Showing posts with label bentley. Show all posts
Showing posts with label bentley. Show all posts

Tuesday, September 20, 2022

My FH5 Log: Antique Roadshow

Obtained from Forza Horizon 5's Horizon Road Trip Wet Season Playlist, the Bentley Turbo R returns to showcase its antique looks and performance like royalty, although we never asked to have this ancient Bentley come back to this game but who cares about it.


Launched in 1985 and serving as the replacement of the Mulsanne Turbo, the Turbo R carries the same turbocharged 6.75L V8 OHV engine from the Mulsanne Turbo, but with new fuel injection, boost control, and water-to-air intercooling, producing up to 385bhp of power and 750Nm of torque in its final year of production. It's mated to a 4-speed automatic gearbox, making it capable of a 0-60mph time of 6.2 seconds and a top speed of 150mph.


With the quick introduction done, it's time to give this luxury British saloon from a long time ago a dirty downhill climb like a European car chase movie. Although silly to do it, it's downright fun for me. Anyway, roll the tape.


Not bad for an antique roadshow.

Enjoy your new ride!

Thursday, September 3, 2020

Forza Horizon 4: Keeping up with the Jolsons

The Series 26 update of Forza Horizon 4 kicked off with the arrival of a rather unconventional Bentley that time forgot. Don't know what that classic luxury car is but some say, it's the ultimate in its time. Say hello to the Bentley Turbo R, a classic luxury sedan that I just won from the recent Summer Horizon Playlist.



So, what's it all about the Bentley Turbo R, anyway?


From an era when Bentley and Rolls-Royce are in the same room, most Bentleys made in that era were long forgotten and shares little in common with its Rolls-Royce counterparts. At first, Bentley decided to throw in the towel on Rolls-Royce until this car came, which became the saving grace for Bentley. That's where the SZ series kicked in with the introduction of the Mulsanne Turbo.

Launched in 1985 and served as the replacement of the Mulsanne Turbo, the Turbo R carries the same turbocharged 6.75L V8 OHV engine from the Mulsanne Turbo, but with new fuel injection, boost control, and water-to-air intercooling, producing up to 385bhp of power and 750Nm of torque in its final year of production. It's mated to a 4-speed automatic gearbox, making it capable of a 0-60mph time of 6.2 seconds and a top speed of 150mph.


Although not as powerful as today's Bentleys but it's still quick even by modern standards, which is rather impressive for this old-timer but because of the fact that it's mated to an automatic gearbox, acceleration feels a bit sluggish and starting one from the starting line is proven to be quite a struggle. Cruising one of these while not in a middle of a race gives me an impression that I'm chauffeuring a London crime boss, if you know what I mean. Still, I'm starting to enjoy this classic Bentley the moment I set foot on it.



To see just how sluggish but cool the Bentley Turbo R is, I went further and further until I found something to prove its worth and with the venue set, the classic Bentley prepares to withstand a different kind of torture test. Let's roll the tape.


Now that's torture but well done, Bent-man.


The Turbo R maybe the most sluggish luxury car I have ever driven in the game but in historical terms, it's the one that saved Bentley from being faded away from motoring history and with that, I have to give this classic Bent-man a huge thanks.

Enjoy your new ride!

Wednesday, June 5, 2019

Bentley Continental GT Convertible (Third Generation)

The third-generation Bentley Continental GT showed the world how much the iconic grand tourer has evolved over the years and it's all becoming true to form to become one of the best grand tourers you can't wait to drive and with the new convertible version, there's still so much story to tell for the new generation.

2019 Bentley Continental GT Convertible

Starting at 176,000 Pounds, which is somewhat more expensive than its hardtop variant, the Convertible variant of the third-generation Bentley Continental GT follows the same recipe as the hardtop variant but with the roof that can be opened or closed at just 19 seconds even while traveling at residential speeds. Still, with the roof opened, you can truly see the true beauty of this English grand tourer while cruising for miles rather than lap times. You can really smell some traces of Skin Bracer lurking through the tailor-made leather seats when you get there. Sounds musky but there's more to just getting used to it.

