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Bentley will race Pikes Peak for the first time — in a Bentayga SUV

Bentley is throwing its hat in the ring for the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb first time, saying it's targeting a new SUV race record with its Bentayga. The British luxury marque will enter the W12 version, not the slightly less-powerful V8 version that it recently unveiled, when the Race to the Clouds takes place June 24. The brand's motorsports department in Crewe, England, is working to develop the vehicle for the 12.42-mile assault under the direction of motorsports director Brian Gush. They'll be working with a 2017 model and its 6.0-liter W12 engine, which makes 600 horsepower and 664 pound-feet of torque and goes 0 to 60 in 4 seconds, its all-wheel-drive transmission, four-mode adjustable air suspension and its 48-volt active anti-roll system. A driver will be announced later. Bentley's motorsports efforts have mostly focused on GT3 versions of its Continental GT coupe, which have a 4.0-liter twin-turbocharged V8 powering the rear wheels and goes on sale in June, and on special-edition models like the Continental 24. So it'll be interesting to see how the motorsports crew tunes the Bentayga, which debuted back in 2015 as the brand's first production SUV and the fastest, most powerful entrant in its segment. The Broadmoor Pikes Peak International Hill Climb is a grueling race up the famed mountain near Colorado Springs, featuring 156 corners and a finish line at 14,115 feet above sea level. This year will be the event's 96th running.Related Video: Featured Gallery 2016 Bentley Bentayga: First Drive View 36 Photos Image Credit: Bentley Motorsports Bentley SUV Luxury Performance pikes peak bentley bentayga Sport Utility

Driving the 2020 Bentley Continental GT V8 'home' to Brooklands

BROOKLANDS, England – ‘Continental GTÂ’ embodies an idealized dream of carefree, trans-continental drives to the French Riviera or glamorous Swiss ski resorts. In reality and spirit, a long, long way from a gray January day in what is now a grocery store parking lot in a nondescript London suburb. But this place, or specifically the moss-covered concrete banking surrounding it, is as important to BentleyÂ’s identity as 1930s playboys racing express trains across France, amateur heroes triumphing at Le Mans or the image of luxurious sedans crunching the gravel driveways of stately English homes. In the modern age of Bentley, the racing history at Brooklands, and its expression through hardware supplied by its Volkswagen owners, is what underpins the brand. IÂ’ve got 1,000 miles at the wheel of the latest V8 Continental GT to find out if that Brooklands tradition has been carried forth; to see if this Bentley is still a Bentley. ItÂ’s an interesting moment to be driving a Continental GT, too. For all the British heritage this car embodies, it's dependent on the centralized resources and manufacturing muscle of parent Volkswagen. The same goes for the Group's other brands defined by tradition and local price: Lamborghini, Porsche and even Audi. Yet, IÂ’m enjoying this car just days before Britain formally quits the European Union. The implications are still to be fully understood but it puts Bentley in an especially perilous position, given it depends on overseas production and the free movement of parts from the continent to keep its factory running. Sure, Bentleys are meant to be expensive. But if that margin is suddenly consumed by tariffs on bodies from Volkswagen, engines from Porsche and gearboxes from ZF, the business case looks even shakier than it has been  in the recent past. Nobody knows how itÂ’ll shake out but one answer for VW would be to relocate the whole business to Germany rather than keep building them here. YouÂ’d still have cars branded as Bentleys if that happened. But would they still be Bentleys? We talk about intellectual property. Arguably here weÂ’re talking about emotional property. And the Englishness that makes the cars what they are.   Because more than anything, a Bentley is a feelgood car, even when your reality is grimy winter roads and a coating of salt on your fancy paint.

High-end Bentley Bentayga Apex adds weight-saving carbon goodies, plus nice pinstripes

  Bentley is going on a carbon binge, by introducing the Bentayga Apex Edition, developed by its in-house Mulliner bespoke division and advertised as the Ñ’most dynamic-looking and driving Bentayga ever.Ò’ What’s novel about this crossover, which will be limited globally to only 20 units, is its reliance down low on lighter-weight carbon: 22-inch carbon rims that save a significant six kilograms each in unsprung mass over the standard items. And slotted behind those wheels, a set of carbon silicon discs, which Bentley says can offer improved braking performance, survive temperatures of up to 1,000 degrees, and shave another 20 kilos of weight compared to iron rotors. By employing weight reduction materials, the luxury British brand claims the Apex models achieve improved steering agility — that a carbon wheel does not flex on the road — as well as better braking response and less tire wear. As far as fashion elements for the limited-edition Apex, well-heeled customers will be able to choose from six ‘curated themes by Mulliner,” including Extreme Silver with Beluga stripe and Signal Yellow pinstripes, Pale Brodgar with Anthracite stripe and Bacalar bronze pinstriping, and Alpine Green with matching stripe and orange pinstripe. WeÂ’re especially enticed by Theme 1, comprised of an exterior in Candy Red satin, with a livery of Anthracite and Arctic White stripe and pinstripes in Arctic White. Bentley describes the interior thusly: “Arctic White main hide and Hotspur secondary hide are complemented by Arctic White contrast stitching and seat piping. This contrast colour can also be found framing the satin carbon fibre fascia and waistrails.” Design aside, the Apex Edition is based on the Bentayga S, which houses a 550-horsepower twin-turbo V8 with a top speed of 180 mph, with rear axle steering and active anti-roll technology. Most drivers would probably be satisfied with the common S model, which retails at a starting price of about $220,000. No pricing or availability for the Apex editions have yet been announced.