Bentley
37 topics in this forum
-
It is no secret that Bentley is working on an electric vehicle. What has been unclear is when said vehicle is expected to launch. Recently, Automotive News Europe had a sit-down with Bentley CEO Adrian Hallmark where he revealed that electric cars are seen "as another growth opportunity in a five- to 10-year period." Why the long period? "The problem is, with the size of our vehicles and the frontal area we push through, current battery-power density limits the size of the car with a credible driving range. The Jaguar I-Pace is the perfect-size car for the battery technology, but it’s too small for us. It’s all driven by power density of the battery, but there’s noth…
Last reply by G. David Felt, -
-
- 1 follower
- 2 replies
- 1.7k views
For those wondering when Bentley was planning to introduce a drop-top version of the second-generation Continental GT, wonder no more. This week, Bentley has revealed the 2019 Continental GT Convertible. There isn't any significant design changes aside from the roof being lopped off. The new power-folding soft top opens and closes in 19 seconds at speeds up to 30 mph. Bentley is offering a tweed option for the roof. The interior is lavishly appointed with impressive materials and a new neckwarmer system to keep warm when the top is down. Power comes from a 6.0L twin-turbo W12 producing 626 horsepower and 664 pound-feet of torque. This is paired with an eight-speed…
Last reply by Robert Hall, -
At first glance, you might be wondering why a spy photographer took photos of what appears to be a standard Bentley Continental GT. But then why would this particular Continental GT have two fuel doors, one on each fender? The one on the right is the for fuel. The one on the left is most likely a charging port - leading to many thinking this is a mule for a plug-in hybrid variant of the Continental GT. What is most likely under the skin is a reworked version of Porsche’s hybrid system which is comprised of a turbocharged V6 and an electric motor. Bentley will be using a variant for the upcoming Bentayga Hybrid, although power figures are being kept quiet. Consid…
Last reply by G. David Felt, -
- 1 follower
- 5 replies
- 1.6k views
Bentley tends to build even faster versions of their models which are denoted by the Speed nameplate. The Bentayga SUV is no exception to this. Bentley design boss Stefan Sielaff confirmed to Autocar this week that the luxury automaker is working on a Bentayga Speed. The model will get “typical” styling changes Bentley makes when creating Speed versions - revised front end, wider fenders, rear diffuser, and wheels. Autocar reports that more power is expected for the W12 engine. The current engine produces 600 horsepower, so 650 to 700 horsepower isn't out of the question. No time frame was given as to when the Bentayga Speed would appear. We're guessing 2020 at …
Last reply by riviera74, -
Last week, we brought you news that Bentley is planning to catch up on the electrification trend that a number of other automakers are ahead on. We now have some possible details as to some of their plans. The next-generation Flying Spur, due out towards the end of the year could be the second Bentley model to be offered with a hybrid powertrain. "Obviously Bentayga is our highest volume car so that’s the first one we have to hybridise. The next volume car is probably going to be the saloon car, so if you wanted a second car just for compliance, then that would normally be the next selection," said Bentley CEO Adrian Hallmark to Autocar. Hallmark said "poss…
Last reply by frogger, -
Back in March, Bentley unveiled their first electrified model. The Bentayga Hybrid is a plug-in hybrid that pairs a turbocharged 3.0L V6 with an electric motor to improve efficiency and allow the model to travel up to 31 miles on EV power alone. But Bentley's new CEO Adrian Hallmark admits they need to do more. “The [Bentayga] hybrid is a great first step but we need to do more than one hybrid. Hence the first thing we’ve changed [since I started] is the electrification of the cycle plan as fast as we can," said Hallmark to Autocar. He admits that the luxury automaker wasn't prepared for the electrification trend and is working fast to fix this. “That’s bee…
Last reply by balthazar, -
- 1 reply
- 1.5k views
