When you think about Chelsea, a Bentley without wheels is not something you would imagine.

That's exactly what has happened to one Bentley owner in Chelsea. According to The Sun, thieves jacked up the Bentley Continental GT and removed the wheels. The sad part is that this is NOT the first time it has happened to this "poor" Bentley owner.

Source: The Sun

Bentley Motors is ready to unveil two unique Continental models which have been engineered and designed exclusively for the China market. These special edition cars will be created at Bentley’s Crewe headquarters with both models offering a range of striking features specially commissioned for Chinese customers.

The Chinese market is now the third most important single market for Bentley globally in terms of sales and one of the fastest growing. Since Bentley entered China in 2002, sales have grown nearly ten-fold to 421 cars in 2009, a trend that continues despite the recent global recession.

From Bentley’s first dealership in Shenzhen, the network has grown to become nine-strong in 2010 (with dealers in Shanghai, Beijing, Hangzhou, Guangzhou, Wuhan, Chengdu, Nanjing and Qingdao) and will grow with four new showrooms to open during the course of this year, the first of which will be in Kunming. Now two new models are to be launched specifically for this unique market.

The Continental GT Design Series China, which will debut at the 2010 Auto China Motor Show, highlights the creativity of Bentley’s stylists working in partnership with the company’s colour and trim experts to create some vibrant, design-led interiors.

The centrepiece of each Design Series China car is the three-tone interior that blends a main leather hide colour with accent and insert colours to create a visually impactful cabin for drivers and passengers to enjoy. This skilful and imaginative use of contrasting colours, as well as the application of accent colours to the smallest detail like the car’s seat belts, floor mats, seat piping or the hand-stitching applied to the steering wheel, further underlines this Bentley’s unique appearance.
The Design Series China cars will be the first Bentley’s to feature Orange and Magenta as accent colours and the vast Bentley paint palette is further extended with the introduction of Orange Flame and Magenta Metallic.

As well as creating a ‘talking point’ with the imaginative use of three contrasting hide colours, Bentley’s styling team has selected some striking wood veneers including Piano Black and dark-stained Burr Walnut. The rare Amboyna veneer, usually only available as a cost option, has also been reserved for the Design Series China editions.

These cars will be further distinguished by some subtle exterior and interior ‘Design Series China’ motifs. These include an exterior wing badge, treadplate and name badge positioned on the centre console – all bearing the Design Series China signature.

Bentley is also launching the Continental Flying Spur Speed China which retains all the potent performance of the company’s Continental Flying Spur Speed, the world’s fastest luxury four-door saloon, but with a range of engineering upgrades developed for the Chinese market.

A bespoke ‘comfort’ suspension setting has been developed for the Speed China which emphasises the car’s superior ride quality for both driver and passengers, whilst ensuring the class-leading performance of the W12 6-litre engine is in no way diminished. The car is capable of achieving a potential top speed of 200mph/322km/h and a 0-60mph sprint time of just 4.5 seconds (0-100km/h in 4.8 seconds).

The Flying Spur Speed’s distinctive, sporty 20-inch multi-spoke Speed wheels are retained to emphasise the car’s athletic character but for the Speed China, this performance is balanced with greater refinement through the re-tuning of the exhaust to produce a quieter note.

The Speed China’s refinement and handling upgrades are also accompanied by a range of design features that accentuate its special edition status. ‘Speed China’ treadplates and wing badges (with a matching badge visible on the centre console) have been created for this car and Bentley’s famous ‘B’ emblem has been affixed to both ‘C’ pillars.

Bentley’s ability to add extra, well-executed, touches of luxury can be found in the custom leather cushions for rear passengers which are embroidered with Bentley wings. Each car will also come with a special display case for the ignition key. Geoff Dowding, Regional Director, Asia and Middle East, comments:
“Bentley has a long and proud tradition of creating exclusive cars designed to meet the styling and driving tastes of our customers, wherever in the world they might be. Designed and offered exclusively for our customers in China, these special-edition Bentleys showcase our styling and engineering teams’ abilities and also underlines our desire to create cars for this influential market.”

Both models can be seen on the Bentley stand in Hall E5 of the Auto China Motor Show in Beijing which runs between 23rd April and the 2nd May in the New International Exhibition Centre.

Bentley is delighted to announce the opening of its first ever dedicated Boutique at the Geneva Motor Show this year.

Motor show visitors will be able to choose from a selection of Bentley branded merchandise from the Bentley Collection, together with a limited edition range of new products designed exclusively for the 2010 show.

Also on display will be a number of products produced for Bentley under licence from best-in-class partners: Breitling watches, Tibaldi pens, Stockinger safes, Estede eyewear and zai skis.

