With the Bentley Continental GTC Speed for sale, and the order book open, it completes for now the ‘Speed’ edition across the entire ‘VW’ Bentley range.

The GTC is the latest of the modern Bentleys to get the Speed treatment. The first, the Continental GT, was an enormous success. It immediately made the Continental GT the car it should always have been. Taught; responsive; sharper handling; noticeably more powerful and more aggressive visually, it turned a very good car in to a great car.

But Bentley decided that the Speed option should be rolled out across the range, and last year it added the Flying Spur Speed to the range. It did make it an incredible car, but for me it was a step too far. The Flying Spur is the VW answer to the veteran Arnage (which commendably is still in production) and a fine car it is. But I never really ‘got’ the Arnage T, and nor do I ‘get’ the Flying Spur Speed.

It feels as anomalous to me to have a big Bentley saloon with a harsh ride and jittery handling as it does to take a Ferrari F430 and give it softer springs and a higher ride height and call it the F430 Wallow. We don’t need it. Who needs that sort of aggression in a big saloon car. One that is designed to waft imperiously in comfort at that?

So a 50% hit rate in my book. And that just leaves the GTC Speed.

Bentley has done much the same with the GTC Speed as it did with the GT Speed. It has lowered the ride height and stiffened up the suspension, adding bigger wheels and tyres in the process. The nose gets the same, more aggressive, treatment as the GT, and the usual proliferation of ‘Speed’ badges. It also gets the Mulliner interior package (which I really like) and a choice of some pretty good new colours. But does it work?

Sadly, we’ve not got hold of one yet. I like the GTC, but in a different way to the GT. It was a real wafter of a car. And the huge plus was the great soundtrack from the big W12. It sounds like a wonderful V8, but more so, and its something you never get to hear in the coupe under normal circumstances.

But the worry is that all the ‘Speed’ tweaks to the suspension may highlight the normal soft-top deficiencies. It would be sad if the GTC Speed turned out to be like the DB9 Volante – great looking put rotten to drive. I do hope not.

Please, Bentley. Send me one soon!

Yes, Bentley has a shed-load of problems at the moment. Which car manufacturer, particularly at the top end, doesn’t? So is this a good time to announce the Bentley Azure T for sale? Probably not.

Bentley has laid off workers recently due to the worldwide drop in demand for all cars. But any business that doesn’t try to move forward is going to whither and die. So, despite the gloom, Bentley are moving forward with their ‘Power Pack’ plans. The Azure T is one, and you can expect the Continental GTC Speed to be close on its tails.

The Bentley Azure is that old-fashioned drop-top that is more associated with the ‘Old Rolls’ school. But it is has come a long way over the years, and is now a very competent, 21st century Boulevard Car. It’s not exciting to drive, but nor is it a dog. What it does, it does very well, and it looks the part. But, despite the economic problems we are all facing, there is a real demand for ultimate performance, which is why Bentley is intent on producing power versions across its range.

The Bentley Azure T offers a very useful increase in power of around 10%, in both the BHP and Torque. That translates to a 0-60 time of 5.2 seconds and a top speed of 180mph. Now that is seriously quick by any standards, but in a drop-top monster weighing the wrong side of 2 tonnes it is remarkable. It gets 20″ Alloys, big tweaks to the suspension and what would be called a Mulliner pack on other Bentleys. It is a great combination.

Will it sell? Well, not in droves at the moment. But the world will recover from its madness eventually, and even now there are enough people out there, with enough money, to see sales of this very limited Bentley being made.

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It’s always difficult when you write about cars to come. The world is full of speculation and conjecture (and in this case, Lamborghini releasing a series of teaser pictures), and the general consensus was that the new 4-door Lamborghini would be called Urus. It sort of made sense, even though Urus is a cow and not a bull (which is what the other Lamborghini names are), but we were wrong. So let’s get it right – Lamborghini Estoque for sale (or not, as the case may be!).

After what seems like endless teaser shots (they actually turn off the interest for me) Lamborghini has shown the new 4-door concept at Paris. Concept, you say? I thought it was a new model? Well, you’re probably right. Just like all the car makers these days, they’re scared to just announce a car. They have to float it as a concept first. I think they’ve learnt that from the major political parties on both sides of the pond, who seem equally afraid to announce policy without first ‘floating’ the idea to the media and public. But you can be pretty sure that the Estoque (which is pronounced es-toh-kay, with the emphasis on the ‘toh’) will be a production car. Why? Because, as I said last week, the 4-door coupe is the ‘in-vogue’ car, and everyone from Aston to Porsche and Mercedes to VW is in on the game. So it only makes sense that Lamborghini should join the party. And it puts one over Ferrari, which is always a plus for the boys from Sant’Agata.

