Motoring: Bentley Bentayga powers-up; Land Rover’s mobile fortress & more
BENTLEY Motors, the luxury car manufacturer based in Crewe, says its new SUV, the Bentayga, will be the most powerful in the world.
Ahead of launch at the Frankfurt Motor Show this autumn, the brand has released a short video, shot at a “high speed testing facility” at an undisclosed location , which reveals the Bentayga’s speedometer hitting 301km/per hour – 187mph.
Meanwhile, in something of a departure for the VW owned business, Bentley has opened a mountain lodge in Austria.
Located in Kitzbühel, Austria the lodge is available for hire by “customers and friends of the brand”, when not being used by dealers and VIP guests.
Robert Engstler, regional director Europe at Bentley said: “The Bentley Lodge Kitzbühel has everything to become a class-of-its-own destination. One of the latest Bentley models will be available at all times for the guests and we are glad to offer various bespoke experiences such as fishing, hunting, horseback riding, skiing, tennis, golf and spa treatments.”
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WHILE becoming synonymous with heritage and high performance vehicles, Jaguar Land Rover’s new Special Vehicle Operations division is also capable of producing some very unusual versions of the existing JLR range.
Recognising that some of its clients have rather unique requirements, the SVO is attempting to cater for their needs with the production of some highly bespoke vehicles.
The new Range Rover Sentinel is a case in point. It is the first luxury armoured vehicle to be fully engineered by the SVO and has been hand built to provide the highest levels of protection an SUV can offer against a wide variety of attacks.
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The Sentinel is based on the standard wheelbase Range Rover Autobiography. It delivers the same comfort, driving position and all-terrain capability of the Range Rover, but for added piece of mind is complete with a few extras.
The mobile fortress is designed to withstand the most damaging and targeted of threats including penetration by 7.62mm high velocity, armour piercing incendiary bullets. This unique vehicle delivers lateral protection against up to 15kg Trinitrotoluene (TNT) blasts and defence against DM51 grenade explosions from both beneath the floor and above the roof.
At its core is a specially-developed six-piece armoured passenger cell, made of super-high-strength steel, designed to provide world-class protection from attack. The standard glass has been replaced by multi-laminated armour privacy glass of optical quality, providing excellent clarity for the driver and occupants, while also delivering bullet protection.
The Sentinel is also fully certified to VR8 standard against ballistic threats by QinetiQ, an independent organisation that was formerly part of the British Government’s Defence Establishment Research Agency.
John Edwards, managing director of Jaguar Land Rover Special Operations, said: “The Range Rover Sentinel is one of the most extraordinary Range Rovers ever produced. It has been expertly engineered by SVO to provide class leading levels of protection to occupants against extreme attack, whilst retaining the Range Rover’s luxury and refinement with off road capability.”
Sentinel retains the plentiful legroom of the standard model that comfortably seats two full-size dictators/statesmen/Premier League footballers in the rear. A payload of up to 650kg can be carried thanks to revised Dynamic Stability Control and Ride Stability Control systems.
The Sentinel also has an anti-tamper exhaust, a self-sealing fuel tank, auxiliary back-up battery and a split charging system. The 100mm opening in the driver’s window for document delivery ensures the vehicle is secure. The load space features anti-smash protective glass ensuring the cabin remains a safe house.
When it is time to leave in a hurry, run flat inserts in the tyres – fitted to special 20-inch split rim alloy wheels – allow the vehicle to be driven even if the tyres are deflated.
If the worst happens and the main doors are blocked by an accident or an attack, occupants can leave the vehicle via the Emergency Escape System behind the rear seats. Despite this special security feature, the basic design is uncompromised and the Range Rover Sentinel is still equipped with the elegant split-level tailgate of the standard production vehicle.
Now available to order, the Sentinel has a guide price from under £293,000 (€400,000) and benefits from a three-year, 50,000-mile warranty. Additional global aftersales support includes scheduled visits each year by a specialised technician.
The Sentinel will make its global debut at the Defence and Security Equipment International Exhibition at London’s ExCeL arena between September 15 and 18.
BMW restates the case for the new 3 Series
BMW, mindful of the challenge posed to the ascendency of its class-leading 3 Series by the likes of Jaguar and Audi, is pushing the case for the new version of its entry-level executive – despite the model having been on sale since July.
The new 2015 3 Series features an array of changes designed to persuade wavering buyers to remain loyal.
So, the car now has revised front and rear styling, emphasised by new head and tail-lights including optional full-LED headlights. There are also new materials and highlights in the car’s cabin.
There are a range of new four- and six-cylinder petrol engines. All petrol engines and 316d, 318d and 320d diesels are sourced from the latest modular BMW EfficientDynamics engine family featuring BMW TwinPowerTurbo technology.
To entice fleet buyers and the more cash-conscious, the new BMW 320d EfficientDynamics Plus is said to be capable of achieving 72.4mpg with 99g/km.
For those liking more poke for their pound, BMW says the monthly cost to own a 320d EfficientDynamics Sport will be just an additional £3 over the ED Plus (99g/km).
A plug-in hybrid 330e is set to join the range in 2016, with 252hp, 134.5mpg and 49g/km.
Prices start from £24,975 for the 318i saloon, rising to £40,330 for the range-topping 335d.
Anything BMW can do…Audi aims to do likewise
IT isn’t just BMW that wants to correctly position its entry level executive product, Audi too is keeping pace with its rivals by unveiling an upgraded version of its A4 saloon and Avant.
Up to 120kg lighter and 21% more fuel efficient, the saloon claims a lowest-in-class 0.23 drag coefficient.
It also has a wide four and six-cylinder engine range with outputs from 150PS to 272PS.
The line-up includes the new 2.0 TFSI with its revolutionary combustion system and 2.0 TDI ultra efficiency champion with 99g/km output in SE and Sport models.
There is an all-new platform and redeveloped six-speed manual, seven-speed S tronic and eight-speed tiptronic transmissions.
While standard equipment highlights include 17-inch alloy wheels, Xenon headlights with LED DRLs, Audi smartphone interface, Audi drive select, three-zone climate control and 7-inch colour MMI monitor.
Technology options include the Audi virtual cockpit, Matrix LED headlights and numerous new driver assistance systems.
Prices start from £25,900 for the 1.4 TFSI, rising to £40,350 for the range-topping Avant 3.0 V6 TDI Quattro.
Drive safely.
