Report: Bentley could show new Continental GT Speed at this year’s Goodwood Festival of Speed

2013 Bentley Continental GT V8

The infamous Goodwood Festival of Speed is coming up for this year and Bentley is said to have a very big presence this year. Taking place on the 29th of June, Bentley will be bringing along a great collection of racing and road cars, both new and old as well as some concepts such as the aesthetically challenging EXP 9F SUV.

However, within the Goodwood Festival press release, a particular name stood out in the previewed list of cars Bentley had lined up for exhibition, and that was “Continental GT Speed.” With that found, hints point to a new version of the Contneintal GT. But at the same time, it could also be the last year’s version of the Continental GT Speed.

Also found on that list, next to the EXP 9F SUV and Continental GT Speed is the Mulsanne limousine decked out by Mulliner, the 2003 LeMans-winning Speed 8, and much more.

Other brands noted for attending the Goodwood Festival of Speed are Bugatti, Infiniti, Maserati, Toyota, Vauxhaul and many more.

Check out the full details in the press release below.

BENTLEY TO TAKE GOODWOOD FESTIVAL OF SPEED BY STORM

– Largest ever Bentley presence at show
– International debut of new model
– Two UK show debuts
– Joined by Bentley Boys Juha Kankkunen, Derek Bell and Guy Smith
– Modern-day and classic Le Mans racers set for Hill runs

(Crewe, England. 12th June 2012) An exciting new Bentley is set to make its international debut at the 2012 Goodwood Festival of Speed1. Combining stunning performance with exquisite luxury in the Bentley tradition, the new car appears both as part of the Supercar Run up the iconic Goodwood Hill and on the Bentley Motors stand. With a mix of contemporary and classic models, Bentley has its largest ever presence at the world-famous event, running from Friday 29th June to Sunday 1st July.

A vision of the company’s future, the EXP 9 F SUV concept, makes its UK premiere at the Festival. EXP 9 F highlights the marque’s desire to build the fastest and most luxurious SUV in the world, and the concept car combines a stunning interior at the pinnacle of craftsmanship and technology with a clean, muscular exterior. With an exciting range of drivetrain options under consideration, any Bentley SUV would offer the thunderous performance for which the marque is renowned.

Supporting these debutants is the Mulsanne Mulliner Driving Specification (MDS) – a new driver-focussed edition of the Bentley flagship that reaffirms its sporting credentials. Featuring sports-tuned suspension and steering settings, unique 21″ alloy wheels, and a Diamond Quilted interior, the MDS provides an even greater degree of driving enjoyment without compromising the Mulsanne’s legendary comfort and refinement.

The new Continental GT V8 also appears both on the Bentley stand and on the Goodwood Hill. With an all-new 4.0 litre twin-turbo V8 engine, this remarkable Continental combines classic Bentley power and torque with an exceptional power-to-emissions ratio in the high luxury sports car sector.

With 507 PS and 660 Nm of torque, the GT V8 sprints from 0-60 mph in 4.6 seconds (0‑100 km/h in 4.8 seconds) and on to a top speed of 188 mph (303 km/h). Meanwhile, fuel efficiency systems and pioneering cylinder deactivation technology results in outstanding fuel economy and CO2 performance together with a range of over 500 miles on a single tank.

Joining the modern Bentley models on the Hill are two cars from the Company’s Le Mans heritage. The Bentley Speed 8, victorious at the 2003 Le Mans 24 Hours, makes two runs per day, as will the 4½-litre supercharged “Birkin Blower”. Fresh from completing the Mille Miglia for the third time, the car was raced extensively by renowned Le Mans winner and Bentley Boy Tim Birkin of the 1920s.

Driving duties for the past and present Bentley models will be shared by three modern-day Bentley Boys. Le Mans legend Derek Bell MBE will be joined by four-time world rally champion Juha Kankkunen together with Guy Smith, who drove the winning Speed 8 across the finish line at Le Mans in 2003. All three star drivers will be on-hand throughout the Festival to meet visitors.

THE 2012 GOODWOOD FESTIVAL OF SPEED STAGES THE WORLD’S GREATEST DYNAMIC SHOWCASE OF NEW SUPERCARS

The Goodwood Festival of Speed (28 June-1 July) has firmly established itself as the very best place to see the latest and fastest supercars from around the globe. In association with Michelin, the Supercar Run is unique in providing a dynamic environment in which the public can see and hear the very latest new models in action for the first time.

Unlike a conventional motor show, the Michelin Supercar Run affords a fantastic opportunity not only to exhibit the very latest and best supercars, but also to fully demonstrate on the 1.16-mile Goodwood hillclimb. Last year saw more than 25 UK public debuts out of a 50 car field, and this year’s entry is looking even stronger.

For 2012 the Supercar Run and First Glance classes (the latter forming part of FoS-TECH) will gather the very latest and most exciting new high performance models from all around the world. Cars set to make their world and/or UK dynamic debuts will include the Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Vitesse, Infiniti EMERG-e, Bentley Continental GT Speed, Maserati GranTurismo Sport, and many others. A number of other important UK debuts will also take place in the First Glance class at Goodwood, with brand new models located on the Cricket Pitch, and expected to include the new Toyota GT-86, Savage Rivale, Vauxhall Astra VXR and Infiniti FX Vettel (being driven by its namesake Sebastian on Saturday 30 June), among others.

In all, as many as 60 of the latest supercars and first glance cars will be in action on the Hill, which will certainly be a feast for the senses of the expected 180,000+ visitors to the Festival of Speed and Moving Motor Show. Amongst the more uncommon supercars making their British dynamic debut will be the GTA Spano from Spain, the de Macross Epique GT1 from South Korea, the Zagato-bodied AC 378 GT, and the new Morgan Plus 8. Expect a few other surprises too, with some important new models making their world debut, on which our lips are sealed for the moment.

Away from the Supercar Run, over a dozen other new vehicles are expected to be making their UK public debut in FoS-TECH and on the Hill as part of the Goodwood Moving Motor Show, in association with Auto Trader, more details of which will be confirmed in the following days.

Tickets and further information for the 2012 Festival of Speed and Goodwood Revival can be found on the Goodwood website www.goodwood.com, or via the Ticket Hotline as follows:
Telephone: +44 (0)1243 755055

For all Media enquiries, please contact Gary Axon or Janet Bradley at the Goodwood Motor Sport Press Office:
Telephone: +44 (0)1243 755109
Fax: +44 (0)1243 755115
E-mail: speed@goodwood.com or gary.axon@goodwood.com

Goodwood on Facebook:
Festival of Speed: http://www.facebook.com/festivalofspeed
Revival: http://www.facebook.com/goodwoodrevival

Goodwood on Twitter:
Festival of Speed: http://twitter.com/fosgoodwood
Revival: http://twitter.com/goodwoodrevival

– By: Chris Chin