We've known that Bentley is planning to do an electric vehicle, most likely using the platform underpinning the Porsche Mission E. What is still up in the air is what shape that vehicle could be? “The next step for sure is an electric, unique Bentley that isn’t based on an existing car but a completely fresh and new development, with electric propulsion and obviously different proportions following the function. It gives us a great chance to establish a completely new design language for the company,” said Bentley design director Stefan Sielaff. “It will happen not so far in the future.” Auto Express believes the model in question is a four-door coupe, par…
Last reply by G. David Felt, -
- 2 replies
- 1.6k views
Bentley is building out its roster of powertrains for the Bentayga. Already, the SUV is available with the 6.0L W12 and 4.0L turbodiesel V8 (for those outside of the U.S.) Soon, Bentley will be unveiling a plug-in hybrid variant. But before that, Bentley has one more engine to show. Meet the Bentley Bentayga V8. The V8 in question is a 4.0L twin-turbo V8 engine found under the hoods of the Porsche Cayenne and Panamera Turbos. Power is rated at 542 horsepower and 568 pound-feet of torque. This is paired with an eight-speed automatic and 4WD. Bentley says the Bentayga V8 hits 60 mph in 4.4 seconds and reaches a top speed of 180. That's not too far off from the Be…
Last reply by smk4565, -
- 4 replies
- 1.7k views
Bentley has been talking about building a plug-in hybrid variant of their Bentayga SUV for quite some time and soon they'll be revealing it to the world. According to Automotive News Europe, Bentley will be debuting the plug-in hybrid variant at the Geneva Motor Show in March. It is thought that Bentley would use the same powertrain found in the Porsche Panamera E-Hybrid - a 2.9L twin-turbo V6 paired with 136 horsepower electric motor to produce a combined output of 462 horsepower. When fully charged, the E-Hybrid can travel up 30 miles on electric power alone. We're expecting the Bentayga to have a shorter range. The Plug-In Hybrid version of the Bentayga will …
Last reply by smk4565, -
- 3 replies
- 1.7k views
Bentley appears to have electric vehicles on the brain. Back in September, we reported that the luxury automaker decided to go forward on an electric coupe over a small SUV. It seems there are plans for another electric vehicle. According to a report from Automobile Magazine, Bentley will be working on its own version of the Porsche Mission E codenamed J1. The new model will use the Mission E architecture which is said to have three different power outputs - 402, 536, and 670 horsepower. But there is talk of Porsche working on a monster version producing 936 horsepower and coming with larger batteries. Expect a four-door coupe design and possibly wearing the name of …
Last reply by smk4565, -
-
- Editor-in-Chief
- 1 follower
- 6 replies
- 1.8k views
For the past year or so, Bentley executives have faced a tough decision; do they do a smaller SUV or a sports car? Speaking with Autocar, Bentley boss Wolfgang Durheimer said they had made the choice to do the sports car, albeit one with an electric powertrain. “What I can say is that a small SUV is no longer on the scheme. We’re favouring a car with a full electric powertrain,” said Durheimer. “We intend to be the leader in electrification in the luxury segment. We see that it fits into the Bentley scheme – low rev torque with seamless acceleration.” Bentley previewed this idea earlier this year with the EXP12 Speed 6e concept that featured two electr…
Last reply by Robert Hall, -
-
- 1 follower
- 7 replies
- 1.9k views
Bentley has been planning to launch a plug-in hybrid variant of the Bentayga for 2018 and we have finally gotten our first look at via some new spy photos. The mule caught in Spain may look like your standard Bentayga, but it features fuel doors on both rear fenders. The standard Bentayga has its fuel door on the right side, meaning the left side is likely for the recharging port. The spy photographer who caught the Bentayga also ran the plates through the United Kingdom's Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) where it was uncovered that the model was using a hybrid system with a 2995cc engine. It seems possible this mule was using a variation of the hybrid powe…
Last reply by A Horse With No Name, -
-
- Editor-in-Chief
- 1 follower
- 3 replies
- 2.1k views