Under the hood, you still have the same 626HP 6.0L W12 Twin Turbo engine as the hardtop as well as the 8-speed DCT and 4WD system that works like today's Porsche Panamera and it's as similar as the hardtop equivalent. 0-60mph in 3.7 seconds and a top speed of 207mph, of course. Even with the added weight to the Convertible version, it still works like the hardtop version and that's rather surprising indeed, meaning it can still behave as what you want your grand tourer to be. It can be comfortable, it can be challenging to handle its grippy character, and overall, it's still the grand tourer you want to have and you are so jealous to have one.

In short, the convertible variant of the Bentley is still a yes or a no but either way, it shows how much the Continental GT has evolved for over a decade and a half and there are so many stories to write about with this new model, even with the roof opened.

Photo: Bentley Motors

Tuesday, March 19, 2019

Forza Horizon 4: A true British icon

Only a handful of car enthusiasts who had proper knowledge to British car history can wield the power of the legendary Bentley 8-Litre, undoubtedly a true British icon in its own right, and since I got my hands on this legend by clearing the British Racing Green story on Forza Horizon 4, I might as give this one a spin to explain what's what.



Launched in 1930, the 8-Litre is known to be the largest and most luxurious Bentley at its time but sadly, it was launched at the time of the Great Depression which led to the poor demand to this car, leading to a change in ownership of Bentley. With that, only 100 units have been made for a span of two years.

The namesake 6-cylinder engine was known to be the largest engine of any car available in the UK at that time and it features an Elektron crankcase and magnesium alloy, capable of producing 200 to 230hp of power, which is very powerful at that time. True to W.O. Bentley's claim that he made a "dead silent 100mph" car, the folks from Autocar pushed the 8-Litre to the limit and reached a max speed of 101.12mph.

Little did you know that the 8-Litre bearing chassis YF 2002 and registered plate number GK 706 is W.O. Bentley's personal vehicle. He sold his car during the Great Depression when Bentley Motors was taken over by its new ownership but at the Bentley Drivers' Club, he and his beloved 8-Litre that he sold were reunited. In 2006, the VW Group-owned Bentley managed to restored W.O.'s 8-Litre and it has became a symbolic "company car" for each successive Bentley CEO, preserving the tradition that dates back to W.O.'s ownership of the said car.



Reading the whole story of the Bentley 8-Litre made me touched about the founder who sold off his personal Bentley but then reunited and then handed over to every Bentley boss, labeling it the CEO's company car. That legendary machine really is special for someone who's in charge of Crewe's finest and by experiencing it behind the wheel, you can really tell just how the 8-Litre's been through as the dead silent 100mph grand tourer.

Although it is basically sluggish on the acceleration and too heavy on the handling department, those bits won't stop me from experiencing what's like to be in the Bentley CEO's personal vehicle that has been passed down for present generations. Speaking of which...



I decide to take this British icon for a wild ride through the beachside, showcasing this British icon just how much of a beast this 8-litre is. If I was taking this one in a middle of a big adventure like the Peking to Paris one, it would be a blast but this isn't Peking to Paris. This is the United Kingdom and anything can happen in a blink of an eye so let's get this thing rolling.



There was some rubbing occurred but it's safe to say that the Bentley 8-Litre managed to shine through the forest like it was rushing through the end of the Peking to Paris event.



The Bentley 8-Litre; a dead silent 100mph grand tourer with unparalleled power underneath its monster of a engine. It was W.O. Bentley's personal car which was separated during the Depression but then reunited and then restored to be handed over to successive Bentley CEOs from the present and to the future. This machine really is a true British icon that only a handful of car enthusiasts who had proper knowledge to British car history can wield it. So, now that I had my time with the 8-Litre, I must keep going for as the journey continues...

Monday, December 10, 2018

Forza Horizon 4: After storming the castle...

The Bamburgh Castle, located at Bamburgh Beach, costs you ten million credits to settle it. If you managed to obtain that insane amount of cash by all means necessary and gain control of the castle, you will receive a barn find rumor that will complete your barn find collection in a snap.



