Devil May Care, the new James Bond novel set back during the Cold War in 1967, arrives on bookstore shelves May 28th. The book's author, Sebastian Faulkes, has written the story in the style of the late Ian Fleming to celebrate the 007 creator's centenary. As we first reported last September, MI6's greatest secret agent also returns to his Bentley-driving roots in Devil May Care. The car is the same one he drives in Fleming's Thunderball and On Her Majesty's Secret Service: a custom 2-seat Bentley R type Continental convertible with the 4½-liter engine from a Mk VI stuffed underhood. To celebrate Bond's return to Bentley, Penguin Books asked the automaker to design a very limited Special Series Edition -- just 300 copies will be made. (Anyone want to place bets on the aftermarket value of book #007?)
Under the supervision of chief designer Dirk Van Braeckel (the man responsible for the current Continental GT's lines), Bentley has delivered a leather-bound, heirloom-quality piece. The 'Flying B' hood ornament is featured on the cover and spine, and the outer leather is stitched in the same diamond pattern you'll find on the seating surfaces of a modern Bentley road car. The inside cover is also finished off in leather, but is styled in tune with cars of the era in which the story is set. The typeface used is the same one you'll find in a Bentley owner's manual, and each individually-numbered book comes with a matching-number pewter die-cast R type model and a similarly-snazzy book block. The numbering on each book, by the way, is featured on a metal plate supplied by the same firm who does the engine plates for the cars. Finally, all books come with a plexiglass slipcase.
As you might expect, this mega-exclusive book is also mega-expensive. £750 will put one on the bookshelf, where it would surely look nice next to the divorce papers you'll be handed shortly after its arrival. If you're a Bond completist, recent lottery winner, or a Bentley fanatic, you can order the super special edition via Penguin007.com, where they've got all manner of Bond info, a countdown clock ticking off the seconds to the book's release and a link to the Special Series Edition minisite. You regular folk (we know you're out there) can meet us at Amazon, where the pricing's a bit more in tune with blogger pay.
Click above for gallery of the Bentley Continental DC
We can't imagine being an apprentice at Bentley leaves you a lot of spare time, what with your full class load on how to stitch the perfect steering wheel, match wood grains and build twin-turbo V8s with your bare hands. A team of nine apprentices comprising the Bentley Greenpower Team, however, have found the time over the past ten months to build an exceptional little electrical vehicle for the Greenpower Corporate Challenge that kicked off at the Goodwood race circuit yesterday.
Their car, dubbed the Continental DC, was developed using the same CAD software that Bentley uses for its own cars, and is powered by two 12-volt batteries and a 24-volt motor that's required by competition rules. The body is also based on Bentley's 2004 Goodwood soap box racer and is basically invisible to wind resistance. The use of carbon fiber to keep weight down is extensive, to say the least. The body, chassis, wheels and even a specially designed suspension with carbon fiber beams under tension are all made from the exotic weave. Despite being green as can be, the Continental DC still sports some flare from Crewe thanks to a single leather Bentley seat with a four-point harness, a custom Bentley-inspired steering wheel and Bentley "dashboard".
Click above to view the Bentley State Limousine in hi-res
After the previous owners at Vickers prepared the Arnage sedan just in time for Volkswagen to take ownership, it took Bentley another five years to come out with the Continental GT. But before the new generation of Bentley Continentals made their debuts, Crewe created a special vehicle called the Bentley State Limousine. But before you run out to your local Bentley dealership in pursuit of what no one else at the country club will have, consider that Bentley made only two examples, exclusively for HM Queen Elizabeth II on the occasion of her Golden Jubilee in 2002. Believe it or not, however, this was the first time in all its nearly ninety-year history as one of Britain's most prominent luxury automakers that Bentley was asked to make a limousine for the crown, as previous limos had been created by Daimler and Rolls-Royce. The distinction allowed Bentley to utilize the distinguished "By appointment to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II" label with the Queen's coat of arms, which the company flashes proudly in Rolls-Royce's big chrome face.