It is no secret that Bentley CEO Wolfgang Durheimer has his eye on adding a few more Bentayga variants. As we reported back in December, Bentley is considering a coupe-styled variant, long-wheelbase model, and even a high-performance version. If approved, these models could arrive in 2019 - the time when Bentley is planning to do a facelift for Bentayga. But why is Durheimer so interested in adding more variants? Speaking with Autocar, he explained the reason was to stay one step ahead of competitors. “Derivatives are important to us because you have to be the newest kid in town for customers,” said Durheimer. “We will see a large number of competitors [in …
Last reply by smk4565, -
-
- 2 replies
- 1.7k views
Bentley has been hinting for awhile about adding a second SUV to its lineup, something smaller than the current Bentayga. This new SUV could go all-electric according to a report from Automotive News. "I can assure you that Bentley -- on the long term view -- will not stay with one model only in the SUV lineup. We have clear indications that a smaller Bentayga as a Bentley SUV would find great acceptance," said Wolfgang Duerheimer, Bentley CEO. But there is the concern that the smaller SUV could eat into the sales of the Bentayga. Hence the idea of making it an EV. "If you are looking for such a car [small SUV] then we are looking to that in combination wit…
Last reply by G. David Felt, -
-
- Editor-in-Chief
- 4 followers
- 9 replies
- 2.6k views
It is no secret that Bentley is working on a plug-in hybrid variant of the Bentayga SUV due out next year. But Bentley CEO Wolfgang Duerheimer revealed that all of their models would have the option of a plug-in hybrid in the coming years. Speaking at the Automotive News World Conference, Duerheimer said this powertrain provides the best of two worlds - allowing owners to drive their vehicles on electric power only in cities where gas engines might be restricted and traveling for long distances without having to recharge the battery. “To cover long distances and to make it from one city to another -- and you travel long distances in the U.S. -- I think the combustion…
Last reply by hyperv6, -
-
- 3 followers
- 17 replies
- 2.5k views
The Bentley Bentayga maybe one of most controversial models ever launched by the brand, but it has exceeded sales expectations. Because of this, Bentley is considering expanding Bentayga lineup. Autocar reports that there are three models up for consideration. First up is a coupe-styled version that could launch in 2019 if given the green-light by Volkswagen. “I’m confident that it will happen and our team is working on the case for this car, but it is not yet approved for production. We are the first in the luxury SUV space and at the moment unopposed, but there are lots of rivals coming to the sector. The question we need to answer is if there is space for all…
Last reply by oldshurst442, -
- 2 replies
- 1.6k views
They said it would never happen. But for the first time in their history, Bentley will be offering a diesel in one of their vehicles. This week, the British luxury automaker announced the Bentayga will come with the option of a diesel engine in 2017. The engine in question is a 4.0L triple-charged V8 that produces 429 horsepower and 664 pound-feet of torque. If you're wondering why this engine sounds somewhat familiar, this is the same engine found in the Audi SQ7 TDI. Bentley claims the Bentayga Diesel is the fastest diesel SUV in the world as it can hit 62 mph in 4.8 seconds and continue to a top speed of 168 mph. Even with this performance, the Bentayga Diesel can retu…
Last reply by William Maley, -
-
- Editor-in-Chief
- 1 follower
- 4 replies
- 1.9k views
Bentley is considering whether or not they should offer an electric powertrain for their flagship sedan, the Mulsanne. Hans Holzgartner, product and marketing manager for the Mulsanne told Autocar part of the reason for this comes down to Chinese lawmakers possibly passing legislation banning all vehicles except EVs in certain cities. “At the moment, the indication is that full electric will be the only way that you’ll get into some of the cities in China. I wouldn’t say we’re discounting [hybrid engines] completely, but it looks like if you don’t have a full electric drive, even some of the hybrid drives just won’t get into some cities in China,” said Holzgartner. …
Last reply by smk4565, -
-
