Bentley launches upgraded Continental GT and Flying Spur, now, even more beautiful.

• A suite of design upgrades and features for Continental GT family
• Continental GT W12 increases to 590 PS and 720 Nm, improving performance and efficiency
• Flying Spur offers even more bespoke four door luxury

Bentley Motors is building on the global demand for the Continental GT family with a suite of contemporary design updates and new exquisite features for its most successful model. Bentley’s luxurious and powerful Flying Spur also receives a set of features for 2015, focusing on powertrain development, on-board technology and interior comfort.

The new models will be unveiled and displayed at the Geneva Motor Show from Tuesday 3^rd March, with deliveries starting this summer.

Wolfgang Dürheimer, chairman and CEO of Bentley Motors, comments:

“Bentley offers uncompromised luxury and performance with ultimate comfort for grand touring and our new 2015 features extend the appeal of our family. We listen carefully to our customers, and with these new evolutions we’re making our cars even more stylish, efficient, connected and useable every day.”

Exterior Evolution for the Continental GT

The Bentley Continental GT is refreshed with a complement of new exterior design features, aimed at sharpening the on-road presence of the iconic Grand Tourer. A new front bumper combines with a smaller radiator shell and new, more pronounced fenders to lend a more assertive and confident stance to the front of the car. 

The fenders now feature a new vent, complete with a graceful metallic “B” adornment, which serve to emphasise and enhance the renowned Bentley “power line” that flows rearwards from the front arches. New bright chrome fender badges for the V8 S and W12 models now match those applied to the GT Speed.

At the rear of the car, the boot lid is now more sculpted, with a pronounced aerodynamic profile to the trailing edge. The rear bumper has been reshaped and widened for an added sense of power, and now features full-width brightware. The V8 S and GT Speed also gain a new rear diffuser design to further differentiate the performance-focused members of the Continental family.

The revisions to the exterior aesthetic are completed with the addition of new wheels to the range of 20” and 21” designs available. The standard wheel for the GT V8 and GT W12 becomes a new 20”, six-tri-spoke wheel, in painted finish for the V8 and bright machined for the W12. The Mulliner Driving Specification wheel changes to a new 21” seven-twin-spoke design, finished in Graphite grey with bright machined spokes. Finally, a new 21” five-spoke directional sports wheel joins the existing 21” design available for the V8 S and GT Speed.

Enhancing the GT’s iconic silhouette further, three new paint colours are available: Marlin (a rich metallic blue), Camel (a soft golden tone) and Jetstream (a light, bright metallic blue).

Modern Refinements to an Unrivalled Cabin

The visual upgrades continue inside the luxury cabin of the Continental range. A new and contemporary straight-fluting pattern adorns the four generous seats, while the Mulliner Driving Specification (standard on GT Speed) gains a tightened, “small-diamond” quilting pattern reminiscent of a tailored British jacket. Driver controls are all-new, with an optional, more ergonomic and sports-orientated steering wheel and larger gear-shift paddles incorporating tactile knurled metal embellishers.

Brightware elements across the console are updated, the driver’s instrument panel receives new dials and graphics for a refreshed, more contemporary look, and the beauty of the new interior is now illuminated by LEDs. The centre console also features a new black gear lever surround, unifying the style of all driver controls. For V8 and V8 S coupe models, a new hidden storage compartment is fitted between the rear seats, capable of accommodating and charging electronic devices including iPads.

In addition to the changes to the standard specification, a new range of optional interior features has been developed.

GT W12 and GT Speed models can now be specified with new, softer semi-aniline hide for the seat cushions and backrests, represent the highest quality of leather available in the automotive market and giving an even more comfortable, luxurious and natural feel. Two new leather colours join the Continental range for 2015 - Shortbread and Camel.

Furthermore, the headlining of GT V8 S, GT W12 and Speed coupe models is now available in Alcantara^®, colour matched to all 17 of the available interior hide colours.

Onboard WiFi, providing connectivity to all handheld devices in the car is also now available across the Continental family.

W12 Performance and Efficiency Continues

Under the revised skin of the Continental GT W12 lie three changes to the mighty 6.0-litre twin turbo W12 powertrain. Firstly, the engine receives a power and torque increase, from 575 PS (567 bhp / 423 kW) and 700 Nm (516 lb.ft) to 590 PS (582 bhp / 434 kW) and 720 Nm (531 lb.ft), to maintain the model’s reputation of effortless performance.

The power upgrade is accompanied by improvements to fuel economy of up to 5%. The GT W12 now includes a variable displacement system and the new evolution is able to run at part throttle on six of its 12 cylinders to reduce fuel consumption without sacrificing refinement and offers lower CO₂ emissions of 329 g/km and combined fuel economy of 20 mpg (14.1 litres/100 km).