The State Limousine took two years to develop and is based on the Arnage, but fitted with unique bodywork styled by Bentley and crafted in-house at its Mulliner coachbuilding division. The exterior is visually distinct and more old-fashion than the Arnage, and features an enlarged greenhouse, with opaque rear window panels that can be installed for privacy or stowed in the trunk for parade visibility. The State Limousine also features suicide rear doors and measures some three-feet longer, ten-inches taller and six-inches wider than the Arnage, and is equipped with armored bodywork and windows, plus a blast-proof floor and an airtight cabin. All that means an 8,818-pound curb weight, pulled around by the same 400hp 6.75-liter V8 as used in the long-wheelbase Arnage RL. Stylistically, the State Limousine looks something like a cross between the Hongqi HQE and a London taxi – you can decide for yourself in the gallery below, where you'll notice the vehicle's deceptive dimensions and the obviation of the license plate frame for the Queen's own motor-carriage. Somehow we don't think she'll be pulled over.
Having launched the Continental GT in 2003, the four-door Continental Flying Spur in 2005, the Azure in 2006, the Continental GT Convertible in 2006 and the Brooklands earlier this year, Bentley is now turning its attention to its flagship sedan: the Arnage. Although the vehicle has been on the road since 1998, that's still nothing compared to its predecessor, which was introduced in 1980 before being replaced by the Arnage. No matter which way you cut it, though, the Arnage has just turned ten years old, and that's a long product cycle. Reports and spy shots suggest, however, that a new version is expected for 2010.
There's no telling to what degree the new Arnage will be a completely new model, however sources suggest that, thanks in part to a lengthened wheelbase, Bentley will target the Rolls-Royce Phantom with its new limousine. However, previous reports have discounted the possibility of a diesel engine or Bugatti's quad-turbo W16 finding its way into the engine bay. We can, however, still hold out hope. Not that Bentley's storied 6.75L twin-turbo V8 is a disappointment mind you. Believe us, we've sampled it.
Click above for high-res gallery of the 2009 Bentley Brooklands
British racing green could take on a whole new meaning if Bentley is able to achieve its goal of reducing CO2 emissions by two-thirds to just 120 grams per kilometer by 2012. Currently, all of its vehicles emit more than 400 g/km, no doubt including the 2009 Bentley Brooklands we drove last week, so the company from Crewe has a long way to go. While we'd expect to see some sort of diesel offering, Bentley remains mum on any real details regarding its future powerplants. We do know, however, that the British manufacturer of ridiculously luxurious transportation is holding out hope for biofuels, which post high well-to-wheel CO2 measurements. When just the tailpipe emissions are taken into consideration, biofuels offer just a little benefit as compared to dino-juice, but when the entire carbon footprint of the fuel is considered, biofuels like ethanol and biodiesel can post significant CO2 improvements.
In partnership with Bentley, Milanese design house Zagato has decided to offer a limited run of the Continental GTZ it showed us this year at the Geneva Motor Show. Nine discerning customers for whom the "standard" Bentley Continental GT Speed is not enough will have the opportunity to upgrade their coupes for a nominal fee of just €550,000. (For reference, consider that the Zagato's custom LED tail-lights cost €50,000 alone.) That's on top of the cost of the donor car, which comes in just shy of $200k. The first vehicle has already been delivered for an all-in grand total of €800,000.. .that's over one and a quarter million dollars.
The six-figure conversion overhauls the exterior styling with Zagato's own custom bodywork identical to that seen on the Geneva show car. The interior is likewise treated to a sumptuous bespoke leather re-upholstery job, while the mechanics of the car remain untouched, allowing Bentley to certify the process and retain the factory warranty. Considering that the Continental GT Speed packs a 600-hp twin-turbo W12 capable of propelling the behemoth to sixty in 4.2 seconds and topping out over 200 mph, the stock drivetrain shouldn't be an issue. And of course, like other Zagato designs, the GTZ's exclusivity will all but completely assure that the owner won't be pulling up next to an identical car at a red light, though it sure would be fun to see it happen.