So, apart from the pretty body, what has the Estoque got to offer? Well, it seems that Lamborghini aren’t too sure. The early money was on a turbo V8, but there is also talk of a V10 or even a hybrid. Again, a chunk of this has to do with how the options are received. But my money’s on a blown V8 plus some sort of hybrid. But, rather than me try and pull the salient bits from the hype bits of the press release, read it for yourself:

continue reading "Lamborghini – The Cow becomes a Sword!"

As anyone who has read here before knows, I am a big Bentley fan. Even more so since Volkswagen acquired Bentley, as the marque has found its identity again. Sure, there are detractors who say the new Bentleys are just Phaetons in drag, but they miss the point. Bentleys are all about the soul. And Volkswagen has found the long buried soul of Bentley and placed it firmly at the heart of their cars.

Unlike its coupe brother, that I found very slightly disappointing when I first drove it, the Flying Spur was as close to the perfect Bentley as I could imagine. It had oodles of power, and not bad handling, but it cosseted driver and passenger alike in a cocoon of sybaritic luxury – nothing this side of a Phantom came close. And that was its strength; it knew what it should do, and it did it perfectly. But now there’s a speed version. Hmm.

I shouldn’t be surprised that there is now a Bentley Continental Flying Spur Speed for sale. Every manufacturer looks for niche markets to fill, and I’m sure there is a market for a sporting Albert Hall. But in the same way that I always preferred the Arnage R to the Arnage T, I don’t really ‘get’ the Speed. I admire it hugely, and it is fun to drive, but around town, and on anything other than perfect roads, it’s just too stiff. Paradoxically, I absolutely adore its coupe brother, the Continental GT Speed, as that is exactly the car the original GT should have been from the start. It’s what you want in a GT coupe; oodles of power, terrific handling and exceptional feedback from the road. But I don’t really want that in a big saloon car.

The new Speed gets the same power upgrade as the GT Speed, and similar tweaks to body styling and suspension. It looks great, and it’s a great place to sit. And, on the odd occasion where you want to see what the Albert Hall feels like in a power slide, it is enormous fun. But for my money I’d have the original Flying Spur. It has 99% of the real world power of the Speed, but it’s a much nicer place to be; much more cosseting and relaxing. And, as a two year old buy, it beats the best that the S class can offer in to a cocked-hat!

So, will the Speed be a sales success? It’s hard to say. Unlike the GT Speed, where I firmly believe that every prospective buyer should choose it over the standard car, I truly believe that anyone wanting a big, impressive, luxury limousine should go for the standard car. They will sell, just like the Arnage T did, but not in the way I’m sure Bentley hope.

Great Car. But a step too far for me.

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Back in December we had a handful of the new Bentley Continental GT Speeds for sale. It was quite a coup. They were new, they were very desirable and we had some for sale. A couple of guys (and one lady) treated themselves, and I know they are extraordinarily happy with them. But since then we’ve only had half a dozen or so enquiries on the GT Speed. Very odd.

I was chatting today, as I do, to a very nice guy at a Bentley main dealers. And he was bemoaning the fact that the GT Speed isn’t massively in demand. True, there is still a waiting list, but he concludes that people just aren’t aware enough of just what a stunning car the GT Speed is. And you know, I think he’s right.

On paper, the GT Speed just doesn’t look special enough. Less than half a second to 60 quicker than its sibling, the standard Continental GT. Just a handful of miles an hour quicker. It doesn’t seem much for the extra money. But honestly, the figures belie the car’s performance and feel.

The GT Speed is, without doubt, the most astonishing car you will ever own or drive. A real heavyweight (literally) it picks up its skirts and flies, and handles, like a real thoroughbred supercar. And don’t forget, it’s damn nearly as quick as an F430. And it’s all leather, 4 seats, quiet and comfortable. There is nothing to compare. Its handling and feel are in a different league to the standard GT.

Just look at what some of the motoring press have to say:

The result is a compelling and utterly addictive car. The GT Speed’s mighty W12 emits a fabulously purposeful yet understated rumble when roused, and throws you down the road in epic fashion.

Evo Online

overall it feels more involving than ever. Although the uprated and lowered suspension has undoubtedly made the ride firmer, softer anti-roll bars mean the Bentley never feels uncomfortable.

Times Online

And they’re all in this vein. And I agree completely. Forget the Arnage (glorious though it is), and forget any other comparable car (there isn’t really one anyway!). This is unbeatable.

Do yourself a huge favour, Get in a Bentley Continental GT Speed. You know you deserve it!

