Bentley News

McLaren W1 First Drive: Ferocious Hypercar Transcends the Track

You know things are getting serious when McLaren rolls-out the ‘1’ suffix. The origin story is, of course, the very first road car McLaren ever built, the F1. Designed by visionary Formula 1 aerodynamicist and engineer Gordon Murray, it arrived in 1992 and rendered all other supercars obsolete. The tiny, lightweight F1 embraced carbon-fibre material technology, adopted a radical centre seat driving position with two passengers set back and either side and was powered by a 6.1-litre V12 engine from BMW that might as well have been passed down directly from the Gods. Game-changer? That doesn’t even come close to describing its impact, even if at the time sales didn’t come easy… The P1 was very different. Rather than a unique side project from the Formula 1 team, it was instead a statement piece for McLaren Automotive, a new road car division still in its infancy. It arrived in 2013 and was a wild-eyed showstopper. It traded the long-legged gait and supple suspension of the F1 for a weaponized hybrid system capable of delivering 903bhp and huge blue flames from its drainpipe exhaust. In Race mode, it lowered by 2-inches and its massive concave rear wing extended into the sky. The P1 was all about aerodynamic downforce, crazed acceleration and a snorting, angry soundtrack that mixed venomous twin-turbocharged V8 with the manic whirr of electric motors. Not so much a car as a force of nature. And now there’s this: The W1. It’s a true successor to the P1 with a similar brief and, on the face of it, it evolves rather than radically reinvents McLaren’s vision for the ultimate hypercar. This is not a criticism. How could it be when the result is this dramatic and has such staggering, other-worldly potential? The W1 has 1258bhp delivered to the rear wheels. It’s capable of 0-124 mph in 5.8-seconds, the quarter mile in 9.6-seconds at 167 mph and produces 2205lbs of downforce at 174 mph. The active aerodynamics – particularly a rear wing that extends way out beyond the rear of the car – are pure performance art and deliver massive aerodynamic efficiency. The result, aside from looking extremely cool, is that the W1 is McLaren’s fastest road car around a racetrack. Ever. Their benchmark circuit is the breath-taking Handling Track at the Nardo proving ground in southern Italy, where the W1 beats their previous benchmark, the flyweight McLaren Senna, by three seconds per lap. Or “a lifetime” as they call it in racing. Maybe two lifetimes! Core to the W1’s performance is the new ‘Aerocell’ carbon fibre tub. With integrated seats and a raised footwell to allow for inboard pushrod-operated front suspension – which in turn gives air a clean path to the huge underbody diffuser – it’s light, stiff, space efficient and has been instrumental in McLaren realising a full ground-effect concept. Just like last year’s F1 cars, which were the fastest ever made. There is also an active front wing and the aforementioned complex rear wing dubbed ‘Active Long Tail’. All of which is very admirable. But the ‘anhedral’ or gullwing doors and the fantastically shirnked-wrapped feel to the minimalist, highly-focussed interior are a pretty good side effect. The W1 feels special. Those fixed seats are perhaps a shade more upright than expected, and the driving position is less obviously racecar than, for example, the Aston Martin Valhalla or Ferrari F80. However, once you’ve adjusted the pedals (they move on a slider) and the delicate, slim-rimmed and alcantara-trimmed steering wheel, there’s an overwhelming sense of purpose. The cabin is so tightly tailored and imparts a sense of lightness and agility before you so much as start the all-new 4.0-litre twin-turbocharged V8 engine, which makes 916bhp all on its own and revs to 9200rpm. Reach up to a roof-mounted control panel to find the starter button. Maybe this fighter plane trope is a little corny, but somehow you feel thrilled rather than manipulated. The W1 has a sense of humour as well as all that motorsport-derived sophistication. There’s a short delay, but when the engine does fire it’s instant – as the high-powered hybrid system negates the need for an old-school starter motor. A sharp flare of revs tells you that this engine is hyper-responsive and angry. On some deep level your brain and body have been sent all the signals required to prepare for something new and intense. Ahead of us, an empty Mugello racetrack, so press and hold the blue button next to the red starter to select Race mode. The centre display graphic shows the W1’s transformation in real time as it lowers by 37mm at the front and 17mm at the rear whilst simultaneously undocking all that active aero goodness. Race mode is not road legal and is geo-locked. You can show your friends and neighbours the aero dance, but it won’t allow you to select a gear to actually drive unless you’re at a circuit. Incidentally, the rocker switches either side of the display binnacle allow further options now: Toggle up the Handling control on the left for Race+ (for F1-spec super