Click above for high-res gallery of the 2009 Bentley Brooklands
As the youngest of three brothers, I'm used to hand-me-downs. Hand-me down toys, hand-me-down clothes, and yes, even hand-me-down cars. Perhaps this explains when a vehicle arrives in the Autoblog Garage with over 8,000 journalist-driven miles on its odometer (as most do), I don't mind. Though the scars of past judgments are often plain to see, we're happy enough to be reviewing these vehicles at all.
Last Wednesday I stepped off a plane at Newark Liberty International Airport and into a 2009 Bentley Brooklands. My mission was to drive it some 550 miles to Cleveland, OH where it would be picked up and driven back to Bentley's North American headquarters in Auburn Hills, MI. When I got in, the odometer read 285 miles... total. I realized then that this was no hand-me-down review vehicle. Having been parked in Bentley's display at the 2008 New York Auto Show for the past three weeks, this Brooklands was taking its maiden voyage on U.S. soil with me at the helm.
Click above for more high-res pics of the Premier4509 Bentley Conti GT
If you are keeping yourself up at night worrying that your Bentley Continental GT isn't exclusive enough... lose the insomnia by making a quick call to Premier4509. The performance-oriented Japanese-based company specializes in "automotive fashions" (we didn't make that up), and they have just announced a Limited Edition wide-body aero kit for the twin-turbo twelve-cylinder Bentley coupe.
The hand-made kit, constructed primarily of a carbon fiber/FRP mix, includes front and rear bumpers, side skirts, fenders and quarter panels. Once installed, your beloved Bentley will have increased its width by four full inches -- perfect to hide those new forged billet aluminum wheels with the deep lips. Of course, you'll be offered a choice of two rear wings, and a new set of exhaust tips to match. Premier4509 seems to have addressed all of the high-end aero body kit concerns, except for one: How do you get that front spoiler into a driveway?
Bentley engines are some of the biggest, most powerful old-school units on the market, and that's not about to change. This, despite earlier reports that Crewe was considering utilizing diesel engines or even the powerplant from the Bugatti Veyron, which now appear off the table... in the short run at least.
Although Bugatti and Bentley are now united under common leadership, Bugatti is rumored to be working on its own luxury limousine, so shoehorning its engine into the production Arnage could cut down its legs prematurely. As for the diesel, Bentley's position remains that customers aren't ready for oil-burning Bentleys at this point. In the short term, then, Bentley customers will just have to make do with 6.75-liter V8s and 6-liter W12s. Dang.
The British -- who certainly aren't alone -- have been said to have a thing against folks flaunting their top-of-the-food-chain status with things like yellow Ferraris. Jeremy Clarkson said buying a Ferrari would mean spending a lot of time scraping phlegm off of it. Well, we're not sure if the Scottish hate Bentleys -- we can't imagine so -- but someone there has a severe dislike for Rangers FC goalie Allan McGregor. And they took it out on his silver Bentley Continental GT Speed, pouring acid and writing graffiti on the back of the car.
McGregor appears to be a fine goalie, so this is probably not due to his on-pitch performances. He has made headlines for a different kind of performance lately, and this car attack does fit the revenge mold -- but acid? I mean really. On a Bentley? It's no way for us to start a Monday, that's all we're saying. McGregor probably wasn't so happy about it, either... Thanks for the tip, Warren!
There's badass, there's relentlessly badass, and then there's this. This is what happens when you dream up an idea that combines a vintage Bentley S3's coachwork and chassis with a 300-horsepower BMW 4.4L V8, a ZF 5-speed auto, a custom dual exhaust, and a deluxe interior with all the modern amenities. Tweak the look to give it the feel of a late-model Bentley, add 20-inch forged wheels, slam it to the ground and you have Arturo Alonso's Bentley S3 E design concept. Word is, Alonso and his team at Bentley Boys USA will build three of the cars over 8-month intervals to sell at $150K a pop. We want one. If it really does come to pass, this could wind up being as cool as John Fluevog's Flueguar
Click image for a hi-res gallery of our Autoblog Garage Continental GTC
2007 was good to the folks in Crewe, as Bentley Motors had its best year ever. (What, no VH1 special?) For the first time, the automaker surpassed the 10,000 mark in terms of vehicles sold -- a tenfold increase over where it stood just five years ago. Both Arnage and Continental family sales were up -- 45-percent for the former, thanks to the arrival of the new Azure, and 5-percent for the latter with the GTC leading the way. The record-high sales led to new high points for both net revenue (€1.37 billion) and operating profit (€155 million). This level of volume is pretty much where the automaker would like to settle going forward, as it lets Bentley stay exclusive while still returning a profit. Us? We're just trying to figure out a way to tap into the joys of ownership ourselves. Follow the jump for Bentley's full press release and some assorted eye candy.
