With the launch of the all-new Bentley Continental Supersports Convertible, we’re not sure if we should talk about how unexcited we are about another special edition Bentley that looks like all the rest, or if we should just slam the snooty British automaker’s color choice. With the debut of this new model, Bentley has introduced six new colors to choose from: Magenta, White Satin, Kingfisher, Orange Flame, St James Red Pearl and the color above, Citric. Yuck!

Instead we’ll do neither (or is it too late), and just tell you that like the coupe version this drop top is powered by Bentley’s twin-turbo 6.0-liter W12, which makes 621-hp and 590 ft-lbs of torque, allowing for a 0-60 mph time of 3.9 seconds and a top speed of 202 mph. It will also run on E85, which is a lame attempt on Bentley’s part to feign interest in even remotely caring about the environment.

Unlike its coupe counterpart, the soft-top convertible retains the rear seats, meaning it’s not quite as light-weight. The decision does make sense, however, as the rear has to look luxurious and polished because it will be seen out in the open. And despite the fact that Bentley managed to cut out 198-lbs as compared to the GTC Speed, the Supersports should still weigh in at around 5,300 lbs.

Pricing hasn’t been released yet, but with the coupe priced around the $270,000 mark, expect something close to $300,000.

Gallery: Bentley Continental Supersports Convertible

Complete details of the Bentley Continental Supersports Convertible after the jump:

No auto show would be complete without the obligatory special edition/limited edition/crazy horsepower Bentley debut. The 2010 Geneva Auto Show will have one and, surprise, it’s a Continental. OK, so we’re having a tough time getting excited, but surely there will be plenty of folks who will lust after the Bentley Continental Supersports Convertible, the drop top version of the highest-horsepower Conti.

Under the hood the twin-turbo 6.0-liter W12 makes 621-hp and 590 ft-lbs of torque, allowing for a 0-60 mph time of 3.9 seconds and a top speed of 202 mph. It will also run on E85, which is a lame attempt on Bentley’s part to feign interest in even having an interest in the environment.

Unlike its coupe counterpart, the soft-top convertible retains the rear seats, meaning it’s not quite as light-weight. And despite the fact that Bentley managed to cut out 198-lbs as compared to the GTC Speed, the Supersports should still weigh in at around 5,300 lbs.

Pricing hasn’t been released yet, but with the coupe priced around the $270,000 mark, expect something close to $300,000.

We’ll have more info and plenty of pics when Bentley officially unveils the 2011 Continental Supersports Convertible at the Geneva Auto Show on March 2nd.

Click here for AutoGuide’s live 2010 Geneva Auto Show coverage starting Monday, March 1st.

GALLERY: 2011 Bentley Continental Supersports Convertible

Official release after the jump:

Bentley is quietly examining the possibility of a new entry-level model to slot in underneath the brand’s current Continental GT lineup. Known internally as NCB for New Compact Bentley, it could debut as early as 2014 in two forms. The first vehicle would be what is often referred to as a Shooting Brake (an elongated hatchback-like sports car with two doors and a 2+2 seating arrangement). The second vehicle would be a crossover based on the same platform.

According to a report by Automobile Magazine, the NCB would still be large and luxurious and heavy – just not quite so much as the current vehicles. If brought to market it would be still around the 5,000 lb mark riding on a version of the next Audi A6/A7 platform, cost over $100,000 and use a V8 engine – likely a twin-turbo 4.0-liter unit.

In regards to the crossover version, it would offer the driving dynamics of a car with a more bold SUV-look, in order to target key markets like in the U.S. and Middle-East. The report also suggests Rolls-Royce is considering a similar vehicle, internally referred to as Shrimp (short high rugged international metropolitan project).

Earlier this year Aston Martin attempted to revive the Lagonda marque with an SUV-based concept car that debuted at the Geneva Auto Show, but it was met with such criticism that the British automaker decided to cancel the project.