smooth tracks) or stick to Race for gnarlier ones. On the right toggle select ‘GP’ for sustained performance over a stint or ‘Sprint’ to unleash all 1258bhp for a time attack. There’s also a DRS and Boost function on the steering wheel. But I guarantee you won’t have the mental capacity to use them… Exit the pitlane, pin the throttle and W1 takes maybe a millisecond or two to gather its might (the gearing stretches to around 60mph in first, nearly 100mph in second, primarily to aid traction), but then lunges at the first turn with incredible ferocity. It instantly feels light, almost like inertia is no longer a thing. McLaren really does prize lightweight engineering, and at 3084lbs (dry) the W1 has a 278lbs advantage over the Ferrari F80. Plus, Ferrari uses figures for cars fitted with every single carbon fibre option. In reality, the gap is probably wider still. The impression of agility and stunning control continues as the track is unravelled at startling pace. The electric motor mounted to the side of the new 8-speed dual-clutch transmission is good for 342bhp and 324lb ft and it boosts any low rev lethargy the new flat-plane crank V8 might have (spoiler alert: It doesn’t appear to have any), so the W1 just feels massively, almost impossibly powerful at any revs. Even so, there’s real reward for wringing it out to 9200rpm and the power curve feels superheated but organic, too. In Race mode the steering – still hydraulically powered – has less assistance and it is noticeably heavier than other McLarens. However, that resistance is welcome as it gives you something to push against and imparts so much information about the front grip level. New Pirelli Trofeo RS tyres with a bigger front footprint than P1 or Senna really help. The front-end feels incredibly secure and the rear-axle follows with perfectly-aligned precision. The whole car feels super-stiff, completely locked into the surface and inspires confidence, but there’s an inherent agility and adjustability that means you’re quickly confident to push at its limits and really impose yourself on the chassis. It’s such a complex car but the driving experience is intuitive, and the driver feels a key contributor rather than just amazed (or terrified) observer, holding on for dear life. Every dynamic ingredient really is shockingly effective and yet has a subtlety and lightness of touch. From that delicious steering to the incredible brakes, the W1 just feels so mission-focussed, so hooked-up. Only the new 8-speed gearbox is a slightly disappointment. It’s fast and punchy, but after the scintillating energy of the Ferrari F80 ’box it feels competent rather than inspired. Other quibbles – it’s okay to quibble when the starting price is $2.1-million before tax and destination charge. Well, that new twin-turbocharged V8 sounds tightly wound and aggressive but if you have a P1 tucked in the garage you’ll miss the snorting, Darth Vader-style soundscape and all the drama that goes with it. Ferrari does this better, too. The F80 sounds deathly dull from the outside but is a riot of turbochargers, electric motors and all sorts of mechanical fury within the cockpit. Even so, the W1 is wildly entertaining on track, and the rear-drive configuration makes it more of a challenge and more satisfying than the F80 when chasing lap times or just sliding around for fun. In the Ferrari, you must second-guess what the front e-axle might do, whereas in the W1 it’s all on you. There are plenty of tools to help, including the ingenious Variable Drift Control, but somehow the W1 is more heroic. Or at least fools you into feeling more heroic – which is surely the point! On the road? Nimble, loaded with feel and sublime response. The ride is noticeably tougher than, say, a 750S but the control is ramped-up too, and with a bit more speed the whole car finds a delicious rhythm. Sport mode for the drivetrain brings some nice turbo whooshes and chirps, but the noise remains high-quality rather than extreme excitement. It is perhaps the one area the W1 feels just a little too tame. Of course, there’s nothing tame about the raw performance… which is genuinely shocking and literally hurts your neck muscles after a few hours. How McLaren has given the W1 such immense traction through just two driven wheels is beyond me. So, is it worthy of that ‘1’? I think so. Perhaps we won’t be talking about $25-million auction results for the W1 in 30 years from now, as we are for the F1. Perhaps it doesn’t quite have the amazing presence and jaw-dropping star quality of the simply gorgeous P1. But it is such an intense experience and the way it marries stunning track performance with delicate poise and entertainment on normal roads is something akin to magic. Maybe not ‘the one’ but definitely a searing, outrageous addition to McLaren’s fiercest family line. Just 399 W1’s will be built and they’re all sold. I’m not surprised at all. View All McLarens For Sale Images: McLaren Automotive

An industrial machine cuts a large piece of orange material in a factory setting, surrounded by metal structures and machinery.