Very few engines have a long history of powering various vehicles - the small-block Chevrolet V8 and the Buick 3.5L V8 that would be used in a number of British vehicles. Another one can be found under the hood of the Bentley Mulsanne, the 6.75L (6 and 3/4 in Bentley parlance) twin-turbo V8 can trace its roots back to 1959. But the final curtain call for this engine is coming. Bentley CEO Wolfgang Dürheimer told Car and Driver that the V8 has found its “final home” in the Mulsanne. The next-generation Bentley flagship would switch to a 12-Cylinder (most likely a W12 one). Keep in mind this isn't likely going to happen until the next decade as the Mulsanne recently und…
Last reply by smk4565, -
- 2 followers
- 9 replies
- 3.2k views
Bentley will be introducing their first hybrid next year with the new Bentayga SUV. But that's not the only alternative powertrain the luxury automaker is looking into. Speaking with Australian outlet Drive, Bentley's board member in charge of engineering, Rolf Frech said they are investigating whether or not to do an electric vehicle. "We are currently in the stage where we are evaluating all the possibilities, but there are so many question marks behind this. I think there will be an answer within the next six months to a year to decide which direction we will go, but of course electric will be a future strategy direction for Bentley," said Frech. One vehicle th…
Last reply by oldshurst442, -
So what is up next for Bentley after the Bentayga SUV? That's a question that the luxury automaker is finding itself asking itself at the moment. Speaking with Top Gear, Bentley CEO Wolfgang Durheimer says there are two projects on the table up for consideration. The first one is doing a variant of the Bentayga which will become more coupe-like (think BMW X6 and Mercedes-Benz GLE Coupe) and feature a number of performance enhancements. The second option is to do a production version of the EXP 10 Speed 6 concept shown at the Geneva Motor Show this year. “The customer response to EXP 10 Speed 6 was phenomenal, and we want to build on this and make it a reality,…
Last reply by Suaviloquent, -
2019 will mark 100 years of Bentley and the automaker is considering doing something special for the occasion. “Our centenary would be a good time to create a new limited series car,” said Bentley CEO Wolfgang Dürheimer. There are a number of ideas being considered, including a hypercar. “That project will be investigated intensively in Crewe within the next month. The question is, do we build the standard car you would expect in that segment? Or do we go with lots of carbon fibre and lightweight components? Now that would be a car we could take to the big guns,” said Dürheimer. Now Bentley has floated the idea of a supercar before. Back in 1999, the comp…
Last reply by oldshurst442, -
-
- Editor-in-Chief
- 5 replies
- 2.1k views
Bentley has lineup expansion on the mind. Auto Express reports that the British luxury car maker is considering adding a smaller model towards the end of the decade. This comes from comments made by Kevin Rose, Bentley's Sales and Marketing boss. "We’ve said that we’re looking at an SUV, then we’ll replace the Continental and Flying Spur. Then a small car could be something we’d do," said Rose. “A small car would enable us to have something up against Aston Martin and Maserati.” Rose went onto say, “Price is an important part of exclusivity, so it’s hard to see us coming down to anything under £100,000.” So what could this entry level model could be? A previous rumorpi…
Last reply by Drew Dowdell, -
-
-
- Editor-in-Chief
- 4 replies
- 1.8k views
William Maley Staff Writer - CheersandGears.com September 25, 2013 Car Magazine is reporting that Bentley is planning a four-door coupe arriving in 2018. The four-door coupe will take on the likes of the BMW M6 Gran Coupe and Mercedes-Benz CLS 63 AMG. Sitting beneath the Continental GT, the four-door coupe will take the place of Bentley's entry-level model. The new model will use Porsche's upcoming MSB platform that will make its debut in the next-generation Panamara. Bentley chose the MSB platform since it could work for the next-generation of the Mulsanne, Continental, and the four-door coupe. MSB also offers significant weight savings. For example, the next-generat…
Last reply by Intrepidation, -
-
-
- Editor-in-Chief
- 3 followers
- 10 replies
- 2.6k views
William Maley Staff Writer - CheersandGears.com July 23, 2013 When we last checked in on the Bentley SUV, it was reported that Volkswagen officials had given it the green light. Officially, Bentley said they were still waiting on a decision. Today, Bentley has finally ended the will they/won't they speculation by announcing the new SUV will go into production in 2016. The new SUV will will be the “most luxurious and most powerful SUV in the market,” according to the company in a press release. No concrete details were announced, but the rumorpile has reported the SUV will likely look different than the EXP 9 F Concept shown at the 2012 Geneva Motor Show and come with …