After storming Bamburgh Castle with that insane amount of cash you saved from various ways and means, you get a barn find rumor and that barn find in question is located south of the castle you recently bought. What's in there is a vintage pre-war masterpiece that is worth more valuable than the Queen's royal crown. Need the answer? Follow me.



A few moments later, we have the answer...

Image may contain: car, snow, tree and outdoor

This vintage pre-war masterpiece is a Bentley 4-1/2 Litre Supercharged, known as the Blower, and such car deserves a little bedtime story.

Ever since the original four-cylinder one won the Le Mans in 1928, W.O. Bentley wanted to make a Speed Six while some wanted to jam it with a supercharger, which Sir Bentley disliked the idea.  However, Sir Henry Birkin, along with some other cohorts, managed to give it a try, despite W.O. Bentley's discouragement that could ruin its performance.

The Roots-type supercharger that the folks jammed to the four-cylinder in-line engine with single overhead camshaft results to 240HP of power at 4200rpm. Despite that added power, the Blower Bentley didn't managed to win a race. It placed 2nd at the 1930 French Grand Prix, beaten by a lighter Bugatti. Although W.O. Bentley's unhappy with that performance, Sir Henry Birkin took it to the Brooklands in 1932 and broke the Outer Circuit record at 137.96mph, which is quick in pre-war era.

Little did you know that Sir Ian Flemming made this Blower Bentley as a Bond car in his earlier novels.

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Now that's some crazy pre-war story about this car. Men like Birkin are going to ignore Bentley's warning that jamming a supercharger at the 4-1/2 Litre but did it anyway and placed 2nd at the French GP and set a Brooklands speed record, that Blower Bentley really is special and there are so many people like us are going to relate with the boys behind the Blower Bentley. That is a rebel with a cause. Speaking of rebel, let's have a go at Bamburgh and since I gained control of the castle, the beach is my playpen for my newly-restored Blower Bentley to take some deep breaths and let loose. Let me see your first step.



Sandblasting at castle grounds, watching the newly-restored Blower's first step, it's the perks of being a would-be king living like royalty unless I'm not one of the dark kings plotting world domination. Huhehe... Dark king, where did I heard that before?

Image may contain: one or more people, car, sky and outdoor

With all of the 15 barn finds unearthened across Great Britain, these hidden treasures are now living a new lease of life on the road and although this whole barn find hunting's complete, I feel that there could be more out there soon as the journey continues...

Sunday, September 23, 2018

Bentley Continental GT (Third Generation)

For over a decade and the half, the Bentley Continental GT reshaped the luxury GT genre hand in hand and whether you love it or hate it, this grand tourer, along with its British craftsmanship and German engineering, has been stapling down the open roads for years and with the advent of the all-new model, the new Continental GT is ready to pen a new story for the playboys elsewhere.

2018 Bentley Continental GT
2018 Bentley Continental GT interior

Starting at 150,000 Pounds, the all-new Bentley Continental GT is literally all-new inside and out and while this all-new model is a clean slate compared to the previous generations, the classic Continental GT feel still remains and it promises to be quite as smooth as a bottle of Skin Bracer.

Outside, the styling draws inspiration from the EXP 10 Speed 6 Concept and although less radicalized compared to the concept, it's still a beauty worth beholding and when parked next to the Aston Martin DB11, it's fair to say that it's got more glitz compared to the other car. Whether you take it on the Stelvio Pass or the Swiss Alps, you can really see the true beauty from within. As for the inside, it's more futuristic than the previous model and Bentley states that the screens have improved retina display, which is as clearer as your new iPhone. Good but the handcrafted interior is something to touch at because with all that leathery and proper wooden trim bundled through this futuristic interior, the new Continental GT shows that it's like Downton Abbey meets MI6. How's that for fancy living?

