2014 Bentley Continental Gt on 2040-cars

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Bentley considering chopping new Bentayga into a crossover coupe

Like it or not, crossover coupes are gaining traction. BMW lead the march with the X6 and has since followed up with the X4, rival Mercedes has already showcased its new GLE Coupe, and Audi is expected to be following suit as well. So who's next? According to Top Gear, that'd be Bentley. The British luxury automaker is (like Jaguar and Maserati) preparing to launch its first SUV in the form of the upcoming new Bentayga. But it isn't likely to stop there. After speaking with Bentley CEO Wolfgang Durheimer, who pointed towards the growth in the luxury crossover segment at the expense of coupes, convertibles and sedans, Top Gear is convinced that the Flying B marque is weighing the possibility of a slant-backed coupe version. If BMW's experience is anything to go by, reconfiguring the roof and styling of the Bentayga to give it a more rakish profile would be a relatively low-cost, straightforward way to give Crewe another crossover model to offer. But by the same token, we wouldn't expect it to lose any doors in the process as that same Bavarian rival did with the Mini Paceman. With the Bentayga set to debut next year, it may not be until 2019 that the coupe version would arrive. That's if it's given the green light in the first place, with Bentley expected to decide "within the next year and a half," according to TG. What isn't clear at the moment, however, is whether the Bentayga crossover would stand in place of the smaller crossover Bentley was said to be considering, or the four-door coupe or sports car projects that were said to be on the table as well.

Bentley designer hints at even faster Continental GT3-R

Does Bentley have room in its Continental GT lineup for an even more extreme version than the new GT3-R? Luc Donckerwolke seems to think so. Speaking with Autocar, the Bentley design chief suggested that an even more performance-focused Continental GT could be in the works, potentially ditching the heavy all-wheel drive system in an effort to further reduce weight, improve handling and drop even more ticks off the 0-60 time that's already down to a best-yet 3.6 seconds in the GT3-R.
To borrow a page from the same playbook used not only by sister-companies Audi and Porsche but also by Renault and Jaguar (to name just a few), we'll tentatively call it the Continental GT3-RS. Whatever the name, though, power would likely come from an even more potent version of the 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 co-developed with sister-company Audi. Considering that engine already produces 500 horsepower in the Continental GT V8, 521 hp in the V8 S and 572 hp in the GT3-R, we could be looking at as much as 600 horses to make it the most powerful V8 model to date. With that much juice, it would even eclipse some of the W12 models that start at 567 hp in the core Continental GT and range up to the 616 hp in the Speed, which currently ranks not only as the most powerful Conti yet, but also the fastest road car Bentley has ever made.
Donckerwolke says that Bentley has already sold the entire production run for the Continental GT3-R and that customers are already clamoring for something more focused. Younger buyers are likely to be even further drawn to the brand by the ne-plus-ultra Conti, especially if the racing team advanced from its current fifth place in the Blancpain Endurance Series standings.

Bentley Mulsanne Grand Limousine by Mulliner is a six-passenger mouthful

Automakers that specialize in low-volume, hand-built cars really listen to their customers. That's why we're looking at this, a super-sized, customer-commissioned Bentley Mulsanne, called the Grand Limousine, that's been built by the company's in-house coachbuilder Mulliner. The most notable change, of course, is the size. Mulliner adds an extra three feet to the Mulsanne's overall length and three inches to its height for uncompromised interior space. As you can see by looking at the gallery, that change allowed Bentley to fit a second pair of rear-facing seats. The actual cabin itself is entirely bespoke, but there's more than some hand-picked hides and wood trim here. The windows are made from electrochromatic glass that can change from clear to opaque with a single button press, not unlike the Mercedes-Benz SL's Magic Sky Control. Backseat passengers will also have access to an updated HVAC system, fold-out wood tables, iPad docking/charging stations and a full array of drinks storage, including a bottle cooler with a frosted glass and champagne flutes. And if you'd rather pass on alcohol, there's a special soft drink cabinet so that you can take your Mountain Dew addiction on the road. Naturally, there's also an intercom so that the one-percenter in back can talk to the 99 percenter in front. Check out the Mulsanne Grand Limousine in the official gallery, and stay tuned for live images of this gorgeous luxury sedan from the floor of the 2016 Geneva Motor Show. BENTLEY UNVEILS THE MULSANNE GRAND LIMOUSINE BY MULLINER – THE ULTIMATE EXPRESSION OF BESPOKE, COACHBUILT LUXURY MAR 1, 2016 Privately-commissioned, bespoke Mulsanne is perfect showcase of Mulliner's skill and vision One metre of additional length and a new higher roof affords passengers luxury of space and comfort Luxurious private-aviation-inspired rear cabin with face-to-face seating 'Smart glass' assures privacy; in-car technology enhances experience Hand-crafted in Crewe by Mulliner, Bentley's coachbuilding division (Geneva, Switzerland. 1 March 2016) Bentley unveils the Mulsanne Grand Limousine by Mulliner at the 2016 Geneva Motor Show today, showcasing the ultimate expression of bespoke automotive luxury, craftsmanship, individualisation and refinement. The Mulsanne Grand Limousine is one metre longer and 79 mm taller than Bentley's new Mulsanne and features a unique interior with private-aviation-style seating configuration in the rear cabin.