[Source: Automobile Magazine]

Despite the huge concentration of exotic and high end cars in Los Angeles, many exclusive automakers won’t be in attendance at this year’s annual LA Auto Show. The latest two to drop from the list are Bentley and Lamborghini. That means attendees won’t be able to see the amazing new Reventón Roadster or the massive Mulsanne luxury sedan, with both vehicles having recently made their official world debuts at the Frankfurt Auto Show. The Mulsanne, also made an appearance at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance earlier this year.

Bentley’s Pebble Beach debut proved successful and was part of the brand’s approach to better utilize its resources, by showing the vehicle in front of a crowd where almost everyone in attendance could buy the vehicle – or a few of them. Official auto shows, like in Los Angeles, don’t usually bring buyers, however, the media exposure also has a lot of value in spreading the word about a new product.

High end automakers have been hit particularly hard in the recent recession and many are still scaling back to meet decreased demand. With far fewer vehicle sold than a Toyota or General Motors, every unit moved by a company like Lamborghini represents a much higher percentage of overall sales. In total, this year Lambo’s U.S. sales are down roughly 40 percent, while Bentley’s have been chopped in half.

Other automakers that have already announced they will be no-shows include Ferrari/Maserati and Aston Martin, which recently said it will have a dealer display. Unfortunately, this means we don’t see the new 458 Italia, GranCabrio or Rapide either.

See AutoGuide’s Live 2009 LA Auto Show Coverage Here Starting December 2nd

GALLERY: Bentley Mulsanne Debut in Frankfurt

GALLERY: Lamborghini Reventon Roadster Debut in Frankfurt

[Source: TheDetroitBureau]

Bentley officially launched its new Mulsanne flagship at the Frankfurt Auto Show last week and now word comes that the massive luxury sedan will also spawn a coupe and convertible model.

The news is hardly a surprise, as the car it replaces (the Arnage) was used as the basis for the Brooklands coupe and Azure convertible. It also suits Bentley’s three-pronged approach with its “entry-level” lineup of vehicles, the Flying Spur sedan, Continental GT coupe and GTC convertible. The new lineup of Mulsanne-derived vehicles will also compete head-on with similar products from Rolls-Royce, which will be based on that company’s latest model, the Ghost.

Full specifications on the Mulsanne aren’t yet available, but we do have most of the details, including a  new 6.75-liter V8 motor that makes 510hp and an astonishing 752 ft-lbs of torque.

GALLERY: 2010 Bentley Mulsanne

[Source: AutoExpress]

AutoGuide was one of the few media outlets that posted live coverage of the Bentley Mulsanne’s unofficial debut at the Pebble Beach Concour d’Elegance, but the regal British automaker wasn’t willing to cough up any details. Now that the car has been officially unveiled, we have some info - but not all of it.

Bentley has hidden all the tasty tid-bits of info about the Mulsanne deep in its press release, preferring to boast about how there are 114 different paint colors to choose from and how it takes nine weeks to complete a car.

But we know you want the hard numbers, so here goes. The Mulsanne, like the Arnage it replaces, uses a 6.75 liter V8 engine. The new engine has, however, been completely reworked with light weight pistons, con-rods and a forged crankshaft. Power is an expected 505hp, while torque rises impressively to 752 ft-lbs – which is available from just 1800 rpm.

Bentley has made big promises in the fuel economy department (even if its customers don’t care), and has equipped the Mulsanne with a new 8-speed automatic transmission. Fuel-consumption is down by 15 percent – in part due to the engine’s ability to run on just four cylinders while cruising.

Actual fuel consumption numbers have not yet been provided. Nor has the flagship Bentley’s curb weight.

Additional highlights include an air suspension with variable dampers four settings: Bentley, Sport, Comfort and Custom.

As for wheels, the Mulsanne comes with 20-inchers but we’re certain most owners will opt for the 21-inch set.

