Two doors, but the Bentley Continental, like the open-topped Azure, is a full four-seater with the comfort of a saloon. It can be driven about town at a quietly civilized pace, but on an open road the Bentley Continental confidently shows off its ability to deliver performance to make your heart thump with excitement. The powerful combination of 400 bhp (299.6 kW/406PS) from its turbocharged, 6.75-litre, V8 engine and a chassis and drivetrain of tremendous agility puts the Bentley Continental firmly in the class of sporting coupés with a 0-60mph/time of 6.0 seconds.
But the huge torque, or pulling power of the Bentley's engine, is measured at 590 lb·ft (800Nm), and those figures put it in a class of its own. While other sports cars can perhaps come close on speed, none can match the Bentley's combination of power and huge torque.
Bentley Continental Specifications:
Make and Model: Bentley Continental
Year: 1995
Engine Type: 6.75 liter Turbo V8
Torque: 650lb-ft@2200rpm
Acceleration 0-60: 5.8 s
Suspension: arm
Wheel Base: 120.5 inches
List Price: $319,000
Horsepower: 420bhp@4000rpm
Top Speed: 170 mph
Brakes: 4-wheel vent. disc
Transmission: 4-Speed Automatic
Weight: 5401 lbs
Saturday, November 3, 2007
BENTLEY CONTINENTAL
Vauxhall VXR220
Max power: 217bhp @ 6300rpm
Max torque: 210lb ft @ 4800rpm
0 - 60mph: 4.2sec (claimed)
Top Speed: 153mph (claimed)
Price: £29,995
The VX220 has been setting pulses racing since it was launched back in 2000, it’s fast, stylish and tremendous fun… and now there’s a new addition to the line-up.
Released under the banner of Vauxhall’s new performance brand, VXR, the latest VX is faster, sleeker and even more insanely grin-inducing than the standard version, in fact, the VXR220 is set to be one of the best drives on the road.
Based on the VX220 everyone already knows and loves, VXR220 features the 2.0 litre turbo engine with a power upgrade to 220 bhp, thanks to a free-flow air filter, a hybrid turbo and a reprogrammed ECU.
Translating this wickedly entertaining power on to the tarmac is a set of five-spoke Speedline alloys, finished in satin black and shod with Yokohama A048R tyres. Featuring a dynamic mix of 195/45R16s at the front and 225/35R17s at the back, the VXR220 sticks to the road perfectly, making the most of its nimble agility.This all works together to ensure the most engaging driving VX yet. Performance figures back this up with a spectacular sprint time to 60 mph from standstill in a breathtakingly fast 4.2 seconds and a top speed in excess of 150 mph.
But VXR isn’t just about going fast, it’s about enjoying the ride… which is why the VXR220 has uprated and lowered springs, and uprated dampers. And because going fast brings the importance of stopping to the front of the mind, the VXR220 is kept under control by vented and cross-drilled brakes – 288 mm all round – with uprated brake pad material.
And VXR220 looks the part as well. With its swoopingly stylish body panels and modern, clean lines, the top-of-the-range VRX220 emanates purpose and dynamism. Available in Calypso Red only with matt black detailing on the rear spoiler, wing mirrors, windscreen surround, Vauxhall V-grille and fuel filler cap, it looks simply fearsome.
Inside, things just continue to get better with super sport seats upholstered with Alcantara and carbon fibre-effect leather trim. Meanwhile, the matt black theme continues from the outside in with matt black handbrake sleeve, gearlever gate, passenger footrest, pedals and window winders.
With looks this good and performance this impressive, customers could well begin thinking that they’ll be needing to break open their piggy banks to buy one but with a cost of just £29,995, VXR220 is a whole lot more accessible than anyone could have imagined.
On sale from 25 May there’s simply no excuse not to buy one. It’ll be worth it for the grin-per-mile factor alone.
