Automobiles Review

Tag: 2014 Pebble Beach

  • Bentley to present Continental GT3-R at 2014 Pebble Beach

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    Bentley will debut its Continental GT3-R vehicle at the upcoming 2014 Pebble Beach event, which will be the car’s North American debut. Bentley says that the Continental GT3-R is the most dynamic and fastest-accelerating Bentley ever produced. Continental GT3-R will be a hand-built car and only 300 of it will be built with 99 of them to be sold in the United States and four in Canada.

    Christophe Georges, President and CEO, Bentley Motors, Inc. comments: “Pebble Beach is the perfect location for the debut of the rarest and most dynamic Continental GT, the GT3-R. It is a testament to the Bentley trademarks of luxury and performance and we’re excited to share it with the friends of Bentley during this gathering of fine automobiles.”

    All the power inside the Continental GT3-R comes thanks to the installed road and race proven 4.0-liter V8 engine. This is a retuned version of the 4.0-liter twin turbo V8 engine used in the new two-seater Bentley GT. The engine delivers 572 bhp (580 horsepower/426 kW) and 516 lb.-ft. (700 Nm) of torque and makes the Continental GT3-R the fastest-accelerating Bentley ever. The car is now able to reach 60 mph (97 km/h) in just 3.6 seconds and all this is done with an engine that is 220 lb (100 kg) lighter than before.

    On the outside the car will offer a Glacier White exterior with two-tone graphics that trace the two prominent power lines to the side profile of the car. A new front splitter provides an assertive look to the front of the car, balanced by a new fixed rear wing fitted to the boot lid – both finished in carbon fiber. Additional unique exterior features adding to the sporting design include gloss black headlamp bezels, matrix grille, window surrounds and bumper strips. The look is complemented by an all-new lightweight 21” wheel finished in gloss black. The theme continues under the bonnet where the 4.0-litre V8 receives a unique GT3-R carbon fiber cover.

    On the inside the GT3-R offers a two-seat configuration of new bespoke sporting seats, finished with Beluga black leather with diamond-quilted Alcantara. A unique trimmed rear cabin is in the place of the rear seats, complete with a carbon fiber surround and finished in leather and Alcantara. Unique GT3-R badging adorns the center console and passenger fascia panel, while headrests receive stitched logos in contrast green thread. All 99 models bound for the US will receive sequentially numbered GT3-R sill treadplates identifying the car’s one-of-a-kind status.

    The new Bentley Continental GT3-R will sell for USD 337,000 and if you want one you can order it now at a Bentley dealer near you. For the Americas region deliveries will start in Q1 2015.

    Source: Bentley

  • McLaren to debut 650S Sprint at 2014 Pebble Beach

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    The 2014 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance will be remembered with the debut of one more sports car – the McLaren 650S Sprint. This will be the race car’s global debut along with a number of other models from McLaren Automotive, four of which will debut at the same Californian event, scheduled for later this year.

    As the name of the vehicle suggests the McLaren 650S Sprint is based on the already released McLaren 650S Coupe but the newcomer arrives with a number of important enhancements that include new developments to the Brake Steer system, more refined aerodynamics and a race set-up for the ProActive Chassis Control (PCC). All these improvements deliver a more engaging GT racing experience, without losing any of the refinement and balance found in the road car.

    But the new features of the McLaren 650S Sprint do not end here – the new car comes with an aerodynamically optimized design, increased levels of downforce and optimized cooling for the 3.8-liter twin-turbo M838T engine the car comes with. This is the same engine, which is featured in the McLaren 650S Coupe but it also comes with unique engine and transmission calibration for even better on-track driveability and driver engagement. Weight has also been minimized thanks to the strong carbon fiber MonoCell chassis but driver safety has not been compromised. A lightweight carbon fiber HANS-approved racing seat, with full six-point harness, offers an optimized driving position, while an air-conditioning system is retained adding comfort. An integrated fire extinguisher system is also installed.

    At the same time the McLaren 650S Sprint shares some design features with the McLaren 650S GT3 race car like a larger motorsport fuel “bag” tank with quick-fill connectors, optimized cooling from the larger GT3-developed front radiator with a GT3-inspired bonnet integrating radiator exit ducts and more. The 650S Sprint  has a lower ride height with recalibrated adaptive damping for revised spring rates, and sits on 19-inch center-locking racing wheels, fitted with Pirelli slick or wet tires, while an onboard air jacking system enables quick tire changes. Stopping power is also enhanced and provided by a race-prepared braking system developed for the 650S Sprint. This system combines with the road car’s highly effective Brake Steer system and enhanced active aerodynamics to offer superior braking performance. This allows for later braking into corners, but also improved brake feel and greater cornering speeds. A range of options is also available including a computational fluid dynamics developed aerodynamics package including carbon fiber rear wing and front splitter a passenger seat with six-point harness, and further lightweight components including a polycarbonate windscreen.

    In the UK the new McLaren 650S Sprint will cost GBP 198,000 and will be available from all official McLaren retailers around the world.

    Source: McLaren Automotive