Luxury of choice extended on Flying Spur

Bentley’s four-door luxury sedan, the Flying Spur, continues to appeal to the discerning, successful individual and additional features for 2015 offer even more bespoke choice.

A new 20” six-tri-spoke wheel is available for both V8 and W12 powered Flying Spurs, in three different finishes, while a 21” seven-twin-spoke design is offered on the Flying Spur W12 Mulliner in polished or Graphite painted with bright machining finishes.

The exquisite cabin of the Flying Spur also gains modern and tactile new features to maintain Bentley’s reputation for interior style and usability. The driver instruments are updated with contemporary graphics, while the steering wheel receives a new more sporting design. 

A knurled metal finisher adorns the optional gear shift paddles, and the Flying Spur receives the same onboard WiFi hotspot system as the updated Continental family for ultimate connectivity while travelling – keeping the Flying Spur as the ultimate car for work or relaxation.

Complementing the feature upgrades are new paint colours in the hues of Marlin, Camel and Jetstream – as per the Continental GT – and the addition of Shortbread and Camel hides to the extensive range of leathers.

The 625 PS (616 bhp / 460 kw) / 800 Nm (590 lb.ft) Flying Spur W12 engine gains efficiencies and even greater grand touring capability thanks to the variable displacement system now included on the Continental GT W12, for lower fuel consumption, increased range and lower emissions of 333 g/km CO₂.

Bentley Motors named top employer for the fourth year running.

• Recognised as one of the best amongst UK organisations
• “Exceptional employee conditions and nurtures and develops talent throughout all levels of the organisation”
• Multi-million pound site expansion creates 300 new jobs for Bentley

For the fourth consecutive year, Bentley Motors has been named as one of Britain’s top employers by the Top Employers Institute.

Bentley has been awarded for its commitment and dedication to the personal development of its 3,800 colleagues working at the Crewe headquarters, and was particularly praised for its focus on the career and succession planning of its workforce.

Marlies Rogait, Member of the Board for Human Resources, said: “We are working on the next generation of Bentleys, starting with our SUV, the Bentayga, and this recognition reinforces that our business and colleagues share the commitment to performance, quality and engineering excellence our cars are renowned for. We are proud to be awarded with Top Employer status once again and to be recognised for our continuous efforts in development and training.”

Strengthening the company’s focus on development, Bentley has recently implemented an upskilling programme. The programme broadens and enhances the skills of Bentley colleagues, focusing on core competencies within the business. Tools include the introduction of training islands, taking advantage of master trainers, and adopting a dual education approach for trainees.

Bentley also announced in December that it was expanding its footprint at the company’s headquarters and creating new jobs. In a £40 million investment, a new research and development centre will generate 300 new positions.

To support the company’s future investment in its employees and the community, Bentley is playing a pivotal role in bringing a University Technical College to Crewe. Focused on Engineering and Design, the college will offer an inspiring education for 14-18 year olds seeking a pathway to future employment.

The latest ‘Top Employer’ award closely follows the company’s record breaking year. Delivering 11,020 cars in 2014 and with growth in every region, Bentley strengthened its position as the world’s most sought after luxury car brand.

Bentley launches all new fragrance range to compliment the aura of its bespoke products.

• Infinite captures the legendary excitement of the iconic British brand
• Modern and fresh appeal for new generation of international individuals
• Layered composition marries youthful sensuality to elegant sophistication

The launch of the new Infinite fragrance from Bentley signals an exciting addition to the men’s collection. Modern and alluring, Infinite embodies a desire for genuine freedom and individuality, inherent qualities in the DNA of the world’s leading luxury carmaker.

It will appeal to those who are on a journey of self-discovery and want to make this a sensory and spontaneous experience. Thanks to the sophisticated composition of the fragrance, Bentley Infinite enhances the blends perfectly with the skin and gives its wearer a sense of youthful, contemporary elegance and vitality.

Designed for active, fashion-conscious men in search of stylish personal accessories with a distinctive flair and world-class quality, Bentley Infinite is also a masterpiece of the art of perfumery in two expressions, eau de toilette and eau de parfum.

Bentley Infinite Eau de Toilette – limitless enjoyment

Bentley Infinite Fragrance Eau de Toilette expresses itself through an enticing succession of scents: natural, fresh, citrus top notes combine with the green, aromatic hints of lavender and cedar. These are quickly followed by vibrant heart-notes with bourbon pepper, violet and geranium. The final layer is one of sophisticated sensuality with patchouli, vetiver from Haiti and an exclusive hint of ambergris.

The contrasting fresh and woody ingredients give the fragrance a masculine energy and a feeling of unlimited freedom. International perfumer Nathalie Lorson, who designed Bentley Infinite, has perfected the art of creating fragrances that produce an exhilarating feeling of well-being and inner strength. Bentley Infinite creates this special, unlimited "Bentley Feeling".

Bentley Infinite Intense Eau de Parfum – unending delight

The Intense version of Bentley Infinite offers an even longer-lasting fragrance experience as this Eau de Parfum contains a particularly high percentage of aromas (15 per cent). Its strong first impressions are of black pepper combined with geranium, lavender and violet. Its heart-notes are rich in spicy essences: nutmeg, elemi (a valuable Arabian tree gum), Siam benzoin (the balmy scented resin of the styrax tree) and a hint of ambergris produce a totally modern, masculine effect. 

The aromatic woody nature of the overall composition is completed to powerful effect in the base note: with alluring extracts of patchouli, vetiver from Haiti, Moroccan cedar and moss. A delightful fragrance in line with the times. Endless pleasure for the senses.

Bentley Infinite Design: elegance with power

The Bentley Infinite bottle speaks the same language of form as Bentley Motors. The bottle, crafted from high-quality heavy glass, is reminiscent of cut crystal whose straight lines run into elegant curves. The broad shoulders of the bottle are coated with metal and the metal cap is finished with a diamond cut. The combination of glass and metal give the impressive bottle a modern luxurious feel.

The centre of the bottle is emblazoned with the legendary Bentley symbol, the “Flying B”, which is also found on the front of the silver box.

The new Bentley Infinite men's line will be available in selected international perfumeries and department stores from April 2015.

The Product Range

Eau de Toilette EUR 59/60 ml ; £43 ; $74

Eau de Toilette EUR 79/100 ml ; £59.50 ; $99

Eau de Parfum Natural Spray for Men, Intense EUR 87/100 ml ; £69.50 ; $109

Hair & Body Shampoo EUR 27/200 ml; £24; $34

Bentley at the North American International Auto Show 2015, debuting the Mulsanne Speed.

• 9% global sales increase makes 2014 a record year
• The Americas is number one market
• Newly launched Mulsanne Speed on display at Detroit
• Continental GT Speed Convertible and Flying Spur complete NAIAS line up 

In Bentley’s most successful market, the company showcases its new flagship model, the Mulsanne Speed, at the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) alongside the Continental GT Speed Convertible and the Flying Spur. 

Bentley Motors has firmly reinforced its position as the leading manufacturer of luxury vehicles in the world after announcing a 9% increase in global deliveries in 2014. 11,020 cars were delivered, the highest figure in Bentley’s history, against 10,120 cars in 2013. The Americas remained the number one market with a 29% share of global deliveries, accounting for 3,186 cars.

New models launched in 2014 were critical to this success including the Continental GT V8 S, Flying Spur V8 and the fastest production Bentley ever, the Continental GT Speed. Customer deliveries of the new Mulsanne Speed begin in early 2015.

Wolfgang Dürheimer, Chairman and Chief Executive, comments: “We are starting this year in a strong position and I am delighted to showcase our latest models at the Detroit auto show. The US remains our largest market, accounting for nearly 30% of our business but we have seen an increase in customers all over the world last year, growing by 9% overall. 2015 is a landmark year for Bentley as we launch our greatly anticipated luxury SUV. Bentley is already the world’s most sought after luxury car brand and our future plans will only strengthen this desirability further.”           

           

Unrivalled, effortless Speed

The Mulsanne Speed is tailored for the driver, with 537 PS (530 bhp / 395 kW), 1,100 Nm (811 lb.ft) and selectable sports suspension and steering on demand. The reengineered powertrain, featuring Bentley’s mighty 6¾-litre twin-turbo V8, propels the Mulsanne Speed to 60 mph in 4.8 seconds (0‑100 km/h in 4.9 seconds) and on to a top speed of 190 mph (305 km/h). In modern Bentley tradition, the extra performance is matched by markedly improved efficiency; a 13% gain means a range extended by 50 miles (80 km).

New and contemporary styling features define the Mulsanne Speed as a statement in quintessential British luxury. Dark tint accents to exterior detailing hint to the Speed’s powerful character, while on-board technology and connectivity are discreetly integrated beneath the finest materials, created with unrivalled craftsmanship and handcrafted details.

Enhanced power and style for Continental GT Speed       

The Continental GT Speed Convertible joins the Mulsanne Speed at Detroit. The capabilities of Bentley’s flagship grand tourer, the Continental GT Speed are dramatically underlined with enhancements to its unique combination of supercar performance and unrivalled refinement.

Bentley’s iconic 6.0-litre twin-turbo W12 engine is now even more potent and develops 635 PS (626 bhp / 467 kW) and a record 820 Nm torque. The ultimate new Bentley GT Speed coupe reaches a top speed of 206 mph (331 km/h) – the fastest production Bentley ever – while the convertible reaches 203 mph (327 km/h).

The extra dynamic performance to the Continental flagship model is complemented by an even more distinctive road presence. The sharp front splitter, discreet side skirts and elegant rear diffuser of the Mulliner Styling Specification are finished to match the exterior paint colour and a dark tint finish applied to the 21” Speed wheel design, headlamps and tail lamps. 

The new appearance is further complemented by red-painted brake calipers and a stylish chrome “Speed” badge fitted to the front fenders and inside the luxurious cabin there is a completely new colour split reserved exclusively for the Speed models.

Luxury performance sedan  

With its unrivalled blend of effortless driveability, exquisite luxury and craftsmanship, sculpted design and state-of-the-art technology, the Flying Spur completes the stand line-up at Detroit.   

Behind the athletic exterior design and immaculate interior application of luxurious leather and wood lie a host of advanced acoustic and electronic technologies. A bespoke hand-held Touch Screen Remote allows rear-cabin occupants to control an extensive range of features from the comfort of their seat. With an optional Rear Seat Entertainment suite including two 10” LCD screens, DVD players, wireless headphones and an on-board hard-drive jukebox, plus the options of full Wi-Fi connectivity and an 1100W Naim for Bentley premium sound system, the new Flying Spur is the perfect place for work or relaxation on the move.    

Powered by Bentley’s renowned 6.0-litre, twin turbo W12 engine, the new Flying Spur features more power than any other Bentley four-door in history with 625 PS (616 bhp) and 800 Nm of torque. A 14% improvement in the power-to-weight ratio over the previous generation Flying Spur ensures a remarkable 0-60 mph time of 4.3 seconds and a top-speed of 200 mph (322 km/h).

WORLDWIDE SALES - BENTLEY - The British luxury brand breaks more records.

• 11,020 cars delivered in 2014 – 9% increase
• Growth across every region
• New models drive record breaking sales success

Bentley strengthened its position as the world’s most sought after luxury car brand after announcing 2014 as the company’s record breaking year. 11,020 cars were delivered, a 9% growth on the 2013 figure of 10,120 cars.      

The key regions of the Americas, China, Europe including the UK, and Middle East, all saw strong performance, with the Americas retaining its position as Bentley’s number one market, while China closes the gap as the second largest customer region.

Growing appeal of the brand, with the launch of new models drove this success. The Continental GT V8 S and GT Speed coupe and convertible and Flying Spur V8 all entered the market in 2014.

Commenting on the results, Bentley’s Chairman and CEO, Wolfgang Dürheimer, said:

“2014 marked an exceptional year for Bentley, as our record breaking pattern continued. We delivered more cars than ever before, and we now operate in more markets than at any point in our 96 year history, a perfect example of our truly international appeal.     

“And this as we embark on a milestone year for the company, in which we are working to deliver the world’s first luxury SUV, and set our sights beyond this and to the future to try and maintain this significant period of success.”

Chancellor of the Exchequer, George Osborne, said:        

“Bentley is an iconic British Brand that successfully exports around the world. Their recent decisions to invest heavily on new site developments and create close to 1,000 jobs is fantastic news for Britain, and for Crewe where their cars are manufactured.

“I want Britain to be a country where companies want to invest, create high skilled jobs, and export, and so I am delighted that Bentley has had such a successful year on all these fronts.”

Bentley’s number one market throughout 2014 was the Americas, closing the year delivering 3,186 cars, up from the 2013 number of 3,140. This accounted for 29% of total global deliveries.      

China remained the second biggest Bentley market, with 2,670 cars delivered in total over the year, against the previous year of 2,191 cars.                                          

In Europe, deliveries were up by 4%, with 1,539 cars delivered to customers. Bentley’s home market, the UK, continued to perform strongly, delivering 1,387 cars, up from 1,381 cars in 2013. Overall, this means that 87% of Bentley’s cars exported from England to customers around the world.

Bentley’s growing presence in the Middle East and Asia Pacific resulted in deliveries hitting a record high in both markets.        

Performance was strengthened in the Middle East by Bentley’s flagship model, the Mulsanne, with total deliveries increasing by 7%, 1,263 cars, on 2013’s figure of 1,185 cars.

In Asia Pacific, deliveries rose by 48% on the previous year, with 669 cars delivered in 2014, against 452 cars in 2013, driven by success of the two-door Continental GT model line. Finally, Japan saw growth of 5%, delivering 306 cars against a total of 291 cars in 2013.