I suppose it might come as a surprise, if you haven’t read a newspaper or watched any TV in the last six months or so, that the luxury car market is collapsing.  But what’ll really surprise you is the depth to which it’s falling.  For instance, the total sales for luxury car sales this year has fallen fully one third from this time last year.

A third of the market, just gone.  That’s bad enough for anybody, but he luxury car makers aren’t taking this lying down, no sir or ma’am as the case may be.

A recent BMW marketing push, for example, pointed out that its diesel sedans were the most fuel-efficient in their class.  And Bentley offered up incredible financing rates on its catastrophically priced car that was almost the same deal as a GM pickup’s rate.

I’m not really surprised that luxury car makers are finding things tough in the new economy–when pundits bust out lines like “frugal is the new black”, you really have to wonder about the whole mess.  But this may be a sign of much more systemic weakness in the overall economy, and that’s something we’ll all have to watch for.

What you see above is Bentley’s recently announced 2011 Muslanne. If you have to ask the price, then you probably can’t afford it seeing how it is a Bentley and it is brand new.

Anyways, under the hood of this vehicle is an 8 cylinder 6.75 liter twin turbocharged engine capable of 505 horsepower and 752 pounds-per-feet of torque. Transmission wise the Mulsanne is to feature a paddle shifting 8 speed transmission. Futhermore, it will feature carbon ceramic brakes and 20-inch wheels.

Like I said before, if you have to ask the price, you probably can’t afford it. But that doesn’t even matter, because Bentley has yet to announce a price, we’ll keep you posted.

via autoblog

While this deal probably won’t apply to the average folk, for those of you with millions sitting in your bank account, read on — Pearl Motor Yachts has recently started a promotion for buyers of their $1.4million Pearl 60 Yacht.

As the promotion goes, if you buy the Pearl 60 you will be given a free Bentley Continental GT. Unless you’ve been living under a rock you’ll know that Bentleys are about the exact opposite of cheap.

via PearlMotorYachts

Bentley and Rolls Royce owners who are looking for that hard to find spare part may be in for a treat with this special announcement. Apparently there will be an open house at the Crewe factory for all Bentley and Rolls Royce models ranged from 1955 to 2002.

With so much inventory and parts available, you are bound to find that part you are looking for. This event comes in the midst of the expected release of the Grand Bentley next month, one of the reasons why the factory must be cleaned up from old stocks and parts.

Everything associated with the two models are for sale. So if you have been unsuccessful in landing that elusive car part, here is your chance.

(Source) Luxist

Bentley’s Continental Supersports is an absolute beast with it’s 6.0-liter W12 twin tubocharged engine that is capable of a maxium output of 630HP and a 0-60 mph sprint in just 3.7 seconds.

All of this makes the Continental Supersports the fastest production vehicle that Bentley has ever created. Anyways, the above video was taken at the Goodwood Festival of speed and showcases said car zooming around a track to showcase its immense power.

I think it’s needless to say but, I want one.

via WorldCarFans

Now, it’s not very often that you get your hands on an expensive car with the soul purpose of covering it in artwork. However, artist Romero Britto got just that chance with a Bentley Continental GT nonetheless.

Nothing has been done under the hood but as you can see it’s been covered with white squiggles and all sorts of other artwork sure to make any collector drool.

This peice of art will be auctioned off after Britto’s Come to my World exhibition taking place in Berlin from July 10th to September 6th.

Read (WorldCarFans)

Considering a Bentley already brings speed into mind. But if you get a special edition Bentley, you know you are getting more than just speed on the standard one. Such is the case for this new Bentley, which combines splendor with speed.

The new Birkin Edition Continental GT Bentley boasts of an additional 90 horsepower, and can go as fast as 62 MPH in just 4.9 seconds. This and the specialized look that it brings makes this special edition worth every penny for the additional dollars needed to get one. The Birkin Edition Continental GT Bentley comes at $30,000.

Features:

• Four-pipe sport exhaust system
• Classically-designed 21″ inch Bimoto alloy wheels
• electronically-controlled system to lower the vehicle for better performance and handling

(Source) Luxist

Bentley recently said good-bye to its Arnage flagship, but the company still has enterprising plans for the future, with a new ‘super’ Arnage expected to begin production by the end of next year. Bigger, faster and more luxurious, a near production ready concept is rumored to be revealed at this August’s Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance. The current Arnage is showing its age versus modern super-luxury competitors like the Rolls Royce Phantom and Maybach sedans.

Code named “Project Kimberly”, the new model will be based off an altered version of Audi’s modular platform used for a host of models ranging from the next A8 flagship to the A4  sedan. However, the Bentley will sport its own unique V8 powertrain with drive sent to the rear wheels via ZF’s new 8-speed automatic. A replacement for the Arnage T may also in the works, but don’t expect it to have the Bugatti Veyron’s W16 engine as previously reported.