By Jordan Aquistapace – April 14, 2025

How Bentley Uses AI To Craft The Perfect Leather

Bentley’s AI-powered leather inspection tech helps reduce waste. Bentley is getting into AI with a new system designed to spot imperfections in leather that even trained eyes might miss. Rolled out at its Crewe factory, the tech uses high-res cameras and machine learning to scan hides and pick out tiny flaws like scars or insect bites, stuff that might not show up until it’s too late in the production process. Since each Bentayga interior uses around nine hides, finding ways to cut waste and make the most of each piece of leather is a pretty big deal, especially as Bentley leans into its Beyond100+ sustainability push. This AI setup doesn’t replace Bentley’s skilled craftspeople, but it does give them a head start. Instead of spending hours inspecting hides by hand, the tech does the first pass, freeing up time for more detailed work where it really counts, like signature hand-sewn touches that give Bentley interiors their personal touch. It also speeds things up behind the scenes, allowing multiple hides to be inspected at once, which keeps things efficient without sacrificing quality. More importantly, it’s a smarter way to work. By catching flaws early and using hides more effectively, Bentley cuts back on waste and drops about 135 kg of CO₂ emissions per car. That’s not world-saving on its own, but it’s a solid move in the right direction. And for a brand that still prides itself on craftsmanship, combining traditional skills with modern tools feels like a natural next step. View all Bentleys for sale on duPont REGISTRY by clicking the link below. View All Bentleys For Sale Source: Bentley Motors

Three blue luxury cars, including a Bentley Continental GT, are elegantly parked on a coastal road. With an ocean backdrop and mountains in the distance, their combined 671HP offers a perfect blend of power and scenic beauty.

By Tyler Rampersaud – April 08, 2025

Bentley Unveils New 671HP Continental GT/GTC & Flying Spur

Bentley expands the range of the new Continental and Flying Spur. Bentley shocked the automotive industry last year when it retired its iconic W12 engine, cherished for over 20 years as its flagship powertrain with both luxurious and performance-oriented character, and introduced its replacement, the Ultra Performance Hybrid Powertrain. Pairing a twin-turbo V8 with an electric hybrid system, the Ultra Performance Hybrid Powertrain gave way for the most powerful Bentley models yet, the new Continental GT Speed and the Flying Spur Speed, to be introduced. However, Bentley has finally expanded the lineup for the new generations of the Flying Spur and Continental GT, with a new High Performance Hybrid Powertrain being introduced for both the luxury grand tourer and the celebrated sedan. The new powertrain uses a very similar formula of pairing a 4.0-liter V8 engine with a plug-in hybrid system to develop immense power. With a massive 671 horsepower, it outperforms the W12-powered Speed models, and is second in performance only to the current generation hybrid Speed models, on top of boasting as much as 50 miles of purely electric driving range. The new Bentley Continental GT and GTC are set apart from the Speed variants with a slightly revised design, and are able to sprint from 0-60 in a scant 3.7 and 3.8 seconds respectively. In addition, the Azure trim level is returning to the Continental with specific design elements and luxury-focused tweaks. Meanwhile, the new Bentley Flying Spur rockets from 0-60 in just 3.8 seconds, with the Azure trim level offering heated and ventilated Wellness seating in the front and back of the car. The new Continental GT is already available to order, with a starting MSRP of $265,900, and thanks to hybrid innovation, it’s a new chapter in a celebrated grand touring legacy. View All Bentley Continentals For Sale Image Source: Bentley Motors

Three luxury SUVs, including bespoke Victoris Bentaygas in silver, white, and red, are parked on a paved driveway. They stand in front of a modern house with large windows, surrounded by trees and lush landscaping.