The branded merchandise is themed around “A Celebration of Colour”. We have selected vibrant accents from the exciting new colour hues of the cars on the show stand, and have worked with Robert Ettinger of London to produce a Limited Edition range of small leather goods comprising luggage tags, key fobs, passport holders and coin purses. Hand-stitched entirely in England from Bentley’s own hides, Ettinger’s leather goods reflect the finest workmanship and materials. Ettinger is proud to hold royal warrants.

Other beautiful gifts will also be available to purchase such as sterling silver cufflinks, hand-made in England and assured with Bentley’s own hallmark; sumptuous silk ties, pure merino wool accessories, hand-stitched gloves, model cars and a range of classic clothing and caps.

“zai for Bentley” Skis

The new, Limited Edition “zai for Bentley” skis will be showcased at the Geneva Motor Show this year.

These ‘one-of-a-kind’ “Supersport” skis are entirely handmade in Switzerland. The skis, poles and ski bag have been designed exclusively for Bentley, with design input from Bentley’s own styling team and will be a limited edition of 250 numbered pairs.

Most excitingly, unique and patented technology confirms the product range is truly ‘one-of -a-kind’. New materials deployed in the skis will be a world first. Zaiìra® is a novel composite material containing carbon fibres specially developed by zai in co-operation with a partner. Zaiìra® is used on the skis’ top layer in combination with natural rubber in the centre as well as carbon fabric in composition with chrome steel in the torsion part. Additionally, long carbon fibre Reinforced Thermoplastic Composites (LFRTP) are being used in the zai for Bentley ‘Supersport’ skis.

The ski poles also demonstrate a new technology, ExoGrid®, which has thus far been used for golf club shafts. Now employed for the first time – and only - in the Bentley skis, this unique combination of titan and carbon fabric reduces weight and guarantees high stability. The ski bag is also custom-designed and custom-manufactured by zai.

Zai was formed in 2004 and is based in the Swiss village of Disentis. The company is a high-end manufacturer of ski products, helmets and goggles, with a focus on hand-built craftsmanship and the use of unique materials and patented technology.

Zai launched the world’s first and only skis containing a stone core, “zai Spada”, followed by ‘Hublot All Black by zai’ skis featuring a natural rubber top layer.

The zai for Bentley ski range will be a limited quantity only, numbered 1/250.

The skis will be priced as follows:

6,800 EUR
9,800 CHF
9,800 USD
5,900 GBP

The skis are available to order and retailed via zai distributors. Please contact:

Benedikt Germanier at zai for Bentley directly for information.

www.zaiforbentley.com
or
info@zai.ch

Estede Eyewear

An exciting new collaboration between Bentley and Austrian eyewear manufacturer, Estede, will be also showcased at this year’s Geneva Motor Show.

Working with Crewe design teams, Estede has produced a limited edition, high-end range of sunglasses and ophthalmic frames under licence for Bentley.

Estede is a family-owned company experienced in the luxury eyewear sector. Previous clients include Porsche Design, Chopard, S.T. Dupont, Fabergé and Girard-Perregaux. Estede’s focus has always been on sophistication, understatement and elegance and these cues are evident in the new “Estede for Bentley” Collection.

Presented as a Limited Edition Collection, the frames are available in two different sizes. What sets the “Estede for Bentley” collection apart from others is the use of precious metals and innovative surface treatments: silver palladium, 18 carat gold and platinum are the components of this exquisite range.  In particular, platinum is considered to be the rarest of all precious metals and never before used in eyewear – hence the new Bentley range will establish a precedent in the eyewear sector.

Offered in a presentation box containing spare/different lenses for varying activities, each pair of frames will be individually numbered and can also be engraved with owner’s name or car details.

RRP approx. pricing – Silver palladium €1,400, 18 carat gold €4,100 and platinum €11,500

For further details, please contact:
Christoph Rosenauer
crosenauer@estede.at

“Tibaldi for Bentley”

The Geneva Motor Show will also see the launch of three new exciting pen designs in the “Tibaldi for Bentley” range.

Tibaldi was Italy’s first ever manufacturer of fountain pens, founded in 1916. Phi – the concept known as the Divine Proportion – informs every aspect of the structure of all Tibaldi pens. For example, the proportion between the pen’s cap and the visible portion of the barrel when the pen is closed equals the phi ratio, 1.618.

Even the pen’s accompanying case is measured in multiples of the phi coefficient.

Phi has been used in art, architecture and music for centuries, often unintentionally. Aesthetically, phi is a symbol of perfect and natural beauty.

