2012 Bentley Continental Gt Coupe. Rare Color. Linen Interior. 23k Miles. on 2040-cars

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Watch a Bentley Continental GT Speed hit 206 mph in Australia

The top speed listed on most cars is usually a rather theoretical affair. After all, where can you actually drive a car to its v-max, anyway? Well there are a few highways in the world – and really only a few – that will let you drive as fast as you can. One of them is in the Australian outback, so that's where Bentley took its new Continental GT Speed. The road in question is called the Stuart Highway. It's a 1,761-mile road which runs across the continent from Darwin in the north to Port Augusta in the south. That's about the same distance as driving from New York to Denver. Only unlike any of the highways you'd take to drive across America, the Stuart Highway has one long stretch of 120 miles between Alice Springs and Barrow Creek that is completely derestricted, and has been for the past two years since local authorities set about trying out removing the speed limit. To see how fast the new GT Speed could actually go in the real world, Bentley put Aussie touring car champion John Bowe behind the wheel and let 'er rip. The result is a top speed clocked at 206 miles per hour. That's pretty darn fast for any car, let alone one that weighs a massive 5,000 pounds. Its 6.0-liter twin-turbo W12 engine contributes significantly to that curb weight, but with 626 horsepower and 607 pound-feet of torque on tap, it also has the muscle to keep the Conti pulling like a freight train all the way up past the double-century mark. Watch it unfold in the video above. BENTLEY CONTINENTAL GT SPEED: VMAX IN THE OUTBACK - Continental GT Speed hits 206 mph (331 km/h) top speed on Stuart Highway, Australia - Northern Territory route one of only three derestricted roads in the world - Australian racing legend, John Bowe, takes Grand Tourer on extraordinary high-speed run - Continental GT Speed combines supercar performance with supreme luxury (Crewe, 04 November 2015) The 16MY Bentley Continental GT Speed has been taken to its top speed of 206 mph (331 km/h)* by Australian racing legend, John Bowe, on the derestricted Stuart Highway** deep in the Northern territory. The 635 PS (626 bhp), 820 Nm (607 lb.ft) W12-powered GT Speed Grand Tourer reached Vmax in just 76 seconds, covering a distance of 9.4 kilometres in the process. At top speed, the 6.0-litre twin-turbo Grand Tourer was covering a staggering 92 metres (or one football pitch) per second. John Bowe said: "This isn't a modified racecar; it's a luxurious grand touring road car fresh off the production line.

Former Lamborghini designer reportedly headed to Hyundai

Luc Donckerwolke (pictured above) only left his position as the Director of Design for Bentley in early June, but he might have already had a new gig lined up as he was walking out the door. Donckerwolke is reportedly teaming up with former Volkswagen Group styling bigwig Peter Schreyer at Hyundai Motor, in a position to eventually take over the look of all of the Korean brands' vehicles. At the moment, this major hire for Hyundai and Kia is still just a rumor, though, and the Korean automaker is playing it close to the vest. Company spokesperson Jim Trainor tells Autoblog, "We do not comment on speculation concerning potential appointments." However, insiders tell Automotive News that the deal is the reason for Donckerwolke walking away from his long career among VW's brands. In Korea, Donckerwolke would hold a position under Schreyer at first, and he would take over Hyundai and Kia's design duties when Schreyer retires, which is expected in about two years. Donckerwolke joined the German automotive giant in 1992 and eventually came to define the modern look of Lamborghini by penning both the Murcielago and Gallardo. In 2011, he became the Head of Advanced Design for VW Group and took over styling duties at Bentley in 2012. Schreyer left a fruitful career at VW Group, including penning the original Audi TT, to join Kia in 2006. He gained the overall design duties for the Hyundai and Kia brands in 2012. Ousted VW Chairman Ferdinand Piech once said that he was regretful of losing the talented stylist. Related Video:

2019 Bentley Bentayga Hybrid arrives at the 2018 Geneva Motor Show

It's been more than three years since the Bentley Bentayga Hybrid was announced. The British automaker's ultra-lux SUV was released with a 600 horsepower W12, though a diesel variant is available in Europe and a gasoline V8-powered model will soon go on sale. At the 2018 Geneva Motor Show, Bentley finally unveiled the new Bentayga plug-in hybrid with 31 miles of range and a full charge in just 2.5 hours. The Bentayga Hybrid uses a turbocharged 3.0-liter V6 paired with an electric motor. Details on the battery capacity, power output and fuel economy haven't been announced, but expect huge improvements over the current model's abysmal 12 mpg city and 19 mpg highway EPA rating. Like other hybrids, the Bentayga's E Motor acts as both an electric motor and a generator. Bentley says the hybrid will get 50 kilometers or about 31 miles of range on the European cycle. View 12 Photos Power is still sent to all four wheels. Four on-road driving modes — Sport, Bentley, Comfort and Custom — will be joined by three new modes. Using what used to be the start/stop switch, drivers can change between EV Drive, Hybrid and Hold modes, the latter holding battery power for later use. The instrument cluster and infotainment screens have been revised, with an EV Drive meter joining the traditional tachometer. A battery charge meter replaces the coolant temperature gauge. In order to maximize fuel economy and electric range, Bentley uses the satellite navigation to calculate the best use of the powertrain. When a destination is set, the nav system will talk to the computer to determine the best times to use the electric motor, holding the battery's charge until it's most efficient. Ideally, Bentley says the system will deplete the battery's charge completely just as you arrive at your destination. A smartphone app allows owners to remotely check the charge status or search for charging stations along a route or in an area. Other features include remote heating and cooling that will have the car at a set temperature when you're ready to go. A full charge should take 7.5 hours on a standard outlet or 2.5 with a in-home charger. Bentley has you covered here and has partnered with designer Philippe Starck on a custom charger. While it doesn't charge any faster than other chargers, it is quite a stylish piece of equipment. Visually, the Bentayga Hybrid doesn't differ much from the standard gasoline model. The charging port mirrors the fuel filler door on the opposite side of the car.