One out of three vehicles. That is the number associated with the Bugatti Veyron Vincero for the ultra-rich. One thing that wealthy people want is to have rare vehicles to which will get all the attention and of course be exclusively under their ownership. And in the case of this vehicle, you can be sure that you will definitely be at one of three potential owners who will have it (if you have €1.7m (£1.52m)).

With this super-Veyron, you shouldn’t have that problem. Because Mansory, the luxury automotive company that created this Vincero, is building only three. In that rare recession-proof stratosphere, this might just be the best way for the super-rich to show their friends who’s boss. They have Kourosh Mansory to thank. He made his name with loud and proud interpretations of Aston Martins, Bentleys and Rolls-Royces. His customers include Middle Eastern princes, European A-listers and Sylvester Stallone.

Recently he branched out from the British brands, reworking the Ferrari 599 GTB, but there was still the forbidden fruit, the one car no tuning house dared go near: Bugatti’s Veyron. Yet temptation proved too much when Mansory’s importer in Dubai commissioned three special editions. “The Veyron was such a special car, you can’t really win when you tune it, you can only lose,” he said. “But our importer wanted the cars and we knew it would be good publicity, so we decided to go ahead and create something truly special.”

(Source) Times Online

Bentley is confident that its customer base will be ready to purchase again as early as next year. In fact, this luxury British brand is so sure that it is bumping up its release dates for its future product cycle by about half a year which means that the successor to the popular Bentley Continental GT may be coming as early as next year.

While the next-generation Bentley Continental GT coupe will probably arrive by next year, it will be followed by replacements for the Continental Flying Spur four-door sedan, in addition to the GTC convertible version. Also expected next year is a replacement for the Arnage which is expected to roll in as a new super-luxury model towards the end of the year.

News about the opening of the James Bond Museum may be something many people would want to check out, particularly the ones who have watched most, if not all of his films. And one thing you should note is that aside from gadgets and sultry scenes, it is the cars that James Bond uses for every film that draws attention.

Leading the pack are a Lotus car and a Mustang from the early films that Bond used. Other cars expected to be revealed at the James Bond Museum include:

• Alfa Romeo GTV6 and 159
• AMC Concord, Hornet and Matador
• Jeep Cherokee, CJ-7 and Wagoneer
• Aston Martin DB5
• Audi Bentley Mark II
• BMW Z3 and Z8
• Ford Fairlane, Scorpio and Thunderbird

The list goes on. If you have time (and the money) to visit, you are sure to spend a large chunk of your time enumerating the cars driven by the all-time great British spy.

(Source) BBC News

Pearl White Bentley Flying Spur

Project Kahn, UK’s leading modifier of exotic cars, has completed their latest project, which is an exquisite Pearl White Bentley Flying Spur. As with most Project Kahn designs, the main focus is in the wheels. Project Kahn feels these 22-inch White Mist diamond cut alloy wheels are the most intersting feature of the car.

 According to the company, these wheels enhance the Bentley’s graceful curves while showing off the vehicle’s well-defined style. This vehicle is also outfitted with Kahn’s quilted leather and an electronic lowering module. The suspension is lowered by 20 mm and can be adjusted according to customers needs.

“Chicks Dig The Car! Well if you want to go a bit into it, it should be “Chicks dig the Bentley”. The Telegraph writes up a study that showed women pictures of the same man sitting in two cars, a silver Bentley Continental and a battered Ford Fiesta. Surprise, surprise the women, who were aged between 21 to 40, chose the man in the Bentley.

The research from Dr, Michael Dunn, of the University of Wales Institute in Cardiff, has been published in the latest edition of the British Journal of Psychology. His study also shows that men are more impressed by how a woman looks than what she drives.

Dr. Dunn says that women still look for wealth and status because they are seeking a man in “better condition to rear healthy offspring.” He says that this basic human trait is not likely to change even as women acquire more independence and wealth. Dr. Dunn, who drives an old Ford himself, will now do research to find out if luxury items help make up for “the attractiveness-diminishing effects of age.”

(Source) Telegraph.co.uk

Approximately 220 people stand to lose their job as Bentley has announced hundreds of job cuts and layoffs amongst its workforce. Similar to what most car manufacturing companies worldwide are employing today, the British car industry is following the same path to be able to sustain operations and stay in business.

They also announced a temporary pay cut of ten per cent for its entire 3,600 workforce, including all management, from April 1 to the end of December.

continue reading "Bentley Announces Job Cuts"

The Bentley Zagato GTZ is not for the frailest hearts today as far as pricing is concerned. A car that costs $1.7 million dollars is no joke. While others may laugh it off, others just stare and imagine themselves driving this luxury vehicle. At this time and age, where do you get that much money?

Regardless, that is the set price for the Bentley Zagato GTZ. There will be nine examples of the Bentley Zagato GTZ manufactured for discerning plutocrats.

The GTZ leaves the engineered perfection of the Bentley Continental GT as is, merely clothing it in a Zagato treatment consisting of two-tone coachwork, a twin-bubble roof that glides into a sculpted rear window, and more added creases you could shake a Picasso.

(Source) Auto Blog