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Bentley rolls out updates across Continental range [w/videos]

Hard as it may be to believe, it's been a dozen years now since Bentley first introduced the Continental GT. After a proliferation of engine variants and body styles, a substantially updated range was launched in 2011, but even that was four years ago. Little wonder, then, that the British automaker has announced a raft of updates for its most successful model line. For the 2016 model year, first of all, the Continental range benefits from some updated styling. There's a revised front bumper and grille, reprofiled fenders with a metallic B vent, a character line running towards the rear fender, a more sculpted trunk lid, a new rear diffuser for the performance-oriented V8 S and GT Speed models, and an array of new 20- and 21-inch wheels. Inside, the Continental has been fitted with new seats – straight-fluted on standard models, diamond-quilted on Mulliner and GT Speed models – as well as new controls and trim. The crew from Crewe has also revised the marque's signature 6.0-liter twin-turbo W12, increasing output from 567 horsepower to 582 and from 516 pound-feet to 531. Bentley's not saying what performance advantage the enhanced twelve-cylinder engine will net, but it doesn't come at the expense of fuel economy: in fact, with a new cylinder deactivation feature, fuel consumption is cut by five percent despite the power boost. Finally the four-door Flying Spur gets some new equipment including wheels, steering wheel, instruments and trim, with the W12 engine (shared with the GT Speed) benefiting from the same cylinder deactivation system to improve its environmental credentials. Look for the updated 2016 model range to be presented at the 2015 Geneva Motor Show, now just weeks away. The video meant to be presented here is no longer available. Sorry for the inconvenience. The video meant to be presented here is no longer available. Sorry for the inconvenience. NEW STYLE AND TECHNOLOGY FOR LUXURY GRAND TOURING - A suite of design upgrades and features for Continental GT family - Continental GT W12 increases to 590 PS and 720 Nm, improving performance and efficiency - Flying Spur offers even more bespoke four door luxury (Crewe, 17th February 2015) Bentley Motors is building on the global demand for the Continental GT family with a suite of contemporary design updates and new exquisite features for its most successful model.

The renowned Bentley Blower returns to race again

Defining the Bentley Blower as a monumentally classic racing machine is a massive understatement. And now a modern example of the Blower — called Car Zero — has been built by hand, a copy of the 1929 4 1/2 -liter supercharged car, and it will race yet again. The indomitable Blower, so named for the Roots-type supercharger (built by Amherst Villiers) bolted in at the front of the magnesium crankcase, has been resurrected and will compete at the Circuit de la Sarthe  — translated: Le Mans — in June, as well as at Donington Park in England and at Spa in Belgium later this year. The car has already run a six-hour full-race-pace trial at the historic Goodwood track south of London to test its competition readiness. According to a history published in AutoEvolution, the original car was intolerably unreliable — it did not win any of the 12 races it entered – and was mightily inefficient. “At full steam, the Blower would burn four liters (1.1 gallons) of fuel every minute," the story said. "But its speed was the downright jaw-dropping act of the small, supercharged engine and the four-speed unsynchronized gearbox.” Several so-called Continuation Series Blowers have been commissioned and have been or will be built for sales to customers. All have already been already sold, with few modifications for modern safety, including a rain light and a fire extinguisher. Autoblog contributor Andrew English has driven the $2 million Car Zero, and it's a hell of a tale. A photo gallery of his exploits appears below. About three years ago, Bentley initiated the process of rebuilding the replica of the original Blower with a laser scan of all its parts. Engineers spent about 40,000 hours on the project, using original drawings and blueprints to create “high-fidelity copies” of the original parts. Nor was the interior ignored. Bentley used 22 pounds of horsehair to stuff the seats, the frame is made from ash, and the upholstery is red leather. ItÂ’s still, after all, a Bentley. Bentley Continuation View 13 Photos  

New Bentley Supersports coming in 2014

A report in Autocar says the next Bentley Continental Supersports will be ready for retail duty in 2014. If true, the coupe is meant to follow the same formula as the first generation, which means weight loss, honed reflexes and "improving braking power," that last one an eyebrow raiser because the Continental series already has some of the largest diameter brakes available on a production car.
A vulgar gain in horsepower isn't planned, however; the Supersports was never primarily about pure grunt, but rather being more connected to the grunt the Continental had. The previous Supersports (Bentley no longer offers it) put out 621 horsepower, but it's said that the coming model will move up to 650 hp, and that would put healthy distance between it and the 616-hp Continental GT Speed.
The Supersports would take a place at the head of the Continental line-up, but be briefly usurped there by a road-going version of the Continental GT3 race car if that comes to fruition. But whereas the street-legal GT3 car would be limited production, the new Supersports would be a series offering.