the same model that offers a whole array of visual enhancements inside and out. As you might have guessed, it consists mostly of black trim, but also some contrasting aero components and leather trim. That's all well and fine, but we doubt most occupants would be paying much attention once all that power is deployed. Related Video: BENTLEY LAUNCHES NEW GT SPEED AND STRIKING BLACK EDITION - Continental GT Speed increases power and torque - Bold new Black Edition joins GT family - New and unique styling cues handcrafted to perfection at Bentley's Crewe factory (Crewe, 4 April 2016) Bentley unveils today the revised Continental GT Speed, raising the bar even further in terms of exclusivity and performance. The fastest production Bentley ever, with a top speed of 206 mph (331 km/h), now delivers even more power and torque, and a striking new Black Edition model joins the Speed family. Engineers at Bentley in Crewe have developed even more muscle from the Continental's iconic 6.0-litre twin-turbocharged W12 engine. The GT Speed now produces 642 PS - up from 635 PS - and 20 Nm of extra torque, bringing its total to a forceful 840 Nm. This additional torque is applied through the entire rev range via careful reoptimisation of boost control, raising the Grand Tourer's renowned "torque plateau" of continuous maximum torque delivery from 2,000-5,000 rpm, and bringing even greater acceleration performance. As a result, the 0-60 mph sprint time has dropped to just 3.9 seconds (0-100 km/h in 4.1 secs).

Bentley starts testing the sold-out, 200-mph Bacalar roadster

Bentley took the limited-edition Bacalar from a sketch to a 200-plus-mph roadster in nine months, a shockingly short amount of time. Its engineers are now putting the first car through its paces at the same break-neck speed. Although the Bacalar is based on the Continental GT, the British firm explained nearly everything the driver will see and feel is specific to the car. Bentley developed over 750 new parts for it, including 40 built with carbon fiber, and the roadster shares no body panels with other members of the company's range. All of these components have to meet the same stringent quality standards as those created for regular-production models. Bentley gave its team 20 weeks to fine-tune the first prototype (pictured), which it calls car zero. Testing started earlier in 2020, so the car has already been put through a wind tunnel and pushed to the limit at triple-digit speeds — it's as stable and quiet as customers expect. Next, test drivers will pile on the miles to see how it holds up over time. They'll then test it at up to 176 degrees, and the final step will be validating the electrical system. Power for the Bacalar comes from a twin-turbocharged 6.0-liter W12 engine, which produces 650 horsepower and 667 pound-feet of torque. It spins the four wheels through an eight-speed automatic transmission. Bentley hasn't revealed what it will do with car zero at the end of the testing phase. Production is scheduled to start in 2021, and the 12 examples planned have already been spoken for. Each one will be unique; buyers will be invited to work directly with the company's design department to configure the interior and the exterior. Related Video:

Bentley Continental GT3 Pikes Peak car's wheel can be used for games

As video games become ever more realistic, the lines between driving real cars and their virtual counterparts gets blurrier. And that line is at its blurriest with the steering wheel used in the Bentley Continental GT3 Pikes Peak race car. Not only is it a wheel for the race car, but it can be used for playing racing simulators, too. Bentley collaborated with video game steering wheel manufacturer Fanatec to make the unit for the Pikes Peak racer. It's impressive simply as a car wheel, as it's made from magnesium and carbon fiber. The grips are covered in Alcantara, including the removable lower section designed to give the driver more leverage around hairpins. The rotary switches are CNC-machined aluminum with Bentley's knurling design. In the middle of it all are LED rpm indicators and a 3.4-inch circular display that shows current gear selection and driver settings. But a quick disconnect from the Bentley's steering column, and wheel can be carried over to a Fanatec steering wheel base and reconnected for virtual fun. In this setup, the screen can show various in-game telemetry and information, and the buttons can be programmed for various functions. Though availability and pricing haven't been announced, you'll be able to purchase your own example of this wheel. Considering the materials and functionality, it will probably be quite pricey, but certainly one of the more unique and usable automotive collectibles ever created. Even if you don't want to use it for video games, it comes with a stand that turns it into a display piece, and the center screen can act as a watch or show map and telemetry from laps of race tracks. We suspect you could also use it as an actual steering wheel in a car, assuming you have a compatible quick release. Though, depending on the car, you might not be able to use all the switches, paddles or even the screen. Still, it would be cool and probably a quality piece. Related Video: