2011 Bentley Continental GT is TopGear’s Grand Tourer of the Year!
Jan 6th
Can’t say we disagree. Top Gear had this to say:
“”Aargh! A Camel!” is not what you want to hear while travelling at speed around a corner in a £130k GT. If you were to provide some sort of macabre menu of final phrases to hear before you die, it would also come very close to the bottom of my personal list, somewhere between “I think that’s poisonous” and “What are you doing with that hammer?” Nevertheless, here we are, my German friend Juergen and I, both trying desperately to push the brake pedal of the new Bentley Continental GT into and past the shag pile and regretting the car’s not-inconsiderable 2,350kg mass. To make matters even more bizarre, Juergen is a passenger. Juergen doesn’t even have a brake pedal. ”
via [TopGear]
source [Top Gear Magazine, Awards Edition]
Bentley Mulsanne High-Speed Testing
Mar 4th
AutoExpress was lucky enough to join Bentley engineers during some of their final testing of the new Bentley Mulsanne in South Africa.
From the article: “We’re travelling serenely down a dual carriageway, listening carefully for any rattles or squeaks from the car. There’s a faint hiss from the tyres touching the tarmac, a little wind noise coming from the wing mirrors, but that’s all. My chauffeur for the day looks over his shoulder: “Feeling comfortable?”
The driver is none other than Dr Ulrich Eichorn, Bentley’s engineering chief and the man behind the MkI Ford Focus and MkV VW Golf. Reclining in the sumptuous rear seats I stretch my legs out and watch some TV, while the South African landscape flies past the window. It’s an even more stunning sight that catches the eye though, the speedometer is registering 180mph, while the tachometer is settled at an unstrained 4,200rpm.
“Don’t worry, we have a special government-approved high-speed testing permit on the rear bumper – we’re allowed to drive at these speeds,” Eichorn assures me..”
Read the full article: [AutoExpress]
Bentley Superleggera Flying Star at Geneva 2010
Mar 4th
Carrozzeria Touring Superleggera has unveiled a shooting brake version of the Continental GT, custom built for an avid collector, and have announced they will build up to 20 examples. Carrozzeria has been better known for their work with Maseratis over the past few years, but according to AutoExpress this car has proven to be one of the favorites at Geneva this year.
This car is based on the Bentley Continental GTC Speed, with extensive modifications from the A-pillars back, including widening the rear bodywork, re-skinning the doors, and re-working the rear compartment to include two folding rear seats. With the rear seats folded flat, the car can hold about 42 cubic feet of cargo. Touring Superleggera claims that four sets of golf clubs can be accommodated with the rear seats up.
Touring Superleggera and Bentley Motors have developed a special mutual warranty program, which safeguards warranty clauses for both the basic car, and the transformation by Touring. The car will be serviced at Bentley dealers.
source: [Carrozzeria Touring][AutoExpress]
Our New Website is Live!
Feb 24th
Over a year in the making – our brand new website is now live!
Maserati of Minneapolis and Bentley Minneapolis have been combined under the parent brand of Twin Cities Luxury Auto, creating a store that will fill the exotic, luxury, and unique vehicle demand in the Twin Cities area, and across the country.
We strive to carry the finest and most unique vehicles on the market. Whether it’s an uniquely optioned Audi A4 Ultrasport, or a Ferrari 599, or your Bentley Continental Supersports dream car – you’ll find it at TwinCitiesLuxuryAuto.com. If we don’t have the perfect car for you – let us know – we can put our national network of car buyers to work finding just what you’re looking for.
Bentley Announces Supersports Convertible
Feb 22nd
Bentley has announced they will produce the Continental Supersports in a convertible body, and adoption of their flexfuel technology across the Continental range of cars.
From the release:
“The Continental Supersports Convertible further strengthens Bentley’s supercar range, following the introduction of the Continental Supersports Coupé in 2009. The new Supersports Convertible, with the same 630PS (621bhp/463kW) twin-turbocharged W12 engine, is the fastest, most potent drop‑top Bentley has ever built, offering the ultimate Bentley driving experience in the world’s most dramatic convertible.”
“All models in the Continental model range, including the new Supersports Convertible are now capable of running on both petrol (gasoline) and E85 bioethanol or any combination of the two, reaffirming Bentley’s ongoing commitment to make all its cars bio-fuel compatible by 2012. Pioneered by the Supersports Coupe, this FlexFuel technology offers a reduction of up to 70 per cent in CO2 emissions on a ‘well-to-wheel’ basis, a measure of a fuel’s net contribution to the atmosphere, not just tailpipe emissions.”
source: Bentley Press Release
2010 Maserati GranTurismo Convertible Road Test
Feb 22nd
Evo magazine has posted a brief road test review of the 2010 GranTurismo Convertible – I suspect this is a teaser for an upcoming article, but they did give it 4.5 out of 5 stars.
From the article: “What’s it like to drive? As good as Maserati claims; accurate steering, responsive, poised handling, fine ride. With the roof up, you really could believe you were driving the coupe. The engine isn’t over-endowed with torque but there’s enough, and the noise the V8 makes in ‘Sport’ mode is glorious.”
source: evo
2010 GranTurismo Convertible Makes Frankfurt Debut
Sep 15th
Wheels of Italy 2009
Jul 22nd
We are pleased to announce our 6th consecutive year of participation and sponsorship of the annual Wheels of Italy car show. This is the premier Italian car show in the upper Midwest, drawing well over 250 Italian cars, motorcycles, and scooters to the shores of Lake Calhoun, in Minneapolis.
This show is 100% free to show or attend – if you like cars even a little bit – you owe it to yourself to come down and check out this show.
August 23rd 2009, from 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. No pre-registration required – but spots are strictly first-come first-served. Map to the Lake Calhoun Executive Center, 3033 Excelsior Blvd, Minneapolis, MN.
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Cars and Cafe July Video
Jul 22nd
Well, after some time off, Matt Desmond has returned to shoot the videos for Cars & Cafe. If you’ve seen any of his videos, you know they are top-notch, and really set our C&C event apart from anything else being done.
Remember you can pickup a copy of the 2008 Cars & Cafe videos in full HD quality, hifi sound quality, and some special bonus materials over at Matt Desmond’s site: www.middlepathproductions.com.