Despite being called designed, handcrafted, and engineered in Britain, the new Continental GT runs on an all-new platform derived from the second-generation Porsche Panamera, which is a luxury saloon worth pleasuring, and powering it is a brand new 6.0L W12 TSI engine producing 626HP of power and 900Nm of torque. With the 8-speed DCT and 4WD system which works pretty much like the Panamera of today, it does 0-60 mph in 3.6 seconds and onwards to 207mph. It even comes with a Sport Launch mode which lets the car launch like a pro, which is pointless for a luxury grand tourer like this but it's worth a shot having fun with it.

Because it runs on a new platform, the new Continental GT works in both ways as a West Coast cruiser and a Silverstone surfer at the push of the button. In Comfort mode, it feels civilized to drive like a luxury car and it's got that Skin Bracer feel into it. Feels good but when engaged to Sport mode, and when taken to the track, the new model demonstrates its mild but menacing character from within and although the Electric Power-Assisted Steering works nice on city streets, expect some torn ligaments from your arms because the harder it gets, the twitchier the car becomes and responding to full-paced driving calls for even more challenging feats. Despite the added challenge while handling this House of Cards, the new Continental GT could become your new favorite the more you drive this luxury grand tourer for a change.

So, could this be your new favorite GT car at the moment? Considering everything the new model has done for drivers like you, it can be either a yes or a no but either way, it shows how much the Continental GT has evolved for over a decade and a half and there are so many stories to write about with this new model.

Photo: Bentley Motors

Wednesday, April 26, 2017

Forza Horizon 3: The Princess and The Dream

This is the Bentley Bentayga and yes, I know. It was from the Rockstar Energy Car Pack for Forza Horizon 3, I drove it last time on Blizzard Mountain, and I even decorated it with a touch of a princess from an idol school. So now why am I driving it again?



Well, there's one main reason why am I driving it again because I really liked it. I may not be used to driving an SUV made by the company behind the Continental GT but the more I drive the Bentayga, I'm starting to realize that there's more to this hunk of meat because despite being a luxury SUV built to cater against the Range Rover, the Bentayga really behaves like a sportscar and while I still have the Hime decor made by me, looks like everyone's going to upset about why a princess like her trashed the competition like it was nothing happened.







No matter how tough the opponents are, she's just minced them like marinated salisbury steak served on a fancy dinner plate at a five-star restaurant only reserved for VIPs, And if that wasn't enough, this classy SUV with the first-class comfort fit for a princess like her to take her on a ski holiday is not afraid to get her face dirty, especially when a strong cyclone hit Down Under. Yep, she really is that extraordinary for a Bentley...



She really is that good for a Bentley of that size and that Bentayga is no exception when it comes to surpass the competition with its style and performance that makes this Bentley extraordinary. Ahem, sorry about that, but that design I made for the car before is what made me fell in love with the Bentley Bentayga and for such a heavy luxo-barge, it still feels like a sportscar and it's not afraid to take on all comers.

So, the Bentayga really is like an invincible princess that stands the crowd, what's it like to take on against the one who is living the dream?



Yep, our old friend, the BMW M2. Hey, still got that Yume Nijino decor I made for that car since our first encounter! How was it then? Great? Anyway, we got two unrelated machines with two similarly themed designs and what we have here is a match between the princess and the dream. This can make a very interesting match.

For fair play, all of their upgrades have been stripped out and they can reclaim it after the match. With the upgrades stripped out and reverted back to normal, some arrangements have been made. Let's look at the stats; the Bentley Bentayga is powered by a 6.0L W12 engine producing 599HP of power and 663ft-lb of torque. It does 0-60mph in four seconds and onwards to 187 mph (301 km/h). The BMW M2 Coupe, meanwhile, is powered by a small 3.0L 6-cylinder turbocharged engine producing 365hp of power and 369ft-lb of torque. Despite producing very less than the Bentayga, has a 0-60mph time of 4.3 seconds and electronically limited to 155mph, it's two thousand pounds lighter than the Bentley.



Okay, let's translate these numbers into lap times and see who can make it to the Surfers Paradise Festival Site first. A standard Bentayga set the target time of 2:35.989 and the goal for the M2? BEAT THE CLOCK.