By Tyler Rampersaud – April 07, 2025

Bentley Unveils New Bespoke Victoris Bentaygas For Charity

Unique paintwork makes these luxury SUVs stand out for a cause. The Victoris program serves as the philanthropic initiative from Bentley Dallas, a dealership that purveys Bentley’s incredible lineup of ultra-luxury vehicles in the heart of the Lone Star State. A recent initiative from the program saw three one-off Bentley Bentaygas commissioned to be sold, benefitting Victoris through which several Texas children’s charities will benefit from a $75,000 contribution from the projected net proceeds of the sale of the cars. The ultra-exclusive, one-of-one ultra-luxury SUVs were commissioned by the dealership in collaboration with artist Stephen Seltzer to feature a unique design that takes advantage of Bentley’s cutting-edge paint techniques, which the historic manufacturer is capable of thanks to the introduction of the new Bentley Excellence Centre for Bespoke Paint, with a two-tone color scheme for each that features a gradient finish. The new Victoris Bentley Bentaygas feature three separate color stories, with one pairing Candy and Cricketball, with a Beluga and Mulliner White interior, one pairing Moonbeam and Anthracite, with a Beluga and Saddle interior, and one pairing Anthracite and Extreme Silver, with a Cricketball and Beluga interior. Each paint finish required over 70 hours of work to complete, with the stunning design not only showing incredible technique in itself, but the entire collection of three cars is uniform, with accuracy within two millimeters. With incredible craftsmanship and a very worthy cause they are raising funds for, the new Victoris Bentley Bentayga SUVs are true bespoke masterpieces. View All Bentley Bentaygas For Sale Image Source: Bentley Motors

Two green luxury cars from the Le Mans Collection are parked on a driveway in front of a rustic house, surrounded by trees under a partly cloudy sky.

By Tyler Rampersaud – March 25, 2025

Bentley Delivers Ultra-Exclusive Le Mans Collection Benta...

A unique collection of Bentleys receives its capstone. With over a century of history, Bentley’s legacy includes both stunning ultra-luxury cars, and racing heroes from its early history, including a cherished legacy at the equally historic 24 Hours of Le Mans, as one of the most successful and decorated manufacturers at the world’s most daunting and revered endurance race. Bentley boasts six overall victories at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, and while many of those were earned in Bentley’s early years, the most recent was snagged just over 20 years ago in the early 2000s with the Bentley Speed 8 after a 73-year absence from the winning spot. Coinciding with the retirement of Bentley’s flagship W12 engine, Bentley recently celebrated the 20th anniversary of its most recent 24 Hours of Le Mans victory with a special collection of commemorative cars, which featured a special configuration echoing Bentley’s legendary racing liveries, along with various commemorative touches. A collection of Continental GT and Continental GT convertible examples, the exclusive collection honored Bentley’s rich and proud racing heritage. Exclusively available to owners of the Le Mans Collection Continental GT or GT Convertible cars is a customization package for the new Bentley Bentayga Apex Edition by Mulliner, a new special edition of the Bentayga with greater driver focus including 22-inch wheels and rear-axle steering. The package gives the Bentayga Apex the same livery and features of the Le Mans Collection Continental GT. Bentley collector Mark King recently took delivery of his Bentley Bentayga Apex Edition by Mulliner, which matches the Verdant Green with Moonbeam livery of the Continental GT he owns. However, those aren’t the only Bentleys in his collection, with his garage in Northern Ireland also housing a Bentayga Speed, a Continental GT3-R and a Continental Flying Spur, all driven regularly since he owned his first Bentley in 2010. His Bentayga Speed, which has over 100,000 miles, is often used to trailer other cars. With a new Bentayga Apex Edition that matches the Le Mans Collection Continental GT, Mark King’s Bentley collection celebrates the brand’s cherished legacy. View All Bentleys For Sale Image Source: Bentley

A group of luxury 2024 Bentleys is parked in front of a large stone house on a cloudy day.

