Beijing Auto Shows - Bentley Continental GT Design Series China and Continental Flying Spur Speed China

Bentley Continental GT

China is, perhaps surprisingly, a big market for Bentley. Since starting Chinese sales in 2002, sales have grown tenfold, making the Asian country Bentley’s third-largest market. And so it makes sense that the brand would offer a couple of China-exclusive special editions, both of which were unveiled at the Beijing auto show.

Continental GT Design Series China

The Continental GT Design Series China will be available in unique Orange Flame or Magenta Metallic paint. The interior surfaces feature a three-tone design that contrasts the primary leather, the seat and door inserts, and the interior accent trim. Accents are offered in orange or magenta—depending on exterior paint, of course—and can be applied to the seatbelts, floor mats, seat piping, or steering-wheel stitching. Lining the cabin is the customer’s choice of piano black, burr walnut, or exotic amboyna wood veneers. Design Series China badges adorn the center console, door sills, and front fenders. Although this package sounds really gaudy and tasteless, we think the orange car shown here actually works. We’ll withhold judgment on the magenta until we see some photos.

Continental Flying Spur Speed China

There’s also a special-edition Flying Spur Speed revised to suit Chinese tastes. Complementing the car’s performance abilities—we clocked a 4.2-second 0–60 sprint—the Spur Speed China has a new “Comfort” suspension setting and a quieter exhaust. Bentley says this achieves the higher levels of refinement and comfort sought by Chinese customers. We say the Speed’s exhaust note is too quiet to begin with, and the suspension is already adjustable. Don’t buy the Speed if you want soft.

Rear-seat passengers get treated to leather cushions embroidered with the Bentley winged logo, and the car comes with an extremely useful display case for the ignition key. The exterior C-pillars wear the Bentley “B” logo, and, like the Conti GT above, wears special badges on the center stack, door sills, and front fenders.

Source: http://www.caranddriver.com/