2013 Bentley Continental Gt Mulliner Package on 2040-cars

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W12 engine disappears for regular Bentley Continental GT in 2022

The non-Speed version of the Bentley Continental GT will not be available with a W12 engine in 2022. It'll be V8 only. CarBuzz noticed the change missing on Bentley's Continental Range page, and when the outlet put the question to the English automaker, the answer came back, "GT Speed and GT Speed Convertible are the only way to get a Continental with the W12 for 22MY." So ends a 13-year run of being able to choose how many horses and torques you wanted to pair with your leather and wood. We thought things were strange when Bentley priced the 2022 Continental GT Speed coupe $50,000 above the previous non-Speed Continental coupe with the W12. That's about double the premium the Speed has charged in the past despite making only 24 more horses than the non-Speed W12. Of course, that doesn't exist any more so such comparisons are academic.  At least the new Speed has received a handling makeover that includes a Bentley first: an electronic limited-slip differential. The new tools and their algorithms impart an enthusiastic liveliness at the stern end of the world's most flamboyantly capable heavyweight grand tourer. But the 2022 GT Speed can't do anything that the old standard W12 GT couldn't; the Speed is just more pliant and talkative about it. And now it exclusively has four more cylinders. The regular Continental range now includes four versions — GT V8 coupe and convertible, and GT V8 Mulliner coupe and convertible — with the Speed adding its own hardtop and droptop duo. Bentley execs have repeatedly said and hinted that they aren't finished with the W12, which got an all-new version to power the Bentayga in 2015; CEO Adrian Hallmark called it "effectively a new engine." The automaker's only got five years to spread it around, though, Bentley having said it will offer a hybrid version of all of its models by 2026, and also having said it doesn't want to add batteries to the W12 because the engine — and the car it powers — are already heavy. Our guess is that Bentley's looking up. There was a 2017 Continental GT Supersports with a W12 that made 700 hp and 750 lb-ft., which cost $60,000 more than the GT Speed. A new Supersports with those mammoth numbers (or more) and the newest Speed's dynamic tricks would make a might fine showcase. 

Bentley expands hybrid lineup to Bentaya S and Azure models

People often joke that buyers of ultra-luxury vehicles from Rolls-Royce and Bentley don’t care about gas prices, but even if thatÂ’s true, a lot of people still may not want to own the rolling embodiment of earthÂ’s impending doom. Rolls-Royce will go all-electric by 2030, and its British rivals at Bentley are hard at work on the brandÂ’s first EV, expected by 2025. In the meantime, the Brits at Bentley have come up with hybrid powertrains, and the automaker recently announced an expansion of hybrid options for its only SUV, the Bentayga. The automaker says that 100 percent of Bentayga Hybrid owners use their SUVs in full electric mode, with half staying within the vehicleÂ’s electric range. The Bentayga S and Azure are now available with hybrid powertrains, meaning half of BentleyÂ’s lineup is electrified. Rather than focusing solely on improving efficiency, Bentley implemented a plug-in hybrid system that offers up to 27 all-electric miles of range, a 6-percent surge in power, and a 15-percent improvement in torque. The Bentayga S Hybrid, for example, delivers 455 horsepower. All Bentaygas get almost 300 pound-feet of torque just from the electric motor. All Bentayga hybrids come with a 3.0-liter V6, and Bentley says that the S Hybrid can reach 62 mph (100 km/h) from a standstill in 5.3 seconds. The SUV got 15-percent stiffer dampers that shift damping force based on the selected drive mode, and Bentley says a new Hybrid Sports Exhaust “brings a stirring symphony of sound within the cabin.” It sounds a lot like fake engine noises to us, and Bentley notes that the sounds can be adjusted differently for front and rear passengers. The Bentayga Azure Hybrid is a more luxury-focused variant that features intense noise-canceling technologies and unique interior touches to improve comfort and a sense of well-being. The Azure is up to 26-percent quieter than its rivals on the road, and Bentley says it tuned the SUV to deliver 27 percent fewer vibrations. Buyers can choose from 15 different interior materials and color combinations, and 22-inch 10-spoke wheels come standard.

Bentley Bentayga by Mulliner is a one-off special edition with ties to horse racing

Not long ago, we featured the Bentley Bentayga Field Sports by Mulliner, Bentley's even more lavish companion that often adds a special touch to production Bentleys; earlier on, there was even a version aimed at falconers. Here's another one-off Bentayga special edition that looks just as ostentatious, simply called the Bentayga by Mulliner. Bentley says this Mulliner version has been inspired by horse racing, and it's been created to commemorate Bentley's partnership with racetrack operator The Jockey Club at the Cheltenham Festival. It has to be said, the Bentayga looks far better by itself than towing a horse box on the highway. The paintwork is a variation on British Racing Green, on this occasion called Spruce, and the cabin has been finished with a combination of saddle-colored leather on the seats and special tweed on the doors. The veneer is burr walnut, treated to resemble woodwork at The Jockey Club's private rooms, and branded Mulliner. As well as Cheltenham Racecourse, The Jockey Club operates 14 other horse racing venues in the UK, and it was founded all the way back in 1750. The 21" wheels on the Bentayga by Mulliner are the same, partially black ones that were fitted on the Field Sports. Related Video: Featured Gallery Bentley Bentayga by Mulliner Image Credit: Bentley Auto News Aftermarket Bentley SUV Luxury bentley bentayga Mulliner