Before setting off, there's just one major confession about this stunt; with that grace and demeanor the Bentayga showed, feels like the M2 couldn't stand up to this challenge but with such confidence and optimism, this Bimmer, along with the design themed after Yume, is ready to show everything it has and without further ado, the battle between the greats has begun and I got it on the tape.



The time? 2:31.418! About four seconds faster than the mighty Bentayga! This is the moment I've been searching for! It's like Yume defeated Hime for the school's best idol and yes, you get the point. Anyway, enough about that idol trash because this shows that this isn't about size and power when it comes to competition because when you dream big, you can accomplish everything!



Man, what a night it was! Seeing a M2 defeating the Bentayga is like David pinned down Goliath and for a sportscar that is smaller than any other M car from BMW, the M2 really has a lot of ideas to share with. So, what do you say? Ready for your first day tomorrow morning? I'm looking forward to see what's next with this little M car filled with hopes and dreams for us all. Have fun.

Thursday, February 2, 2017

Forza Horizon 3: [Censored] to [Censored]...sorta

Sorry about the title but it's a clear reference from the latest Grand Tour episode titled [Censored] to [Censored] where the boys compare three British SUVs and going on their German-Austria road trip from Wank, Kissing, Petting, the Austrian village with the curse word on it, and all the way to Nuremberg. We saw the Jaguar F-Pace, the Range Rover, and the Bentley Bentayga into action and if I was just wondering if I can do the same comparison right here Down Under on Forza Horizon 3.







I already tried three of British SUVs in the past and I am already familiar with the way they behave for me because while the F-Pace excels in its handling capabilities because this is the lightest of the three, the Bentayga is the all-powerful heavyweight that shows its inner tyranny in the house of cards, and the Range Rover is all about offroad capabilities unlike any other, even though I found out that it's the heaviest of the three British-made SUVs.

Since this is Australia, it's impossible to recreate the comparison on the said Grand Tour episode but I found a piece of Grand Tour somewhere Down Under and that was called "Grand Tour Sprint", so famously called because it has the words "Grand Tour" on it and that remind anyone of the car show the former Top Gear trio were on it. Special, isn't it? And that gave me the ideal time to put these three British SUVs to the test round the Grand Tour Sprint because...it's like conducting science experiments with test subjects, only this time in cars.







To ensure a fair-playing field, I've stripped most of their upgrades to their respective tuning files so they can pick them up later after this experiment. Oh, and I also stripped off the special designs that I made because...I don't know why but this is science and no fancy accessories are allowed during the conduction of such a scientific process.

Now it's time to find out which of these three British SUVs is the best and no, there won't be any underwear, pets, sunglasses, and canned beans involved in the making of this experiment. No way. It's time to settle things once and for all and see which SUV is the best. Remember, no shortcuts because this is cheating just like what happened in the Grand Tour episode.

And so, the boxing bell has rung...



At the end of their Grand Tour sprint, I have the times;

F-Pace: 2:52.139
Range Rover: 2:41.862
Bentayga: 2:37.457

Here's the point; the F-Pace, because of its supercharged 3.0L V6 engine that produces less than the other two heavyweights, is the slowest of the three while the Bentayga, due to its tyrannical power output for a 12-cylinder SUV, is the fastest of the three, and in the end...hmmm...James May is absolutely useless.

So, the Bentayga is the fastest of the three and it's very hard to say what the dopey old idiot was doing behind the wheel because while it looks heavy inside and out, it's surprisingly fast and handles like a grand tourer, well just about. I assured that the Bentayga behaves like the good old Continental GT with the added muscle to upset the Range Rover in the race of luxury SUVs and in a straight-line performance, it would easily beat both the Jag and the Range Rover by a wide margin of reach but what could possibly go wrong with the Bentayga anyway?

Anyway, enough talk right now and time to close the case, proving that the ultra-expensive Bentley Bentayga is the best of the three SUVs and this Grand Tour episode really needs a rewrite.

