Connoisseur Park

Here we have the 2012 Bentley Continental GTC..the Flying Spur is below but this one has the top chopped for your convenience..pics and commentary courtesy of MotorTrend.

The Continental’s speed and handling has always defied its size, and the 2012 GTC is no exception. The drop top’s twin-turbo W-12 makes 15 more horsepower and 37 more pound-feet more than the outgoing model and Bentley expects this GTC to reach a top speed of 195 mph and reach 60 mph from a standstill in 4.8 seconds, which would make it only 0.4 seconds slower than the GT that we tested. The standard ZF six-speed automatic now features Bentley’s ‘Quickshift’ technology, which the British automaker says “cuts shift times by up to 50 percent and enables double downshifts” to reach the powerband quicker. The all-wheel-drive system has been recalibrated to offer a rear-biased 40:60 split, as opposed to the outgoing model’s 50:50 split. The front and rear tracks have also been increased to improve tire grip and stability. Thanks in part to aluminum-rich suspension components, the 2012 Continental GTC is said to be 154 pounds lighter than its predecessor. These improvements, along with a Bentley’s advanced ESC and recalibration to the dampers, should make the large convertible feel lighter on its feet.

Not all the improvements to the big ragtop are obvious, and some may wonder why the Bentley Continental GTC wasn’t completely revamped, but for those who will be replacing their gently used model with the new one will appreciate the upgrades that undoubtedly make it a better car than it was.

..featured here is the 2012 Bentley Continental Flying Spur Series 51..very nice indeed..pics, specs, and commentary courtesy of MotorTrend.

Now for the price. Base price for a Flying Spur is $189,795 including destination and $3000 gas-guzzler tax. The base price for the Exige, Evora and all three Minis comes to $208,190 including destination. However, the Flying Spur tested here is not a run of the mill, two in every Marks & Spencer’s parking lot Bentley. This particular car is a Flying Spur Series 51, which includes special granite finish 9-spoke wheels and 2-tone interior done in fabulous aquamarine and tan. The rest can be summed up with quilting, piping, embroidering, stitching, contrasting and plaquarding. Everything included in the Series 51 package adds a mere $9070 to the sticker price, but we aren’t done yet. The Naim Premium Audio System which sounds better than a choir of brokers with good news comes in at $7180. Convenience Specification is another $5785, while the three-spoke steering wheel (also in aquamarine) is $1465. Chrome inlays in the door are $1095, an alloy fuel filler cap is $305. A small price to pay in order to let the butler who’s filling The Spur know how much you care. Deep pile carpet mats, straight out of a 1980s bordello are $470. Lastly, the Madrona wood veneer, which shines in a swirled orangish-pinkish lacquered-Spam brilliance sets you back an additional $1625. Bringing the grand total with destination, gas-guzzler and free balloons for the kids, to $216,790 out the door. For those keeping score, that is $8600 more than the punter’s plate of five fine English cars.

BASE PRICE $184,200 PRICE AS TESTED $216,970 VEHICLE LAYOUT Front engine, AWD, 5-pass, 4-door sedan ENGINE 6.0L/552-hp/479-lb-ft twin-turbo DOHC 48-valve W-12 TRANSMISSION 6-speed automatic CURB WEIGHT (F/R DIST) 5557 lb (56/44%) WHEELBASE 120.7 in LENGTH x WIDTH x HEIGHT 208.3 x 77.8 x 58.1 in 0-60 MPH 4.8 sec QUARTER MILE 13.4 sec @ 104.8 mph BRAKING, 60-0 MPH 114 ft LATERAL ACCELERATION 0.85 g (avg) MT FIGURE EIGHT 26.6 sec @ 0.67 g (avg) EPA CITY/HWY FUEL ECON 11/19 mpg ENERGY CONSUMPTION, CITY/HWY 306/177 kW-hrs/100 miles CO2 EMISSIONS 1.43 lb/mile