Last reply by Nub_Cannon, -
-
- 1 reply
- 1.1k views
By William Maley Staff Writer - CheersandGears.com April 25, 2013 Bentley looks to be to joining the four-door coupe market sometime in the future. "I definitely wouldn't say no to the idea. With the new Flying Spur, we have a model that supports the Mulsanne, and a coupe with four-doors could sit below that," said Bentley CEO Wolfgang Schreiber to Auto Express. But don't expect this new vehicle to arrive anytime soon. Schreiber says getting the SUV is still the top priority. "It's not any time soon, that's for sure, but maybe in the longer term. At the moment our focus is very much on an SUV, because we know the market is there." If Bentley goes ahead with the fo…
Last reply by G. David Felt, -
- 4 replies
- 1.2k views
By William Maley Staff Writer - CheersandGears.com February 5, 2013 The fate of Bentley's SUV reportedly has been decided. German business newspaper Handelsblatt reports that Volkswagen board has given go ahead on building a SUV. When asked by Automotive News Europe for a comment, a spokeswoman from Bentley said, ''We are still waiting for the official green light from Volkswagen. She added that a decision in favor of production looks ''very positive.'' Internally known as 'Falcon', the no-name Bentley SUV is a key part of Bentley's plan to expand its sales volumes. Coming within three years, the SUV will V8 and possibly W12 and hybrid power. The SUV will also not l…
Last reply by Intrepidation, -
- 1 reply
- 1.3k views
William Maley Staff Writer - CheersandGears.com September 5, 2012 Future Bentley models will be using a new platform that is currently being worked on by Porsche to underpin the next Panamera. The platform, known as MSB, will use a mix of both steel and aluminium, be able to accept either rear-wheel or all-wheel drive, and use the next-generation V12 engines. The platform should improve weight-distribution over current Bentleys. Source: Autocar William Maley is a staff writer for Cheers & Gears. He can be reached at [email protected] or you can follow him on twitter at @realmudmonster. View full article
Last reply by Carguy, -
-
- Editor-in-Chief
- 7 replies
- 1.4k views
William Maley Staff Writer - CheersandGears.com August 21, 2012 Since February of this year, Bentley has said they're looking into the plug-in hybrid powertrain for their upcoming SUV. But the SUV isn't the only vehicle that Bentley is considering for a hybrid. Car and Driver learned from former Bentley CEO, Wolfgang Dürheimer that future Bentley models, including the SUV, will be available with a plug-in hybrid option. Also being worked on for future Bentley model are diesel engines. Dürheimer reveals that prototype vehicles with diesel engines are up and running. Dürheimer didn't reveal any details, but Car and Driver speculates that Bentley will use Audi’s next-ge…
Last reply by ocnblu, -
-
William Maley Staff Writer - CheersandGears.com July 31, 2012 Its not often we get spy shots of a new or refreshed Bentley, but today is different. Bentley appears to be working on the next on the Continental Flying Spur and some spy photos caught it during some testing. If you can look past the Mercedes-Benz S-Class veil that Bentley has put on this mule, you can make out a new set of headlights sitting between a new upright grille. Also, the door handles on this mule sit lower than the current Flying Spur. Expect new profile lines and a reworked rear-end with new taillights to appear. Under the hood, expect some tweaks and changes to the 6.0L twin-turbo W12. Also, …
Last reply by G. David Felt, -
- 1 reply
- 945 views
William Maley Editor/Reporter - CheersandGears.com April 23, 2012 Bentley brought along its polarizing EXP 9 F SUV concept to the Beijing Motor Show this week. Before you ask the answer is no, the EXP 9 F is still the same as we last saw it at Geneva. However, the automaker has revealed the powertrains that will be in the EXP 9 F. The engines being talked about are 4.0L twin-turbo V8 producing 500 HP and a twin-turbo W12 producing somewhere in the range of 600 HP. Both engines would likely mate to Bentley’s eight-speed automatic transmission and an all-wheel drive system. The third powertrain is a plug-in hybrid that would be based around a V6 engine. Bentley predicts…