Tuesday, January 31, 2017

FH3 Blizzard Mountain: Big Ben



Time for another guessing game, am I right? Okay, on the front it looks more like a Bentley, a gentleman's touch of royalty served for the privileged few. Although it can be classified as a sovereign when you look at the Bentley badge at the front, something's different about this Bentley because while the front looks similar to the Continental GT, this car in question is not the Continental GT. In fact, this is the Bentley that differs it from the royal blood. Care to see it?



Holy nachos! Looks like Bentley's not safe on the SUV outbreak that spreads through most carmakers like a flu season in wintertime.



Say hello to the first-ever Bentley Bentayga, the king of luxury SUVs.



While driving Crewe's first sport utility vehicle at the Blizzard Mountain to study its capabilities, let's talk more about the Bentayga. As the first SUV in the Bentley range, the Bentayga is inspired from the EXP 9 F Concept from the 2012 Geneva Motor Show, but compared to the concept car it inspired from, the Bentayga features Continental GT-inspired face at the front and Flying Spur-inspired rear lamps at the back, but despite its differences, the Bentayga's SUV packaging is a feast to be festooned for the privileged few.

Under the hood lies the newly-developed 6.0L W12 TSi engine producing 608PS of power and 900Nm of torque and when mated to an 8-speed gearbox, it does 0-100kph near the five second mark and onwards to 301kph. This power makes the Bentley Bentayga the most powerful luxury SUV ever made. Apart from the W12 engine offered, the Bentayga is offered with Bentley's first diesel engine, in the form of a 4.0L 32-valve V8 diesel engine that delivers the same amount of torque as the W12 engine but it only produces 435PS of power.



While the Bentayga is a hunk of metal made for the high-paying footballers who love to turn on the stadium parking lot with their flashy luxury cars with six-figure pricetags, some would say that the design is pathetically ugly for a Bentley, although the interior is worth redeeming when it was festooned with luxury items that can be somewhat on the same level as a chauffeur-driven car.

Like the Range Rover, the Bentayga feels more classy and posh on the city centers while showing its adventurous character offroad, regardless of the road and weather conditions it faced. Although this is the most powerful SUV ever made, the way it handles got me worried and because of such weight, handling this supersized royalty is like taming a wild horse at a posh academy. This heavyweight body, despite its king-sized power output, is worth of a challenge for me and that gave me the idea to see how much the Bentayga can do while facing extreme icy conditions.





A posh Bentayga fit for the idol princess. Well, not really a princess but with the design inspired by Aikatsu Stars' Hime Shiratori that I just booked in for this car, feels like she's going on a ski holiday with the others, but this is no holiday vacation. Oh no. Because, after extensive improvements to make it well prepared for the filming, the Bentayga is ready to take on Blizzard Mountain like you never seen before. So, with the cameras rolling, it's time to get this show on the road!



It maybe messy during a royal rumble against the heavyweights but looks like the Bentayga became the star of the show while experiencing extreme icy conditions here in Blizzard Mountain. This Bentley ain't no Range Rover, you know, but looks like the ultra-luxurious, ultra-powerful Bentayga made me surprised that it gave me an idea. What idea you may ask? I'm returning back Down Under to compare against three British SUVs in the market and this could be an ideal task for me to do it because I swear I saw something like this before.

This is definitely one thing I'm looking forward to do it later but in the meantime, time to take the Bentayga back home because it's almost tea time and I need to be here before it.

Friday, August 19, 2016

Maserati Levante vs. Bentley Bentayga

The Italian sportscar company, Maserati, is morphing from Italy's Porsche to Italy's BMW ever since cars like the Quattroporte and the Ghibli are slotting alongside the aging GranTurismo coupe and if that wasn't enough, a new SUV, called the Levante, is joining the ranks of the Maserati lineage.

