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Bentley plotting rear-drive Continental GT3-R?

Coupe, convertible or Flying Spur sedan: no matter what body-style you get, or what engine you specify, the Bentley Continental comes with all-wheel drive. It's been that way since the model line was first introduced a dozen years ago. But that looks poised to change... at least for one notable exception. According to Autocar, Bentley is all but certain to launch a rear-drive version of the Continental GT3-R sometime next year, ditching the front half of the drivetrain to cut a good 440 pounds off the curb weight to make it the lightest Conti yet. The Continental GT3-R launched last year with less weight and more power, along with a stiffer suspension, upgraded brakes and a titanium exhaust. It drew its inspiration from the Continental GT3 racer, but unlike the competition version, kept the AWD drivetrain in place. "A lot of people expected the GT3-R to be a proper rear-wheel-drive sports car," Bentley's chief engineer Rolf Frech said to Autocar, "but the problem was timing. We needed the car at the end of the first season of our GT3 racing car, and to do a proper change of the complete powertrain needed longer than we had. But we have the concept in our mind, so why not?" Denuded of its all-wheel drive, the Conti GT3-RS – assuming Porsche doesn't mind lending the name to its sister company – would be the most hardcore version of the go-to luxury coupe, and would promise to cut its already blitzkreig 3.6-second 0-60 time down even further. Especially if the 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 were tuned to deliver even more than the 572 horsepower and 516 pound-feet of torque it already kicks out in the existing GT3-R. Chances are it'd be even less accessible, though: the 99 examples of the Conti GT3-R that are coming to the States out of the 300 total to be made already carry a $337k sticker price, and the rear-drive model would likely push the production:price see-saw even higher to the right.

Top horsepower-per-dollar cars in 2017

Bang for the buck. That quasi-scientific statistic is bandied about by motor heads everywhere from classrooms to barrooms, though the truth of the matter is that it's exceedingly complex to measure. A fair performance-per-dollar index would include something like cross-referencing MSRP (Manufacturers Suggested Retail Price) with point-to-point times on a track or driving route, which is obviously hard to do comprehensively. But, for the sheer joy of talking about cars and playing with a big spreadsheet, there's always the horsepower-per-dollar index, which is more straightforward, albeit hilariously flawed. There are vagaries even with this simple formula, of course: MSRP for vehicles can change at a moment's notice, to say nothing of the bottom-line shifting that happens with local deals or showroom negotiation. For this list we're running with the straight MSRP wherever possible, and as recently reported as we can get it. All the vehicles on this list are 2017 models, and all trims are reported where the lowest price and differing power levels intersect. Some choices were made for personal preference and some for sanity, avoiding things like all 48 trim levels of the Ford Transit, all with the same horsepower). If this list were a simple top ten, or even a top fifty, you'd be bored to tears with all the red, white and blue that is represented. Following perfectly with conventional wisdom, American cars really do lead the world where hp/$ is concerned. So, for the sake of variety (and the sheer joy of seeing a minivan 'win' one round of this thing) I've sorted out some top five and bottom five lists for broad power categories. Let's dive in. Less Than 100 Horsepower Okay, okay, this is hardly a category we'll grant you. But we've often tried to click off all the sub-100-hp cars on sale in the US, and making this list gave us an excuse. It also illustrates that none of these smallish vehicles bring cheap horsepower to the table - for that you'll need a motorcycle. The segment-leading Chevy Spark (above) asks just over $139 for each hp, and that Smart Fortwo Electric Drive has hp on sale for about the same price as its very distant family cousin, the Mercedes-Benz SL65 AMG (insert your favorite Smart joke here... we know you want to).

Bentley Continental GT takes off with Breitling Jet Team

Of all the automakers that have co-branding deals in place with watchmakers, the relationship between Breitling and Bentley ranks among the longest-standing. But aviation aficionados will also point out that Breitling – ever the favorite of pilots – also supports a team of aerobatic pilots called the Breitling Jet Team. Now the three have come together to create a special run of luxury automobiles. The Bentley Continental GT Speed Breitling Jet Team Series, as you might have guessed, is based on the Continental GT Speed that stands as the fastest model Bentley has ever offered. Which is a good starting point, because despite the "jet" part of the name, they have not actually put a turbine engine under the hood. Jaguar (among others) has tried that, and it has yet to work out. What sets apart this special series is entirely cosmetic, carried out by Bentley's Mulliner customization department. It has a two-tone paint job of Hallmark and Onyx (which may look purplish in the pictures but the scheme is listed as silver and black in the Bentley catalog), matching the livery on the jets themselves. It's accented with Breitling's signature yellow. The color scheme continues inside, with carbon-fiber trim, more yellow accents, and little thematic Easter eggs throughout. Whether the result looks like a promotional vehicle or a sleek take on the vehicle of choice for every entrepreneur who strikes it big, that's a matter of taste. And if you want to see one up close, you'll have to go to Seattle at the end of July. That's where Bentley will present the only seven examples it will make to their owners. The presentation will be made individually by the pilots at the Boeing Seafair Airshow – but only after what's sure to be the ride of their life on board one of the team's L-39 Albatros jets. BENTLEY CONTINENTAL GT SPEED BREITLING JET TEAM SERIES LIMITED EDITION - Seven limited edition Continental GT Speeds inspired by famed jets - Handcrafted models take Mulliner customisation to new heights - Continental GT Speed is fastest production Bentley ever - Models to debut at Boeing Seafair Airshow, Seattle, July 31 (Crewe, 30 June 2015) Bentley is taking its fusion of luxury and performance to new extremes with the launch of the Continental GT Speed Breitling Jet Team Series. This exclusive series is limited to just seven cars, each inspired by one of the seven Breitling Jets.