BENTLEY has given the public debut to its new highly-anticipated 4×4 vehicle.

The Bentayga First Edition was unveiled to a select group of VIP customers at the Sunset Marquis Hotel, Los Angeles. The exclusive limited edition of the most powerful SUV in production will be restricted to just 608 cars globally.

Bentley hopes the eye-catching specification with exclusive details and unique components demonstrates the Bentayga’s abilities to the fullest. The First Edition’s unique design includes Brand Britain touches as Union Jack badging, illuminated treadplates and 22” black painted and polished wheels. Just 10 exterior colours will be offered, highlighting the exclusivity of the model.

Inside the cabin, the ‘Diamond within Diamond’ quilting, bespoke ambient lighting, Union Jack fascia badging, unique contrast stitching and embroidered seats are intended to enrich the look and feel of this special series still further. There is also detailing in metal, wood and leather – including meticulous tolerances between elements of trim.

Bentley is producing 608 Bentayga First Edition models as this number marks the metric power output of the Bentayga 608 PS (600 bhp / 447kW) and 900 Nm (663 lb. ft).

Built in Crewe, an all-new twin-turbocharged 6.0-litre W12 engine is at the heart of the new Bentayga. Bentley says the mighty 12-cylinder unit combines efficiency and refinement with ultra-luxurious levels of power and torque. With a 0-60 mph time of 4.0 seconds (0-100 km/h in 4.1 seconds) and a top speed of 187 mph (301 km/h), the Bentayga is billed as the world’s most powerful and fastest SUV.

Kevin Rose, board member for Sales and Marketing, Aftersales, said: “With the First Edition we have created the ultimate expression of the Bentayga’s spirit. It is equipped with an array of striking features that celebrate both the pioneering nature of the Bentayga and its unique abilities.”

Each of the First Edition customers will also receive a unique Breitling watch to complement their new, luxury SUV.

In tribute to the launch of the new Bentley Bentayga SUV, Breitling has created three high-performance special-edition chronographs: the Emergency, which features an integrated dual frequency personal locator beacon; Cockpit B50 – with its electronic multifunction calibre; and the automatic Chronomat 38, which is designed for women.

These three Bentley Bentayga Edition models share several signature features: an officially chronometer-certified Breitling movement; an original and powerful design with an all-black case; a black mother-of-pearl dial; bronze-toned hands matching the livery of the first Bentayga presented to the public; and a rubber strap matching certain key interior elements.

Goldenballs’ Sport set to go under the hammer

A SPECIAL Range Rover Sport first owned by David Beckham is set to go under the hammer at a classic car auction in the West Midlands.

The off-roader is being auctioned off at a sales organised by Classic Car Auctions at its base in Warwickshire on December 5.

The 2007 car was exclusively designed and upgraded for the ex-England captain by Kahn Conversions at a cost of £100,000. Estimates for the sale are between £23,000 and £25,000.

The car is powered by a 4.2 litre supercharged V8 petrol engine and is presented in Beckham’s favourite black with a striking Kahn body kit and black five spoke alloy wheels.

Complete with every optional extra conceivable, the Range Rover features a unique interior with hand-stitched quilted leather seats and a bespoke Genesis sound system. There is also plaque bearing the legend “Designed for David Beckham”, as well as the Beckham name embroidered into the floor mats.

First registered with the number plate “DB1001” the history file includes a speeding summons in the name of David’s sister Joanne, to whom he subsequently gifted the car with the V5C listing Beckham as the first owner and the current vendor as the second.

Commenting on the car, classic car specialist at CCA, Arwel Richards, said: “This amazing personalised Range Rover with its impeccable provenance offers a unique future investment opportunity. David Beckham is arguably one of the most famous personalities on Earth, and certainly a titan of sport. Recent sales of celebrity owned cars have far exceeded the true market values of contemporary models and so we expect great excitement around the sale.”

David isn’t the only Beckham to lend a hand in designing a Range Rover. Notably his wife Victoria helped support the design of the hugely popular Range Rover Evoque.

Speaking of which…

Land Rover has unveiled the convertible version of its best-seller to buyers in Los Angeles and as befitting the home of Hollywood has ‘evoked’ a little glamour to sell the vehicle.

It has enlisted the support of Bond actress Naomi Harris, none other than Miss Moneypenny herself, to help promote the vehicle.

JLR is keen to pull out all the stops for the new vehicle because it knows that California is such an important market for the car.

Harris, who in her role as Moneypenny has been paired with Land Rover vehicles including the iconic Defender (Skyfall) and more recently the Discovery Sport (SPECTRE) said: “I was so impressed by the design of this car; it’s like nothing I’ve seen on the road before and is so sleek! I love the fact that it is just as much at home driving down the Pacific Coast Highway in LA, as it is off-road in the British countryside.”

More than 450,000 Range Rover Evoques have been produced globally since its introduction in 2011 making the premium compact SUV the fastest-selling Land Rover of all time. This sales success has been accompanied by critical acclaim, as the Range Rover Evoque has also won more than 165 international awards since launch.

The new Range Rover Evoque Convertible will go on sale from spring 2016.  Pricing in the UK will start from £47,500 OTR based on a TD4 HSE Dynamic derivative.

Luxury Mercedes SUV set for launch

THE new Mercedes-Benz GLS seven-seat luxury SUV is now available to order, priced from £69,100 OTR, ahead of first UK deliveries in March next year.