2017 Maserati Levante

The Levante is Maserati's first ever SUV that was made to compete against the likes of Porsche's Macan, BMW's X3, Mercedes' GLC, Audi's Q5, even Jaguar's first ever F-PACE and because SUVs are becoming the norm in today's automotive society, the Levante proves that it handles like a Maserati even in its bigger packaging fit for the outdoorsmen in them. Fitting for the high rollers who have a hectic lifestyle ahead after their long week of business, the Levante caters them with something that its competitors had with a major twist.

Although the Levante's design is what you called kinky, it's still sexy from every angle even for a bulky exterior. You can think of it as a bouncer who knows how to kick butts with his martial arts per se. On the inside, the dashboard is highly reminiscent of the Porsche Cayenne with the shift lever looks like it came from BMW. At least it wasn't as complicated as the Cayenne when you operate the gizmos offered on the Levante. For a five-seater crossover with lots of room in the back, this is the more practical one for your next week off from work.

For an SUV, the Levante sits in the same stuff that you get in the Ghibli and Quattroporte saloons and at launch, the turbocharged 3.0L V6 was offered in petrol and diesel guise, mated to an 8-speed automatic gearbox. The petrol version produces up to 430HP of power and does 0-100kph in 5.2 seconds with the top speed of 264kph, more than what the Germans can do. The diesel version promises fuel economy as low as 7.2 litres/100 km under the New European Driving Cycle, although that consumption for a diesel-powered Maserati does raise some eyebrows to those conspiracy theorists who are still clueless about diesels and their discrepancies. Although we remain clueless, the Levante was benefitted by its clever aerodynamics system that takes charge of its engine temperature, reduces the aerodynamic drag of the car and subsequently reduces fuel consumption and emissions.

Despite being heavier than the Ghibli, the new Levante handles with precision thanks to its Q4 All-Wheel Drive system and Torque Vectoring and although too grippy to be called a fun car full-stop, its well-balanced dynamics made it a serious player in the sport crossover genre. Get use to it more and you will be able to accept that the Levante is a good car to handle despite its chunks. In other terms, it behaves just like what a Maserati should.

There are some feared that despite its potential capabilities, the Levante can't live up to the Maserati lineage because its too bulky to be classified for a sportscar. Too bulky to be a sportscar, huh? What if there's something that is way too bulky to be a sportscar, it isn't one?

2016 Bentley Bentayga
This is the first ever SUV from Bentley, called the Bentayga and with its design as bizarre as its naming, you can consider this mammoth to be the most outlandish car made by the Brits. Underneath its whopperness lies a brand new 6.0L W12 TSi engine producing 608PS of power and 900Nm of torque. Couple that to an 8-speed gearbox, it does 0-100kph near the five second mark and onwards to 301kph. 

Although the Bentayga is one of the most powerful SUVs in the planet, you can't just storm in like what others did with the Continental GT because its dynamics are so the drama for a whopper supreme of that size. Car enthusiasts had to admit that the Bentayga's interior is the most luxurious for a crossover, even a Range Rover can't have those kind of stuff found on the Bentayga, but considering the struggle on how to get it round the corner or tackle off-road in uncharted territories, the Bentayga wasn't made for the most insane drivers everywhere, considering the load and effort needed to turn this bulky machine around from A to Z, unless if you get the Bentley Dynamic Ride system kicking alive and well, which gives the driver many ways to drive in different conditions.

Pricing? That sounds like too much for a whopper supreme because the Bentayga starts at £160,200, which is more costly than the Levante's starting price of 73,417 Euros, depending on exchange rates and region. So, there you have it. With their first ever SUVs step into the luxury car limelight, it's everyone's fair play for the two because if you are interested in dynamics, the Levante is the better bet, but if its power and luxury you're after, you can go with the awkwardly styled and named Bentayga. Whichever you go for, it's anyone's guess.