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Zagato, the world famous Italian Coachbuilder, has a long history of restyling British Cars for marques such as Jaguar, Aston Martin and Bristol. And now it’s added Bentley, with the announcement of the Bentley GTZ Zagato for sale with the full backing of Bentley.

Zagato’s styling tends not to be massively radical. In many ways it’ a case of less is more. You still know what the car is, but it looks different; exclusive; special. And Zagato have certainly achieved that with the Bentley GTZ.

Based on the pick of the bunch Bentley, the Continental GT Speed, Zagato have taking a very desirable car and made it unique. The front bumper disappears, replaced by a big air intake, with added vents in the bonnet. The back gets a similar treatment, and the roof gets a ‘double-bubble’. New alloys add to the visuals, as do the restyled arches. And it’s all topped off with a two-tone paint job.

The already excellent interior (styled by British firm Adaptive Space) is left pretty much as before, but a few additional options are available. Mechanically it’s all standard – but the standard on the GT Speed is exceptional by any standards.

If you love the GT Speed (which I do) and you have deep pockets (which I don’t!) the Zagato is for you. They are being made in tiny numbers (only 9 – all LHD), and will be available through Bentley dealers. Or you could save the wait, and give us a call. We have one available in July.

Back in the day when snooker was in its heyday, I was an avid fan. Brought up a policeman’s son, I had access to a proper full-size snooker table from a young age at the local station, and indulged in what was known as the ’sign of a mis-spent youth’ – the green baize.

In the seventies and early eighties snooker was at its peak. Prime time coverage on TV and big prize money made for a nation obsessed. From the ‘old-timers’ like Ray Reardon and the relative newcomers like Cliff Thorburn (and his fellow Canadian Bill Werbeniuk, who managed to convince the game’s authorities that he needed 20 pints of lager per game for medical reasons!) and the completely unpredictable Alex ‘Hurricane’ Higgins, the sport managed to become interesting. Even Steve ‘interesting’ Davies, who wasn’t the most flamboyant player in the world, became big news because of his uncanny ability to pot everything in site in a plodding, pedantic style. And they all got rich in a sport that didn’t even raise a sweat.

But snooker got boring. The characters disappeared and it was just another late-night slot on TV. But one man stood out. A sometimes tormented soul, with a complicated private life, whose natural ability in the game made it a must-watch again. That man is Ronnie O’Sullivan. And yesterday saw him achieve a maximum break on TV in the most flawless fashion. And what does Ronnie intend doing with his prize for the maximum break? He’s going to look for a Bentley Continental GT Convertible for sale (or more correctly a Bentley Continental GTC for sale) and spend the summer with the top down, cruising.

I was always a tad disappointed with the Continental GT. It lacked edge, but wasn’t really a cruiser in the Bentley mode. Then along came the GT Speed and put that right. But what of the GTC? Well, unlike its hard-top brother I always felt it worked really well. A convertible doesn’t need an edge. Sure, there are convertibles with a real edge; proper drivers machines. The F430 and Gallardo spring to mind. But the GTC is about the waft. And the power. And the interior. And the noise. And especially the noise. In the hard-top you just don’t hear it. But in the GTC there is definitely a glorious, Thor-like soundtrack. And I love it. The interior is beautifully appointed and the seats extremely easy on the body. And it goes. I mean, it really does go. And it seems to go even more with the top down! It still feels nose-heavy in the bends if you push hard, but the GTC isn’t going to be used like that. But put your foot down on a nice long straight and you experience what feels like an endless wave of power. Overtaking, at even the slightest opportunity, is simplicity itself. You just seem to be transported from where you were to where you want to be in an instant. It is very intoxicating.

So enjoy your Bentley and your Summer, Ronnie. You deserve it (if you can find time between the runs). And if you want a good deal on the car, give us a call!

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Back in March last year, at the Geneva Motor Show, Bentley announced a new model based on the ancient Arnage – the Brooklands. What a sensible move! Ancient though the Arnage is (and it’s engine – which is even older) it epitomises traditional Bentleys, something VW is very keen to keep alive. So a limited edition coupe, based on the Arnage, was a great way to show commitment to the model ( since then VW have reinforced that commitment to the engine and the model – VW is obviously a safe pair of hands for Bentley).

Now that the Bentley Brooklands is for sale, at around £225,000, it seems a good idea to have a quick look at what’s on offer, even though the first years production is sold out (but if you want one now, it’s not a problem!). If you’ve been here before you’ll know that I have a big soft spot for these old-school Bentleys. And this one is a peach.

