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Bentley's next continuation car is its 1929-30 Le Mans winner

Bentley's Mulliner division will resurrect the Speed Six as its second continuation project. Announced on the sidelines of the 2022 Goodwood Festival of Speed, the born-again classic will be nearly identical to the cars that won the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1929 and 1930. Continuation cars remain a significant source of controversy among enthusiasts; Ralph Lauren is one of the high-profile collectors who wrote an angry letter to Bentley after the firm announced plans to make 12 replicas of the four 1929 Team Blower models. The criticism didn't dent the model's popularity; all 12 units were spoken for in record time, and this success encouraged Bentley to bring the Speed Six back to life. Why the Speed Six? It's one of the most important models in Bentley's history, according to the company's archives department, largely due to its success at Le Mans. It was an evolution of the 6 1/2 -Litre model whose 6.5-liter straight-six engine was tuned to develop about 180 horsepower, a huge number in the 1920s. It was offered with three different wheelbases, and 182 examples were made between 1928 and 1930. Only a small handful of those were modified for racing; they were built on a 132-inch wheelbase and fitted with a 200-horsepower six. Bentley started the continuation project by sourcing two of the original cars. One is the third of three units that raced at Le Mans in 1930, and it's been nicknamed Old Number Three. It's in private hands. The second is a 1929 model that's part of the carmaker's collection and that has previously received a full restoration. Mulliner has completed a 3D CAD model of the Speed Six using those cars and period documents. Pricing for the Speed Six continuation car starts at GBP1.5 million, a sum that represents about $1.8 million at the current conversion rate. Production is limited to 12 units, and collectors scooped up the entire batch before the project was announced to the public. Bentley will begin building the first car, which is not part of the 12 and which will be used as a testing and engineering mule, in the second half of 2022.   Featured Gallery Bentley Speed Six View 12 Photos Bentley Automotive History Convertible Luxury Racing Vehicles Performance Classics Goodwood Goodwood Festival of Speed

Bentley Flying Spur breaches in Beluga spec

Bentley did what it could to improve the styling on the Flying Spur, but if you're still of the impression that it's still a bit of a whale in its form, you may want to check out the new Beluga Specification. Available now to order on the eight-cylinder Flying Spur worldwide, the Beluga Specification features a number of upgrades designed to make Crewe's sedan look and feel more "athletic" inside and out. A unique set of 20-inch wheels and a gloss black grille distinguish the exterior, while the cabin is treated to piano black veneer, knurled shift paddles, contrast stitching, and finer carpets. Those looking to splurge (this is a Bentley, after all) can combine this package with the Mulliner Driving Specification and get 21-inch wheels along with other interior upgrades. Related Video: NEW BENTLEY FLYING SPUR BELUGA SPECIFICATION Jun 18, 2015 - New optional specification affords luxury four-door sedan an enhanced athletic stance - Striking exterior and interior styling cues boost visual appeal - Features 20" alloys, gloss black radiator and cabin styling highlights - Available exclusively on 4.0-litre twin-turbo Flying Spur V8 models (Crewe, 18 June, 2015) Bentley Motors is launching a new specification level exclusively for its Flying Spur V8 model – Beluga Specification. The contemporary trim level affords the Flying Spur sedan a more athletic stance and purposeful visual appeal. Featuring exclusive 20" Black and Bright machined alloy wheels, a gloss black radiator matrix and a body-coloured lower grille bar, the Beluga specification is the perfect enhancement for a modern performance saloon that perfectly blends craft and comfort. Inside the Flying Spur V8's sumptuous handcrafted cabin, buyers will find swathes of piano black veneer, knurled gear shift paddles, contrast stitching to the luxurious seats and steering wheel as well as deep pile floor mats and boot carpet with contrasting leather binding. When customers also specify the highly popular Mulliner Driving Specification, in combination with Beluga specification, the striking 21" 6-spoke Extrovert wheel is included. The Mulliner Driving Specification includes features such as diamond quilted hides, a knurled gear lever, drilled alloy pedals and an indented hide headlining. In 4.0-litre, twin-turbo V8 guise it develops 507 PS (500 bhp), sprinting from 0-60 mph in just 4.9 seconds (0-100km/h in 5.2 seconds) while at the same time offering a single-tank range of 500 miles.

Weekly Recap: Takeaways from the Frankfurt Motor Show

We obsessively covered the 2015 Frankfurt Motor Show, and naturally, we selected our favorites from this fall's biggest automotive event. Now that the dust has settled, we're looking ahead to what it all means. Here are three takeaways from the floor in Frankfurt. The Germans are serious about electric vehicles: It's a bit cliche to say BMW, Mercedes, and Audi have downplayed electrics in favor of other technologies, like diesels. For a time that may have been true, but those three companies, along with Porsche and Volkswagen, are emerging as leaders in EV development. That was on display in Frankfurt, when all of them revealed either all-electric or plug-in hybrid models. Gas prices are relatively low in the United States, but clearly the Germans are thinking long-term and globally. Everyone is serious about SUVs: You gotta have one, even if you're Bentley or Jaguar. It's 2015 and it's what consumers want. As Jaguar design director Ian Callum put it, "Not to be in the sector would be a little naive for the sake of purity." It's not just the flashy exotic luxury makers. Nissan showed the Gripz concept, which is rakish, radical, and meant to blend traits of SUVs and sports cars into a vehicle that really crosses over. Look for more, especially in the luxury sector, as Rolls-Royce, Lamborghini, and Aston Martin ramp up their own SUV efforts. There's no ceiling to the luxury market: Speaking of high-end cars, companies are continuing to invest in extravagant wares beyond just SUVs. Even during the recession, ultra-luxury makers remained relevant, and now they're back at full stride. In Frankfurt, that was illustrated by yet another S-Class model, the cabriolet, which will come in S550 and S63 AMG variants in the United States. Ferrari also showed off the 488 Spider, and Lamborghini opened up the Huracan LP 610-4 Spyder. Meanwhile, Bugatti's Vision Grand Turismo concept reminded enthusiasts that it's plotting life after the Veyron. European auto shows always draw the glitziest reveals from luxury makers, and this year didn't disappoint. OTHER NEWS & NOTES 2016 Honda Civic redesigned with snazzier style, turbo power The 10th-generation of the Honda Civic debuted this week at events in Los Angeles and Detroit ahead of its launch in the United States this fall as a 2016 model. Honda fortified the Civic with LED lights, an available turbo engine, and a more tech-laden cabin.