Last reply by G. David Felt, -
- 1 reply
- 991 views
William Maley Editor/Reporter - CheersandGears.com March 22, 2012 When Wolfgang Durheimer became the CEO of Bentley last February, he set out to expand the range from the current pair of vehicle platforms; the Mulsanne and the Continental/Flying Spur. One of those vehicles was the EXP 9 F concept shown at Geneva. But there were a few more vehicles in the running Durheimer told Motor Trend, but wouldn’t go into detail except for one. The one happens to be a smaller sports car. Durheimer says the designers at Bentley were keen to do it. However, the decision was made to do the SUV. “In the end the SUV was a better idea. It sits above all its competition,” Durheimer sai…
Last reply by G. David Felt, -
- 19 replies
- 2.1k views
William Maley Editor/Reporter - CheersandGears.com March 5, 2012 Once upon a time, the only luxury SUV you could get your hands on was the Range Rover. Now, it seems every luxury automaker aside from a few, offer an SUV. Now, Bentley is showing their new SUV. Called the EXP 9 F (No, that isn't the license plate on the car), this concept previews what could be the third vehicle in Bentley's lineup. Design is well... um.. unique. The front end borrows many cues from the Continental and Mulsanne. The side borrowed the doors off a Range Rover and the back end seems to be a blend of Porsche Cayenne and Audi Q7. Inside the EXP 9 F is what you would expect of a car from Cr…
Last reply by ZL-1, -
- 1 reply
- 998 views
William Maley Editor/Reporter - CheersandGears.com February 23, 2012 Even though Bentley has introduced a new 4.0L twin-turbo V8 engine, that will not stop development of W12 engine. Ralf Frech, Bentley’s technical director told What Car? the W12 will be getting further improvements. “The W12 can have the same improvements as the new V8,” said Frech. Frech added the engine could see a rise from its current 567 HP to 600. The bump in power would be joined by an increase in fuel economy. Under consideration is a eight-speed automatic. Frech also revealed the company was looking towards hybrids. “We are looking at the possibility of a hybrid, particularly a plug-in h…
Last reply by G. David Felt, -
- 0 replies
- 830 views
William Maley Editor/Reporter - CheersandGears.com February 19, 2012 Back in January, we reported that Bentley was considering a new SUV for their lineup and that decision would be made sometime in the first quarter. Well it seems a decision has been made since Automotive News Europe is reporting the SUV could be making an appearance at next month’s Geneva Motor Show. The Bentley SUV will use the platform that underpins the current Audi Q7, Porsche Cayenne and Volkswagen Touareg. Power will come from twelve-cylinder powerplant. The SUV will go on sale sometime in 2014. Source: Automotive News Europe (Subscription Required) View full article
Last reply by William Maley, -
- 0 replies
- 829 views
William Maley Editor/Reporter - CheersandGears.com January 3, 2012 Seeing it's best sales since the 2008 global financial crisis, Bentley is hoping to continue it with the introduction of new models during the next few years. Bentley CEO Wolfgang Duerheimer told reporters today the company is deciding whether to build an SUV. Rumor has it the proposed Bentley SUV will use a W12 engine, priced around $140,000, and come out sometime in 2014. Duerheimer said the decision will come sometime in the first quarter. But that's not all. Duerheimer also revealed the company is considering an extended wheelbase version of the Mulsanne and expanding the Continental lineup. "I …
Last reply by William Maley, -
-
- Editor-in-Chief
- 2 followers
- 25 replies
- 4.9k views
Bentley has new engine they'll be showing at next month's Detroit Auto Show. The engine is a new 4.0L Twin Turbo V8 that was jointly developed with Audi. The 4.0L V8 produces 500 HP and 487 lb-ft of torque. The twin-turbo V8 will lie under the hood of Bentley's Continental GT Coupe and GT Convertible. The V8 Continentals will differentiate from their W12 brethren with minor tweaks to the exterior which include different exhaust tips, red enamel Bentley badges, black gloss matrix grille, chrome frame and center bar. So why is Bentley offering a V8 variant? Fuel Economy. Bentley says the V8 gets 40% better fuel economy due to the engine using cylinder deactivation, direct…
Last reply by balthazar, -