Based on the Arnage, the Brooklands is in many ways a successor to the old Continental R (a name Bentley couldn’t of course use for this car as it would be confused with the ‘VW’ Bentleys). A glorious, powerful and luxurious coupe, harking back to the Bentley glory days of the 1920s. There is nothing else like it on the market anymore. I suppose the biggest competition comes from Ferrari with the Scaglietti or in-house with the Continental GT. But this is much bigger; much more a traditional car.

The V8 lump in the Brooklands has a huge 530bhp (the most ever from this engine) and a planet turning 750lb ft of torque. That’s enough to propel this huge car to 60mph in a smidge under 5 seconds, and on to 185mph. But the mid-range performance is the most impressive. With all that torque you’re looking at around 1.5 seconds for the 30-50 range. That will make it hugely impressive on the road.

Rolls Royce already has something similar up its sleeve at the moment, and don’t think Maybach won’t jump on this big, luxury coupe niche as well. It’s been pretty empty for a while, but that’s all going to change. Should be interesting.

Back in early September I did a piece on the Bentley Continental GT Speed for sale. I have to admit, it blew my socks off. It was the car the Continental GT should always have been, but never quite was. Well now they’re coming on stream, and we have three ready for delivery before Christmas! I’m not quite sure how we pulled it off, but if you’re looking for the perfect gift for the man who has everything, or you’re toying with treating yourself after your bonus, the Bentley Continental GT Speed fits the bill perfectly!

A quick recap on what I said back in September:

The Speed badge has always denoted the fastest Bentley (well, since it was first used in the early 1920s), but it’s not been used for a while. But now it has, and the Speed can wear it with pride. On the face of it the performance figures on the new Speed seem only slightly up on its sibling (202mph and 0-62mph in 4.3seconds), but it feels so different. It’s crisp; it’s sharp; it’s wonderful! That nose-heavy feeling when you turn in has all but gone. The exhaust has learnt how to sing. The engine feels alive, and it all works so well together.

Prices for the Speed start at around £137,00 (before you start adding extras like ceramic brakes at £10,000!), so it’s a fair bit more expensive than the standard GT. But it is a very much better car, and I have no doubt it will end up being a bigger seller than the standard GT. And so it should. Now I’m looking forward to a full road test in the very near future, instead of just a drive.

‘Tis the Season to be Jolly, and I can’t think of anything that would make me more jolly than one of these in my Christmas stocking. Are you listening, Carla?!

There was a time when the phrase ‘Bentley For Sale‘ would almost guarantee the phone didn’t ring. Bentleys over the last few decades have just been badge-engineered Rolls Royces (even the Bentley Turbo – which was a great car – was still a Rolls Royce with a Bentley badge and a tweak or two). But how things have changed.

Just four short years ago Bentley were struggling to churn out 1000 cars a year; just 3 a day. But then along came VW and, contrary to what everyone expected, completely revitalised the brand and turned it into a must-have car for the rich and discerning. And now they’re selling 10,000 cars a year.

The Bentley brand now has a selection of the most desirable cars in the world. The Bentley Continental GT was the first, and many thought it would be just a Phaeton in drag. But it wasn’t. It encompassed most of the desirable traits of the marque whilst at the same time addressing all the quality issues that had plagued it in the past. Yes, it had its faults (but they were few and far between – mainly it’s slightly dead feel and heavy front end), but VW even addressed that by launching the Bentley Continental GT Speed this year (which is a simply incredible car). They’ve even thrown in an option for the poseurs out there – the Bentley Continental GTC.

And still the Bentley Arnage soldiers on. But actually it’s not just soldiering on. it’s going from strength to strength, with a new model in the planning. And most remarkably of all VW is so committed to the ancient (but wonderful) 6.75 litre engine that they are planning not just to make it comply with upcoming emission limits, but making sure it complies with those for 2013! Now there’s commitment for you. And in the face of competition from their own grand-cruiser, the Bentley Continental Flying Spur, they’ve found room for them both. Wonderful.
According to Bentley Sales & Marketing Director Stuart McCullough, speaking this week at the Tokyo Motor Show, Bentley are now considering a three shift system to keep up with demand. They’ve sold 1,000 Bentleys in the Asia Pacific region alone in the last year, and 400 in China. That’s twice what they expected, and they’re not even coming close to fulfilling demand.

It’s great to see a British brand (even though it’s owned by the Germans) succeed by producing world-class products once again. Just the same with Rolls Royce. Maybe the Brits and the Germans do work well together after all. We owe the Germans a lot for reviving these two archetypal British marques and restoring them back to the world-beaters they once were. And I never thought I’d find myself saying that!