BENTLEY DEFINES FUTURE OF LUXURY AND PERFORMANCE AT AUTO SHANGHAI

by Bentley | April 20, 2015

•EXP 10 Speed 6 concept is a vision of Bentley design and performance

•Updated style, luxury and performance across Bentley range

•Bentley's racing success continues with 2015 GT Asia Series

•Bentley leads automotive luxury in China

(Crewe / Shanghai, 20th April 2015) Bentley's EXP 10 Speed 6 makes its debut today in China at 2015 Auto Shanghai. The concept shows the future direction of luxury and performance using the finest materials and advanced hybrid technology.

EXP 10 Speed 6 is a British interpretation of a high performance two-seater sportscar. From the racing success of the company's early years to the international motorsport success of today, 'speed' is part of Bentley's DNA. This inspiration is expressed throughout the EXP 10 Speed 6, where iconic Bentley design cues are fused with progressive craftsmanship techniques and modern technologies.

Wolfgang Dürheimer, Chairman and Chief Executive of Bentley Motors, comments: 'Following on from its global debut last month in Geneva where it was the star of the show, the EXP 10 Speed 6 is now here in China, our second biggest market, to share our vision for Bentley's future. This concept showcases modern automotive design, highly skilled British handcrafting, the finest materials and advanced performance technology. This is not just a sports car concept, this is a Bentley sports car concept – a bold vision for a brand with a bold future.

'In China, Bentley is the leading luxury car brand. With the updated style, luxury and performance features across the Bentley range for 2015, we are confident that our Chinese customers will continue to demonstrate great passion for our brand.'

New style and technology for luxury grand touring

Bentley is unveiling a suite of new luxury design upgrades and features to its Continental family of grand tourers in Shanghai.

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. Enhancing the GT's iconic silhouette further, three new paint colours are available.

The upgrades continue inside the luxury cabin of the Continental range with a new and contemporary interior including new seat patterns, brightware elements, driver instruments, steering wheel and gear paddles. New material options and hide colours complete the refresh. Onboard WiFi, providing connectivity to all handheld devices in the car is also now available across the Continental family.

The mighty 6.0-litre twin turbo W12 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 and efficiency.

Luxury of choice extended on Flying Spur

The Flying Spur, Bentley's best-selling model in China, is on display in Shanghai showcasing additional features and offering even more bespoke choice.

The exquisite cabin of the Flying Spur gains modern and tactile new features for 2015 to maintain Bentley's reputation for interior style and usability. 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.

Pinnacle luxury with enhanced efficiency

The updated Mulsanne also joins the line-up at Auto Shanghai. Tailored for the driver, the Mulsanne is the flagship of the Bentley range with its exquisite blend of effortless driveability and unrivled luxury.

For 2015 the Mulsanne receives efficiency upgrades through new engine hardware, with its 512 PS (505 bhp / 377 kW), 1,020 Nm (752 lb.ft) 6¾-litre twin turbo V8 engine now 13% more efficient.

Changes have also been made to the gearbox calibration of the Mulsanne, focusing on smoother, relaxed gear changes that promote a comfortable and refined driving experience.

New paint colours, hide and veneers options are also available across the Mulsanne family.

Bentley's international GT3 racing programme expands in 2015

The 2015 season will see the continued growth of the Bentley international motorsport programme, with Works-supported teams racing in six different series across four continents and customers taking their Continental GT3s to an ever-expanding selection of new countries and GT races.

Bentley's Continental GT3 takes a break from 2015 season preparation to join the new Bentley model range at Auto Shanghai. Bentley entered into the GT Asia Series last year with Bentley Team Absolute Racing and enjoyed a promising start. This season, the calendar has been expanded to incorporate 12 races across Korea, Japan, China, Malaysia and Thailand.

The Continental GT3 is Bentley's purest expression of speed. The racecar explores the potential of the Continental GT in its most extreme form, exploiting the performance and endurance DNA in every road-going Bentley.

Bentley Collection

New for Spring in the Bentley Collection and on sale at the Bentley boutique in Shanghai are women's leather jackets plus new season's scarves and women's handbags in two iconic styles – Barnato and Continental.

Photo credit: Bentley
posted on conceptcarz.com