The German manufacturer claims the new GLS sets standards as the ‘S-Class among SUVs’. It said the seven-seater premium SUV combines luxury with comfort, agile dynamics and best-in-class safety.

The new GLS features improved efficiency, extended DYNAMIC SELECT transmission modes, the latest AIRMATIC air suspension system with ADS adaptive damping system, a nine-speed 9G-TRONIC automatic transmission, state-of-the-art driver assistance systems and the latest telematics with internet access.

Three models are available in the UK: the GLS 350d 4MATIC AMG Line, the GLS 350d 4MATIC designo Line and the new Mercedes-AMG GLS 63 4MATIC.

The standard specification is comprehensive and includes the latest generation of COMAND Online including an 8-inch screen and touchpad; AIRMATIC air suspension with adaptive damping; LED Intelligent Light System with Adaptive Highbeam Assist Plus; leather upholstery; memory front seats; Harmon Kardon Logic 7 surround sound system; panoramic electric sunroof; parking package with 360° camera; lane tracking package including Blind Spot Assist and Lane Keeping Assist; Keyless-GO comfort package; THERMOTRONIC climate control with three zones; three-colour ambient lighting; and heated seats in the front two rows.

The designo Line brings even more luxurious appointments, including designo nappa leather upholstery with diamond pattern quilting; heated and cooled front seats; a heated steering wheel; four-zone climate control including the third row of seats; temperature-controlled cup holders; and interior air ionisation with filter. Also included is the Active Curve System, which uses active suspension stabilisers to help reduce the rolling motion of the vehicle in mid- and high-speed bends. It also helps increase axle articulation off-road.

The interior can be further personalised at no extra cost with a choice of five different leather upholstery colours in the AMG Line or two luxurious designo Exclusive nappa leather options in the designo Line. Customers can choose from four wood trim finishes (brown open-pore ash, high-gloss brown burr walnut, high-gloss brown eucalyptus, black poplar) or aluminium trim at no cost, with cost options including black piano lacquer and AMG carbon-fibre with black piano lacquer (combined).

The GLS 350d uses a 3.0-litre V6 diesel engine, which produces 258 hp and 620 Nm of torque, and emits 199 g/km of CO2 (down from 209 g/km). The 9G-TRONIC nine-speed automatic gearbox is standard, making for greater efficiency and smoother shifts, as well as DYNAMIC SELECT driving modes.

An optional off-road package for the 350d adds a centre differential lock; low-range gearbox; extra modes for the DYNAMIC SELECT system and three additional heights for the suspension, to increase ground clearance to 306 mm and wading depth to up to 600 mm. Also included are underbody protection panels, and an off-road function for the headlights.

With a peak output of 585 hp and peak torque of 760 Nm from just 1,750 rpm, the 5.5-litre bi-turbo V8 in the GLS 63 offers even more power (+28 hp), more dynamism and higher equipment levels than before. Standard features include a revised AMG SPEEDSHIFT PLUS 7G-TRONIC transmission with AMG DYNAMIC SELECT transmission modes which provide optimum flexibility, and rear-biased AMG Performance all-wheel drive.

The styling now incorporates the latest Mercedes-Benz look. The new front end includes distinctive power domes on the bonnet, while among changes at the rear are more prominent tailpipes. Interior highlights include a newly-designed instrument panel, a new three-spoke multifunction steering wheel, and a modified centre console with touchpad.

The AMG Line includes distinctive front and rear bumpers, illuminated side running boards, and 21-inch AMG light-alloy wheels. The optional Night package makes for an even more exclusive look, with high-gloss black details including the louvres in the radiator grille, door mirrors and roof rails.

The revised interior offers a spacious environment for up to seven passengers, with boot volume of 295 (all seats in place), 680 (third-row seats folded) or 2300 litres (all rear seats folded), in a load compartment that is up to 2124 mm long and with a payload capacity of up to 815 kg.

Driver assistance systems fitted as standard include COLLISION PREVENTION ASSIST PLUS; Crosswind Assist; ATTENTION ASSIST; PRE-SAFE system; Brake Assist BAS; electronic all-wheel drive traction system 4ETS; ESP with Curve Dynamic Assist; cruise control with variable SPEEDTRONIC speed limiter and the STEER CONTROL steering assist function.

The optional Driving Assistance package Plus brings systems including DISTRONIC PLUS with Stop&Go Pilot; PRE-SAFE Brake with pedestrian detection; BAS PLUS with Cross-Traffic Assist; Active Blind Spot Assist; Active Lane Keeping Assist and PRE-SAFE PLUS.

Optimum protection potential is provided by the passive occupant protection systems together with the ‘electronic crumple zones’ of the assistance systems and the intelligent body design. Adaptive, two-stage airbags for driver and front passenger, kneebag for the driver (combined thorax/pelvisbags) and windowbags above all three seat rows are also part of the standard specification, among other features.

With DYNAMIC SELECT, the new GLS provides up to six transmission modes. In addition to COMFORT, SLIPPERY and SPORT modes, the driver can choose INDIVIDUAL or OFF-ROAD modes (the optional Off-Road package adds OFF-ROAD+ mode).

The GLS is available to order now, with deliveries starting from March 2016.

Prices:
GLS 350d AMG Line    £69,100 RRP OTR
GLS 350d designo    £78,095 RRP OTR
GLS 63 AMG      £102,330 RRP OTR