Falls from grace usually happen pretty quickly, especially in the age of the interwebs. Sometimes, though, they play out over years and years, as is the case with Mike Tyson -- whose fall from grace probably finished a few years ago, but the garage sales continue. Up next: his Bentley Continental SC, or Sedanca Coupe.
Just one of 73 examples of the SC, this 1999 model is being sold in the UK but comes in left-hand-drive. As one would expect of a Bad Boy Bentley, the 3-ton car gets to sixty in six, and the removable glass roof will let the wind in your hair tell the story. When it was brand new the car was worth $500,000, which it took Tyson in his prime all of about five seconds in the ring to earn. So the car isn't worth exactly what it would be when Tyson was in his prime, but he's still Tyson, and it's still a Bentley, and they can both be yours for the low low price of 135,000 pounds.
Ok, think back to your 10th grade science class. Do you remember reading about a Dr. James Watson? You know, Watson and Crick? The guys who discovered the double helix shape of our DNA? Sigh. Never mind. Just know that Dr. Watson is rather well-known for his work in the stuff that makes you who you are (and, no, we're not talking about your irregular bathing habits).
Recently, a Swiss man paid $350,000 to have his DNA sequenced. The New York Times talked to him about why he would pay such a high price. "I'd rather spend my money on my genome than a Bentley or an airplane," the man said. Okay, but to us car guys, this is nonsensical. Our DNA doesn't have 550 horsepower, nor can it provide the instant gratification said ponies summon up when our brains send the appropriate signal to our right feet.
Now, back to our Dr. Watson. Last year, a company donated $1.5 million to pay for the sequencing of his DNA. The New York Times was again on the case and asked him about it. "I was in someone's Bentley once - nice car," Watson said. "Would I rather have my genome sequenced or have a Bentley? Uh, toss up."
That's what we're talking about! Drive the Bentley, doc! Get yourself a Continental GT, mount that Nobel on the radiator and just drive until you can't even remember what deoxyribose nucleic acid is. In the NYT article, Dr. Watson continues to say he hopes DNA sequencing will some day come down in price from Bentley to Chevy so that everyone can afford to know their genetic makeup. If that ever happens, we'll still say, "Take the Vette!"
The big news from Bentley in Geneva wasn't really about today -- but stay tuned for 2012. Bentley plans to have its wheel-to-well measure of CO2 emissions down to less than 120g/km, from 400 g/km now. How? By lightening the cars, by engineering better transmissions, and through powerplants able to take advantage of 2nd generation biofuels, meaning cellulosic ethanol from straw and waste products. The best Bentley head Dr. Josef Paefgen would say for specifics was "everything is being considered." So there. Click through the jump to get the full press release and the science, and be thankful Bentley's given you something to look forward to.
Under the supervision of chief designer Dirk Van Braeckel (the man responsible for the current Continental GT's lines), Bentley has delivered a leather-bound, heirloom-quality piece. The 'Flying B' hood ornament is featured on the cover and spine, and the outer leather is stitched in the same diamond pattern you'll find on the seating surfaces of a modern Bentley road car. The inside cover is also finished off in leather, but is styled in tune with cars of the era in which the story is set. The typeface used is the same one you'll find in a Bentley owner's manual, and each individually-numbered book comes with a matching-number pewter die-cast R type model and a similarly-snazzy book block. The numbering on each book, by the way, is featured on a metal plate supplied by the same firm who does the engine plates for the cars. Finally, all books come with a plexiglass slipcase. 
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