Bentley is gearing up for the 2012 Detroit Auto Show to unveil a new range of Continental GT and Continental GTC models, sporting an all-new V8 engine and complementing the flagship W12 Continental models.
Al Habtoor Motors, the official dealer of Bentley in the UAE, has launched the Bentley Continental GT as a 2012 model at an event in Dubai. Changes are limited to new front and rear fascias, as well as a new engine.
The U.S. NHTSA safety agency has issued a recall for Bentley’s classic Arnage, Azure and Brooklands models manufactured between 2007 and 2009. The retractable ‘Flying B’ bonnet ornament may corrode to the point that it doesn’t retract in the event of a crash. The government agency is worried this could be dangerous for poor pedestrians when they get intentionally run over by owners.
The Bentley Continental GT has been updated for the 2011 model year, although the VW-owned British firm is touting it as an all-new model. The new model features facelifted front and rear ends, a mildly-redone interior, an upgraded V12 and the promise of a new V8 base engine.
If you are in the market for a Bentley Continental GT, make sure you avoid all the “lightly used” ones sitting in used car showrooms in the GCC.
England-based luxo-tuner Project Kahn has come up with yet another appearance package, this time for the Bentley Continental GT. The ‘Black Edition’ has an eight-piece body consisting of a three piece rear valance, two side skirts, a two piece front valance and a rear boot spoiler. Optional are the coolest alloy wheels we’ve seen in a long time.
Since Bentley gave us our most expensive test car ever, at Dhs 1.3 million, I figured I’d write a bit more on it. Considering Aston Martin wanted proof of age, website demographics, blood group, etc, just to take out their Dhs 800,000 DB9 for 6 hours (which they never did give eventually), it was a leap of faith for Bentley to give us their Arnage R for four whole days on request, no questions asked. But all things considered, the 6.75-litre twin-turbo V8 is one hell of a motor.
So I had this Bentley Continental GT Speed at hand, and I was wondering what to do with it, besides the usual battery of tests. I’ve been in the United Arab Emirates my whole life, and I hadn’t seen that popular Jebel Hafeet road yet. I also heard that at the top of the mountain road is a flat piece of pavement, so I grabbed two buddies, threw a barbeque kit into the luggage trunk and set off to Al Ain and see this road for myself.