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Bentley Bentayga Speed honors Russian ballet with creative colors

Bentley has become the first major automaker to release a series of cars dedicated to Russian ballet — sorry, Lada. It's planning to build a series of six Bentayga Speed models inspired by a different motion performed by ballet dancers in Russia. Each SUV in the series wears a specific livery; three feature a single-tone paint job while the rest get a two-tone look. As of writing, only one of the limited-edition SUVs has been revealed. It's painted in Silver Storm over Damson, which is Bentley-speak for purple, and it receives a brown and purple leather interior with contrasting Koa wood trim. Some of the other color combinations planned will be more subtle. One will be painted in Windsor Blue over Light Windsor Blue, for example. At the other end of the spectrum, another will be fully finished in purple. Edition-specific contrast stitching and ballet silhouettes added to the seats and to the trim on the dashboard further set the members of this few-off series apart from the regular-production Bentayga Speed. And, each car is named after a unique ballet move; the name appears on the sill plates. Before you get in, keep an eye out for the unique Russian Heritage LED welcome lighting that's exclusive to these six cars. Don't look for ballet-inspired modifications under the hood. Power comes from the regular-production Speed's mighty 6.0-liter W12 engine, which is twin-turbocharged to develop 626 horsepower and 664 pound-feet of torque. The latter figure is available over a broad range that stretches from 1,500 to 5,000 rpm. The firm quotes an impressive 3.9-second sprint from zero to 62 mph and a top speed of 190 mph. Pricing information hasn't been announced but it's of little interest: all six cars have already been spoken for. They'll be delivered by Bentley dealerships in the Moscow area before the end of 2021. Bentley explained that this is the first chapter in a series of Russian Heritage Edition models developed specifically for the Russian market. It plans to release new Russia-themed limited-edition models annually. Fear not if you're into big, powerful SUVs and head-turning paint colors but aren't on the list to receive a ballet-themed Bentayga. Mulliner (the division that handles Bentley's in-house customization) takes requests; its 1,000th project was a sweet potato-colored Bentayga. Related video: 2019 Bentley Bentayga Exterior Walkaround, Drive Modes, V8 Engine, Front Seats and Rear Seats

First Bentley to race at Le Mans sells for over $3.7 million

What's the big deal with Bentley? After all, the luxury marque has spent much of its life as a Volkswagen sub-brand or Rolls-Royce understudy. Well the big deal is, in short, racing provenance. In its very early days, before it became an nouveau riche status symbol, Bentley staked a claim as a force in the motorsports world. And people who remember that still hold the brand in high regard. Case in point: The first Bentley to race at the 24 Hours of Le Mans has just sold for more than $3.7 million. This year marks the 100th anniversary of the famed French enduro, hailed by many as the greatest auto race in the world. In 1923 Bentley 3-Litre, chassis 141 became the first of many to enter the race. In fact, it is billed as the first international entrant, period.  Prior to its arrival at Circuit de la Sarthe, the car had been raced by WWI veteran and Bentley dealer John Duff at the Double 12 Hour at Brooklands. At the time 24-hour races had been outlawed in the U.K. due to noise so the race was divided into two segments. Duff set 38 international records as he covered 2,082 miles at an average 86.79 mph. Based on that success, he asked founder W.O. Bentley to help him prep the car for a new day-long race in France. Duff and his co-driver Frank Clement, a Bentley factory test driver, managed to finished fourth despite a hole in the fuel tank caused by a rock on the track in this pre-paved era. Along the way, they set a lap record of 66.69 mph average speed. Duff and several other racers became known as the Bentley Boys, a cadre of free-wheeling daredevil rascals. Bentley, Duff and Clement returned the following year and won the race outright. The Bentley Boys would then set a four-year streak from 1927-30 at the fledgling event, cementing the brand into legend. Then Rolls-Royce bought the company in 1931 and ceased its racing activities. A Bentley works car would not appear on the starting grid at Le Mans until the EXP Speed 8 in 2001. Despite its pivotal role in Bentley history, chassis 141 was pretty much treated as a used car after its retirement. According to the brokerage firm that arranged the $3.7 million sale, at some point a local undertaker covered the rear and used it as a wagon, perhaps for macabre cargo.

2019 Bentley Continental GT gets stunning new looks but keeps its W12 engine

The Continental GT is an incredibly important model for Bentley, having kicked off the British luxury brand's current resurgence. To wit, in 2003, the year the Continental GT was introduced, Bentley sold around a thousand vehicles. Just a decade later, Bentley was selling 10 times that many cars. You can be sure that the automaker doesn't want that explosive growth to slow down, and the new 2019 Continental GT you see here looks certain to keep customers flowing into Bentley dealerships for the foreseeable future. If you were expecting lots of technology in this new Continental, you'll find it front and center in the cockpit. There's a fully digital dash that mimics conventional gauges on either side of a configurable screen, but the real showstopper is the 12.3-inch Rotating Display. When the car is turned off, the infotainment screen spins to hide behind a wooden veneer – just a small part of the 107 square feet of wood inside – but that's not its only trick. In addition to the LCD screen, there's a third mode festooned with a temperature gauge, compass, and chronometer. The rest of the cabin is suitably opulent. There's diamond-stitched leather, a watch-like machined finish called Cotes de Geneve, diamond knurling, and bronze inserts in between the primary controls. 20-way power adjustable seats are heated, cooled, and massaging, and in-seat Active Bass Transducers are optional. A 6.0-liter W12 engine sends 626 horsepower and 664 pound-feet of torque to all four wheels through an eight-speed automatic transmission. The run to 60 takes just 3.6 seconds, and the top speed is listed at 207 miles per hour. If you were expecting some sort of electrification, you'll have to look elsewhere. A 48-volt electronics system with actuators to help keep the big coupe planted during corners is borrowed from corporate cousins Audi, as do LED Matrix headlights. We'll see the 2019 Continental GT in person at the Frankfurt Motor Show. Pricing has yet to be announced, but we'd expect it to be slightly higher than the $200,000 asking price of the current model. Featured Gallery 2019 Bentley Continental GT View 28 Photos Frankfurt Motor Show Bentley Coupe Luxury Performance