All Tibaldi pens have a patented filling mechanism. Revolving the cap to fill the barrel with ink produces the gentle sound and reassuring feeling experienced when manually winding the crown or bezel of a fine watch. The mechanism resists rotation slightly, avoiding brusque movements of the bottom of the pen and reducing the risk of leakage. The traditional tie-shaped clip is a signature of Tibaldi pens from the early 1900s. The Tibaldi clip’s sophisticated spring mechanism lifts it easily away from the cap and its polished rotary wheel lets it slide effortlessly when inserted into a pocket.

Tibalid is synonymous with special limited editions. Widely regarded as the finest technical writing instruments in the world, and serious collectors’ items, the attention to detail and craftsmansip inherent in Tibaldi pens is unrivalled.

All Tibaldi pens are available worldwide via Tibaldi distributors, high-end department stores such as Harrods, and specialist pen stores.

MULSANNE

The flagship pen! A Limited Edition fountain pen and roller ball (90 of each style and veneer). Designed in collaboration with Bentley’s own styling studio and drawing design cues from the new highly acclaimed Bentley Mulsanne.

Available in light, medium or dark veneers available to match perfectly the Mulsanne veneers. Finished in pure sterling silver.

Retail price range approx € 3,900 - € 4,500

SUPERSPORTS

Exciting, sexy, racing, innovative: the first “Tibaldi for Bentley” pen fashioned from smoked carbon fibre and presented in a quilted Alcantara case.

Drawing on design cues from Bentley Supersports – the ultimate ‘extreme’ Bentley – the pens reflect another successful collaboration between Bentley’s own design studio and Tibaldi.

Available as either fountain pen or roller ball, each pen is numbered 1 of only 630.

Retail Price approx. € 1,300 - € 1,700.

CONTINENTAL SLIMLINE

Tibaldi for Bentley introduce a slimmer version of the highly successful existing Continental pen series.

Produced as a Limited Edition range of fountain pen, roller ball, Bball Point and Pencil in exciting new hues, reflecting the Bentley Continental’s most popular exterior paint colours: Aquamarine, St. James Red (solid), Violette, Magenta Metallic & Silver Tempest.

Only 999 of each pen style will be produced.

RRP approx € 500 - € 850.

The Bentley ranges may be viewed on www.tibaldi.it

Please contact:
Giuseppe Aquila, the CEO of Tibaldi / Montegrappa
giuseppe.aquila@montegrappa.com

Bentley Motors, whose powerful grand tourers are renowned throughout the world for their luxury and performance, today opens the latest dealership in its worldwide network in Riga, capital of Latvia. Bentley Riga is the latest addition to Bentley Motors’ expansion into Eastern Europe after the opening of Bentley Istanbul, Turkey in May this year.

The new authorized Bentley dealership – part of Luxury and Sports Cars - is located on Krasta Street by the river Daugava, one of the most prestigious quarters in the Latvian capital. Bentley has also opened a service point in nearby Estonia, in the capital city of Tallinn, guaranteeing both existing and future owners full service and maintenance. Some 80 Bentley models are already on the road in the Baltic states, and Bentley expects to add around 25 cars to that number in the next twelve months, the majority being from the all-wheel-drive, twin-turbocharged 12-cylinder Continental family. 

The growing economic strength of Latvia made Riga an obvious choice for Bentley. Christophe Georges, Bentley’s Regional Director Europe, was present at the grand opening of Bentley Riga and commented: “Latvia is now well-established on the world luxury map and Bentley Motors felt it important to be represented here. We are fortunate to have found a professional and forward-looking partner in Valdis Spredzis and his team and look forward to enjoying further sales growth together.”

Crewe, September 2006.... following on closely from the first deliveries to customers of its new Azure, Bentley Motors is pleased to announce that it has now commenced production of the Continental GTC

Bentley Motors continues the intensive development of its flagship Arnage range with the introduction of a major programme of powertrain and chassis enhancements for the 2007 Model Year. The Arnage's renowned 6.75-litre V8 engine now develops up to 500bhp and is mated to a six-speed automatic transmission benefiting performance, driving dynamics and refinement. The powertrain changes are complemented by subtle exterior, interior and under-bonnet design cues.

Key to this performance increase is the most powerful version of Bentley's legendary V8 engine ever built at the company's headquarters in Crewe, England. In the performance-oriented Arnage T model, the revised twin-turbocharged V8 engine produces a staggering 500bhp and 1000Nm of torque

After last weeks excitement over the prospect of a Bentley SUV many have forgotten that back in 1994 Bentley made an SUV concept known as the Dominator.

The Dominator was based around a Range Rover and used the same engine. Although it never went into production the car enthusiast Sultan of Brunei purchased a few which are the only ones which remain in existence today.



Please excuse the low quality of the photos they were from an undercover story published in the British magazine AutoCar back in 1998.



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