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Lamborghini Reventon
The Lamborghini Reventón is a supercar that debuted at the 2007 Frankfurt Auto Show. It is said to be the most powerful and expensive Lamborghini to date, costing one million euros.The official press release states that only 20 will be built, but it was later reported that the total number would be 100. The exterior styling was inspired by the F-22 Raptor. Although the exterior is all new, most of the mechanics (including the engine) are taken directly from the Murciélago LP640.
Initial reports suggest that the 6.5 litre V12 may receive a power boost of approximately 15 kilowatts (20 horsepower), bringing the new ouput close to 490 kW (660 horsepower). In spite of this, and the car's carbon fibre components, the Reventón accelerates to 100 KPH (62 MPH) in the same time as the Murciélago LP640 (3.4 seconds)
Inspired by the fastest airplanes
The present day Lamborghini models are distinguished by the clear language of their shape. The coherent proportions of the Murciélago and Gallardo highlight their power and dynamism. Sharp edges, precise lines and clean surfaces: these are ingredients of a style reduced to the essential. Each element is created exactly according to its function; ornaments and decorations are totally foreign to a Lamborghini.
With the Reventón the Centro Stile designers have coherently developed this philosophy, inspired by another sphere where speed and dynamism reign absolute: modern aeronautics, responsible for the fastest and most agile airplanes in the world. This has created an extremely precise, technically striking style with a new vitality: interrupted lines and contorted surfaces create a fascinating play of light, giving the car incredible movement.
Engine
Type-12 cylinders at 60°
Bore and stroke-88 mm x 89 mm (3.46 in x 3.50 in)
Displacement-6496 cc (396.41 in3)
Compression ratio-(11 ± 0.2):1
Maximum power-650 HP (478 kW) at 8000 rpm (guaranteed through the engine selection)
Maximum torque-660 Nm (487 lb-ft) at 6000 rpm
Engine position in vehicle-Longitudinal central-rear
Cylinder heads and engine block-Aluminium
Intake system-Variable geometry with 3 operating modes
Bugatti Veron
Bugatti Veron is one of the fastest marques of automobile and one of the most exclusive car producers of all time.
Maserati MC12 Corsa
The MC12 Corsa has been developed from the MC12 GT1 type which won the 2005 FIA GT Manufacturers Cup, and will allow its owners to test their driving capability in the most exclusive gentlemen drivers’ environment. It will be used exclusively on track during private test sessions - or exhibition activities organised by Maserati. It will not be homologated for road use or for any racing activities.
More than a year after the limited production run of the MC12, Maserati took the wraps of its $1.7 million supercar, a new track-only version of the World Championship-winning Maserati MC12 called the Corsa, sold only be sold to valued Maserati customers who will be restricted to using their new supercar on private track days.
“This is a unique opportunity to own a car that is the reigning GT World Champion,” says Edward Butler, General Manager for Maserati in Australia and New Zealand. “The world-beating racing car was developed from the Maserati MC12 road car and the Corsa is derived directly from the GT1 racing car exclusively for track use. It will not be homologated for road use.”
"The MC12 Corsa has been developed in response to th
e customer demand to own the MC12 racing car and fuelled by the growth in track days, where owners can drive their cars at high speeds in the safety of a race track without the obvious constraints of normal road use,” says Mr Butler. “Without doubt the MC12 Corsa is the ultimate track day car!”The 564 kW MC12 Corsa has been developed from the MC12 GT1 which won the 2005 FIA GT Manufacturers Cup. It will be used exclusively on track during private test sessions and exhibition activities organised by Maserati. It will not be homologated for road use or for any racing activity.
The Maserati MC12 Corsa, which is living testimony of Maserati’s ability to individually tailor make unique cars with the highest
technological content, will be on sale at the price of a million Euros plus tax in September. Available in the official Maserati “Blue Victory” color, it may also be personalized upon request with several optional itemsTotal production of the Maserati MC12 Corsa will not exceed 12 units worldwide.