By Tyler Rampersaud – March 19, 2025

Bentley Marks 6 Consecutive Years Of Profitability In 2024

Bentley’s continued success fuels its exciting future. Especially in the ultra-luxury space, Bentley has demonstrated incredible financial success in recent years, breaking records and transforming its brand with increased personalization, high-tech innovation, and compelling performance. For the year of 2024, Bentley’s numbers are in, and the trend continues, with the manufacturer saying that its sixth consecutive year of profitability is funding its sizeable site capital investments in preparation for the launch of its first fully-electric vehicle and for Bentley to reach its goals of carbon neutrality in line with the Beyond100 plan. Bentley says that its first fully-electric vehicle is set to enter the market in 2027, which means that today, it’s laying the ground for the EV assembly line at the oldest building in its historic Pyms Lane site to build it, highlighting its commitment to manufacturing in the UK. Its operating profit in 2024 roughly equates to over $400 million, and that marks the sixth consecutive year of profitability for the ultra-luxury brand, an impressive feat considering its significant investments towards its future. Its profit number is the fourth-best in the company’s entire history of over a century, and the upfront investments made today affected its 14.1% return on sales. During the year, the W12 engine was officially retired, sending off an iconic powertrain that served as Bentley’s flagship engine offering for over 20 years. In its place comes the new Ultra Performance Hybrid Powertrain, which uses a hybrid-assisted twin-turbo V8 to deliver the most performance a roadgoing Bentley has seen yet. The new Bentley Continental GT/GTC Speed and the new Bentley Flying Spur Speed introduced it with a massive 771 horsepower. After the introduction of the Speed and Mulliner trim levels, 2025 promises lower-powered variants, as well. Also coming in 2025 are the capabilities of the newly opened paint shop, and a new Excellence Centre for Quality & Launch, offering even greater heights of personalization and luxury than ever before for Bentley’s most discerning customers. With yet another successful year in the books, Bentley’s future looks even brighter than its rich, celebrated past. View All Bentleys For Sale Image Source: Bentley Motors

By Tyler Rampersaud – March 11, 2025

Bentley Unveils New 'Black Rose' Batur With 3D Printed Ro...

Bentley unveils a stunning variant of its coachbuilt masterpiece. Bentley has officially retired its cherished W12 engine, which for over 20 years represented the pinnacle of its performance and luxury. As an innovative and celebrated powertrain, Bentley gave it a deserving swansong, with limited-edition coachbuilt models showcasing it in its most powerful form in beautifully-crafted, ultra-exclusive vehicles with incredible attention to detail from Mulliner. One of those is the Batur, a grand touring coupe with stunningly futuristic design details and uncompromising luxury, and one of only eighteen examples of the Batur that will be made has been unveiled: ‘The Black Rose.’ Another highlight of The Black Rose Batur’s exclusivity is the fact that it is one of only three right-hand-drive Bentley Baturs that will exist. The car is a special commission, which features a bespoke exterior color which is aptly named Black Rose, with accents done in elegant Rose Gold. Inside, the luxurious interior is upholstered with a color scheme that echoes the exterior, and special touches in the interior include Bentley’s first-ever use of 3D-printed solid 18-karat rose gold, applied in places like the drive mode selector and the “organ stop” dashboard vent controls. The stunning new vehicle is the latest, and one of the greatest examples of Bentley’s coachbuilding and commissioning ability. With the capacity to make cars completely according to a client’s wishes, Bentley’s storied Mulliner bespoke and coachbuilding department went as far as creating an exclusive exterior color and using industry-first, cutting-edge 3D-printed solid gold in the creation of The Black Rose Batur, which stands out as a gorgeous celebration of Bentley’s W12 engine, and of its past, present, and future automotive excellence. View All Bentleys For Sale Image Source: Bentley

By Tyler Rampersaud – March 06, 2025

Bentley Mulliner Adds New Accent Colors For Continental G...

Bentley continues to exemplify true personalization excellence. Through its Mulliner arm, which offers coachbuilding, the recreation of historic models, one-off commissions, and limited-edition series models, Bentley is one of the premier ultra-luxury manufacturers in the automotive industry, both in general and especially when it comes to personalization. Boasting “46 billion” possible configurations for its Continental GT, Bentley owners are treated to the ability to potentially curate their cars as beacons of their personal expression. Now, a new feature has expanded that catalog even further, with the addition of more exterior accent colors for the Continental GT and Continental GTC. Thanks to Mulliner’s incredible craftsmanship and attention to detail, accent colors are available for the body kits, wheel designs, and side mirrors of the new fourth-generation Continental GT and Continental GTC. Showing off a subtle but powerful detail with the new library of accent colors available for the new Bentley Continental GT and Continental GTC, Bentley is showcasing Mulliner’s incredible craftsmanship and the ultra-luxurious details of its revered grand touring model, which now features an unfathomable amount of possible configurations to echo the personal expression, style, and taste of its clients. View All Bentleys For Sale Image Source: Bentley

A maroon luxury SUV is parked in a minimalist, gradient-colored room with a reflective floor.