Tuesday, June 24, 2014

Forza Motorsport 5: Frozen Face-off Part Two

cgt_2ff_2

In an earlier post, I sent the Ferrari FF and the Bentley Continental GT for a workout at the Top Gear Test Track before their big showdown down at the Silverstone and it seems that the Ferrari's way more quicker than the W12 heavyweight Bentley down the track.

ffcgt

Here they are, it's showtime. The Continental GT Speed and the FF arrived at Silverstone as planned and looks like things are looking very competitive for these two. The Continental once smudged at the FF, saying that its V8 little brother once trumped the Fezza in the frozen battleground in Sweden. It says that it wants to do it again, only this time with the W12 twin-turbo engine rigged at the front. However, the FF warned that the Continental is just a luxury saloon in a coupe body and it's heavier than the FF so there's bound to be understeer by the sheer weight of the Bentley.

This is it, Anna and Elsa, on a dry tarmac on Silverstone. Who will triumph? Only one way to find out...

cgt_2ff_2

The FF's V12 develops 660PS of power while the Bentley's W12 twin-turbo develops 625PS. Top speed for the FF is 208mph while the Bentley's 205mph. However, while the Ferrari comes with a 7-speed double-clutch gearbox, the Bentley comes with an 8-speed automatic gearbox. Even with the 4WD system, the Ferrari FF behaves like any other Ferrari while the Bentley suffers catastrophic understeer due to its heavyweight body but being mild on the handling stakes is all about taking things slowly but carefully. Good thing its 4WD system is not as complicating as the Ferrari's.



At the end, the results are in...

FF - 2:30.192
CGT - 2:35.150

So there you go, looks like the Ferrari FF has won the battle against the Bentley in a normal Silverstone GP light of day but the results should really want to let it go because for those 4WD grand tourers, the Ferrari and the Bentley truly let go of what they have to get round Silverstone quicker than what they did on ice a few years ago.

Monday, June 23, 2014

Forza Motorsport 5: Frozen Face-off



The Ferrari FF; Ferrari's first 4WD shooting brake. Once crossed a corner full of wee where the 458 spun off, and then raced at the snow with The Stig behind the wheel. The Continental GT Speed; a decade-old beauty from Bentley. Once had Captain Slow and Kris Meeke crossed through a rally course with this machine. Yes, these four-wheel drive machines are now facing off against each other in a so-called Frozen Face-off...minus the Frozen part because we're not in a cold area. No no no... Because this is Forza so let's compare these two!


Part of The Bondurant Car Pack is the new Bentley Continental GT Speed. The Speed is the flagship of the new Bentley Continental GT and it is essentially the most powerful version of the said car. The 6.0L twin-turbo W12 engine has been upgraded so it develops 625PS of power output, 50PS more than the standard model, with 800Nm of torque while mated with a new ZF eight-speed close-ratio automatic gearbox  and engine management system. It can do 0-60mph in four seconds and a top speed of 205mph.


And then, part of The Smoking Tire Car Pack is the Ferrari FF. Premiered at the 2011 Geneva Motor Show, it is the first ever four-seater 4WD shooting brake made by Ferrari. Although it is a 4WD car, the FF comes with Ferrari's purpose-built 4RM four-wheel drive system where the torque is still delivered by the rear wheels while power can also be transferred to the front wheels when necessary. It comes with a new kind of V12 engine with direct injection technology, giving this a 0-100kph time of 3.7 seconds. After its announcement, a full-year supply of the FF has been sold out quickly.

You can think of the Bentley as Anna and the Ferrari as Elsa but first, I'd decided to give these two a warm-up practice at the Top Gear Test Track before setting off to Silverstone for their real challenge.



Look at those two 4WD grand tourers! They really like to "Let It Go" through the corners but only the Ferrari tries to catch things up because its 4WD system is not like any other 4WD layout you'd expect. This is not the car you would like the slack off because you have to work it all day long to survive the FF. The Bentley maybe more heavier than the FF but it feels more mild to drive thanks to its conventional 4WD system.





After their warm-up lap round the Top Gear Track, the results:

FF - 1:21.893
CGT - 1:24.581

So, the FF is quicker than the Bentley on this track because it's more lighter than the Bentley but later on, we're going to bring these two at Silverstone and see if they can attempt the same thing they've done when they've gone when Clarkson sent them on Top Gear's icy take of Silverstone, carved from snow from Arjeplog.