We’ll be sure to update you when more info is available, but in the mean time take a gander at the second Mulsanne to roll our of the Crewe factory. Not only are we liking the car more each time we see it, sitting amongst pedestrian vehicles from VW, Skoda and Seat, we really had a chance to appreciate just how enormous this new model is.

GALLERY: 2010 Bentley Mulsanne

Official release after the jump:

Technically speaking, Bentley already unveiled its Arnage successor at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, but the regal British automaker was tight-lipped about any specifics.

Details of the new Mulsanne will be unveiled tomorrow (September 15th) at the Frankfurt Auto Show, where we expect to learn about the impressive fuel-economy improvements Bentley has made with this new model. About all we do know is that the Mulsanne, much like the Arnage, is powered by a 6.75-liter V8. The engine has been reworked almost entirely, however, and we expect this model to be able to run on ethanol as well as gasoline. And of course, the engine’s power output will increase as well.

The design is certainly impressive with a massive front grille with huge circle headlights and lots of chrome.

As for the car’s name, it comes from the same place as the Arnage – France’s famous 24 Hours of Le Mans, Circuit de la Sarthe race track. On that track the Mulsanne straight is actually two straights, which have been divided up with a chicane so as to limit the overall speed that race cars can achieve. Modern racers have to slow from over 200 mph to 65 mph to run the chicane, before taking to the second-half of the straight.

GALLERY: 2010 Bentley Mulsanne

Along with the official debut of the highly-anticipated Mulsanne flagship, Bentley will also unveil a new “Continental Series 51″ limited edition version of the GT and GTC at the Frankfurt Auto Show.

“The Series 51 Continental models represent Bentley exterior and interior styling at its most vibrant and will enable customers to order ‘off the peg’ from an exclusive range created by Dirk van Braeckel’s renowned team of Crewe-based designers,” said Bentley in a press release.

Series 51 models will come with three-tone interiors as well as an available two-tone exterior paint scheme. The first of the series will debut at the Frankfurt Auto Show on September 15th with an interior made up of Imperial Blue leather, Linen seat and door inserts with Newmarket Tan leather accents.

Additional bespoke items include “Series 51″ kickplates, special “Engine Spin” aluminum accents, Amboyna veneer wood and special 14-spoke 20-inch wheels.

GALLERY: Bentley Continental GT and GTC Series 51

Official release after the jump:

The incredible Porsche Panamera platform will, as expected, live on, even if Volkswagen goes through with its plans to cancel the model after its initial production run. The Panamera is currently slated to run until 2016.

According to a report on Inside Line, the platform will be shared with other brands in the VW umbrella. That group could includes Audi, Bentley and Bugatti. The only premium brand that has been ruled out so far is Lamborghini, which could presumably use the Panamera to built a production version of the Estoque concept.

Considering the Panamera’s relatively small size and its sporting nature, it seems unlikely that Bentley could make use of the vehicle. The same goes for Bugatti. Out bets hedge on a high-powered Audi sedan, a possible A7 or even A9 sportback…

[Source: InsideLine]

When Bentley unveiled its new Mulsanne flagship at the Pebble Beach Cncours d’Elegance, CEO Franz-Josef Paefgen announced that the very same car (chassis #1) would then be auctioned off to the highest bidder at the Gooding & Co. auction.

No doubt valued at a quarter of a million dollars, the newest Bentley went for just double that number, somewhat lower than we might have expected. It almost went for less, however, as the starting price of $500,000 didn’t find any offers at first. The starting value was then placed at $300,000, which finally found its way back up to the half a million dollar mark thanks a a phone bidder.

Perhaps the “low” value had to do with the fact that Bentley is keeping tight-lipped about all the details regarding the Mulsanne until its official debut at the Frankfurt Auto Show in September.

All the proceedes of the auction went to the official charitable organization of the Concours, the Phil Hill Foundation.

GALLERY: 2010 Bentley Mulsanne

[Source: Autoblog]