By Gabriel Vega – February 25, 2025

Unveiled: The Bentley Bentayga Atelier Edition Trades Per...

Available for the Bentayga Hybrid, V8, and Extended Wheelbase models, the Atelier Edition centers around six curated color combinations.

A black Bentley luxury SUV, part of the Mulliner Bespoke Collections, is parked in a spacious, white industrial-looking room with visible ceiling beams.

By Tyler Rampersaud – February 13, 2025

Bentley Unveils New 'Inspired By China' Mulliner Bespoke ...

Rich history and culture inspire new bespoke creations. Mulliner, Bentley’s storied bespoke department, is known for its range of abilities to create stunning personalized and ultra-luxurious vehicles. Its latest creation is a series of eight new collections, all created as exclusive models for the Chinese market. Each is inspired by China’s culture and history, and the meticulous craftsmanship and attention to detail included ensuring that the important symbols and cultural references were represented beautifully. The vibrant colors of Koi Carp were the inspiration for a Bentayga EWB configuration, as the iconic fish are believed to bring courage and luck. A black interior accented wtih Mandarin Orange and granite stone provide a beautiful canvas for the embroidery of six fish swimming in a clockwise direction. A “ripple” effect on the fascia reflects the water, with gold accents completing the stunning design. Wang Ximeng’s painting ‘A Thousand Miles of Rivers and Mountains,’ a legendary artwork created during the Song Dynasty, served as the inspiration for another configuration, specifically of the Flying Spur Azure. The blues, greens, and gold colors of the painting served as the main guideline for the bespoke blue interior, which features embroidery and details throughout inspired by the painting. "Ru Yi,” a traditional Chinese decorative object that is highly symbolic of good luck, served as the inspiration for a Flying Spur configuration, which features gold thread and other design elements inspired by the iconic features of the object. Other configurations feature dragons, dancing lions, and pandas, reflecting some of the most important Chinese cultural staples in this new highly exclusive series of bespoke Bentley collections made exclusively for the Chinese market. View All Bentleys For Sale Image Source: Bentley

A vintage green Bentley Speed Six from the Continuation Series, with the number 3 and a British flag on the side, is being driven on a road by a man. The classic car features spoked wheels and a rear-mounted spare tire.

By Tyler Rampersaud – February 06, 2025

Bentley Unveils 3rd Speed Six Continuation Series With A ...

The third car in this highly exclusive series is a special one. Bentley is known both for its cutting-edge innovation and its rich history, and one of the latest creations from Mulliner, Bentley’s storied bespoke department, showcases both beautifully. It’s the new Bentley Speed Six Continuation Series, a revival of the historic and highly successful Bentley race car, created using historic documents and original cars, as well as cutting-edge technology. Both old and new solutions come together to create a faithfully recreated Speed Six, manufactured using period-correct materials and techniques. Only 12 Bentley Speed Six Continuation Series customer cars will be made, and the third one has just been revealed, with a very special configuration as part of a cherished collection. The owner’s love for Bentley began in childhood, owning a ‘Models of Yesteryear’ scale model of the Blower that sparked a lifelong interest in Bentley’s pre-war race cars. Today, the dream of owning one has been realized in an incredible way with the delivery of his new Bentley Speed Six Continuation Series. The new car joins an extensive collection of Bentleys owned by him and his wife, including a Continental GT, a rare Continental GT3R, a Continental Supersports, and a First Edition Bentley Bentayga. However, the two crown jewels of the collection are a Blower Continuation Series, and the new Speed Six Continuation Series. Being the third car of the series is serendipitous, as the number 3 has significance to the owner, playing rugby with a number 3 jersey, and having three daughters, who are the namesake for the bespoke “Embelo Green” paint color that both the Speed Six Continuation Series and the Blower Continuation Series are finished in. With a personal story and a historic legacy, the new Bentley Speed Six Continuation Series number 3 is an incredibly special creation. View All Bentleys For Sale Image Source: Bentley

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