Bentley does things right. Anyone who's been behind the wheel of a B-car knows this, but some expressed concerns that the coming of the self-driving cars (when?) and the end of the internal-combustion engine (when?) would mark the start of the “Anemic Era.” We should not have worried, at least not as far as Bentley goes.
The famed Bentley 12-cylinder motors ended production earlier this year and will not be available in any new models. With impressive horsepower and incredible torque, those 6.0-liter motors set the standard for performance. So, how would the eight-cylinder motors compare? Well, the eights certainly have better fuel economy, but will the legendary performance of the bigger motors be lamented by today’s drivers? Bentley invited me to Boston to get familiar with the more-powerful V8 motors that will be the nameplate’s main motivators in the coming years, the eight-bangers. But, of course, there was no “banging” with these whisper-quiet power plants, whose silence was befitting the GTs, Flying Spurs, and Bentaygas that I was set to drive the next day to The Preserve Sporting Club, a 3,500-acre retreat near Providence, Rhode Island.
A brief overview of the Bentley family may be helpful. The Bentley GTs are two-door “grand tourers,” either convertible or hard top. The Flying Spurs are four-door cars, while the Bentaygas are Bentley’s SUVs. Each of those body styles comes with a variety of options, some focusing on luxury, others on performance, and a few even available with an extended wheelbase (the Bentley online configurator allows interested patrons a multitude of ways to create the vehicle that is the most suitable for their needs).
Over the years, I've driven all of Bentley’s models and have enjoyed each of them for different reasons. Want a grand touring car? Try the GT Speed, with its performance focus. Interested in a sporty cruiser for those wonderful summer days and nights driving through the countryside? Try the GT Convertible (or “GTC”) with its plush fabric or smooth top which, when up, has all of the benefits of a hardtop with an elegant roof. Need a car for up to five adults? The Flying Spur delivers, with ample leg room, power fold-down tables, and TV screens in the back seats. And if you need more of a utility vehicle, which is equally at home on the ranch, at a lakeside picnic, at the gun club, or on a night on the town, then call on the Bentayga. This time, from the offered fleet waiting for me in Boston, I chose a unique two-tone Flying Spur, with gleaming silver paint and beautifully contrasting gloss black pillars, and, well, it just worked.
While the drive from Boston to my stay in Rhode Island was a mere 50 miles or so — and mostly on highways — my Flying Spur was quiet, smooth, powerful, and comfortable the whole way. Yet this was no docile sedan: when the pedal hit the metal, which, of course, was necessary when coming onto the highway and merging, with an output of about 540 horsepower, this should not have come as a surprise, even though the Flying Spur weighs in at over 5,000 pounds.
The weight of the car, when kept in check by a supple and yet confident suspension, provided me with the smooth ride of a long wheel-base 2.5-ton cruiser, and there was nary a whisper of wind as I navigated the turns and arrived.
And no, I did not ignore the GTs on this trip. They did wonderfully on the path to Providence too, ensconcing their drivers and passengers in quiet comfort while rocketing down the turnpike (never past the speed limit, of course).
Once we arrived at The Preserve — a 3,500-acre resort with room to roam and areas set aside for almost any outdoor event you can imagine, such as fly fishing, skeet shooting, picnicking, and even off-roading at the custom-designed mud, rock, rivulet, and puddle filled course — it was time to test the Bentaygas to the limits. The Bentayga, which is used to seeing the Bentaygas’ off-road cred mostly used to conquer nothing more than dusty Starbucks’ lots, putting the highly capable Bentley utility vehicle through the paces to handle the trails with aplomb and grace was a great experience. What a brilliant move from Bentley to let potential customers experience all that the Bentayga has to offer while staying at a luxurious resort with so many activities to choose from, most of which showcased the Bentayga’s terrific functionality.
So, as Jay Leno is fond of saying, “There’s no replacement for displacement,” and I am a big fan of the Bentley W12S (basically two V6 motors side by side). That said, the fire-breathers of yore clearly are on their way out, and Bentley has found a way to closely emulate the performance of the Bentley big-motor brethren while greatly improving the gas mileage and making room for the upcoming hybrid and then fully electric line of models. I will miss the sound of a big gas-fired motor, but the rush of acceleration produced by their V8 twin-turbos is equally thrilling; the handling improved by the reduced engine weight of the smaller motor and the impressive gas mileage are wonderful tradeoffs. (Note: At press time, Bentley just introduced the 771-horsepower GT Speed hybrid, so you don’t have to worry about your next Bentley not having enough power!).
Bentley has a way of creating cars that are at once elegant and refined, yet fast and highly responsive. Coupled with their inimitable ability to fabricate luxurious interiors with every detail thoughtfully created out of the finest materials, all Bentleys contain that excellent DNA of great design, high-quality components, excellent ergonomics, and also provide drivers and passengers alike the great satisfaction that they are in a well-thought-out machine. I remain a big fan of the brand and am pleased to report that the company’s move to the smaller-displacement motors does not require any need for lowered expectations: the V8s easily uphold Bentley's long-term commitment to performance, coupled with luxury.
SOURCE: Haute Living - Tim Lappen
