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100-year Bentley legacy set for Monterey Auto Week

James Raia

The Bentley EXP 100 GT concept will be among the iconic carmaker's varied showcase during Monterey Auto Week.

Bentley Motors’ continued centennial celebration will be highlighted in several ways during Monterey Auto Week, most notably the British carmakers’ spotlight on its past, present and future.

The varied occasion will be held Aug. 15-18 during the now nearly two-week yearly celebration of all things automotive on the Monterey Peninsula.

 The Bentley Continental GT V8 (coupe and convertible) will be part of the iconic carmaker's celebration during Monterey Auto Week.
The Bentley Continental GT V8 (convertible and coupe) will be part of the iconic carmaker’s 100th anniversary celebration during Monterey Auto Week on the famed Monterey Peninsula.

A featured marque during the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, Bentley will showcase several all-new and soon-to-be-available vehicles for the United States market.

Highlights will include the debut of the Flying Spur luxury four-door Grand Tourer and the EXP 100 GT: a vision of luxury mobility in 2035.

The Bentley spotlight will also include the new Continental GT V8 (coupe and convertible) and the Bentayga portfolio of Design Series, Speed, V8 and Hybrid and The Pikes Peak Continental GT. It recently set the record on the world-famous international hill climb course in Colorado.

The third-generation Flying Spur will be the most advanced luxury Grand Touring four-door available. With its new aluminum and composite chassis, the Flying Spur will feature optional Electronic All-Wheel Steering — a first for Bentley. It will be coupled with Active All-Wheel Drive and the Bentley Dynamic Ride active anti-roll system powered by a 48V architecture.

The Flying Spur will be on display Aug. 16 at The Quail: A Motorsports Gathering and also at the Home of Bentley for the remainder of the weekend.

The Home of Bentley, scheduled for four days beginning Aug. 15, will celebrate the carmaker’s 100 years of craftsmanship and design. It will be hosted in a private home close to the Lodge at Pebble Beach.

Highlights will also include the ‘Crewe in America’ experience. It will feature an interactive commissioning studio, demonstrations of the highly intricate workings of the Bentley factory, test drives of the latest range, and a Bentley Boutique offering gifts and accessories.

The EXP 100 GT concept car’s battery system will be powered by four motors to projected performance figures of 0-60 mph in less than 2.5 seconds, a top speed of 186 mph and maximum torque of 1,500 Nm.

The EXP 100 GT will also make its U.S. debut at The Quail on Aug. 16. It will then also be located at The Home of Bentley on Aug. 17 and as a special display adjacent to the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance Concept Lawn on Aug. 18.

Bentley will also have a heritage display during a Centenary Parade before the historic races at Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca.

More than 30 pre-war Bentleys, courtesy of the W.O. Bentley Tour, and current production vehicles will be on the track.

Leading the parade will be Bentley’s own 1929 4 1/2-liter Team Blower, flanked by the Pikes Peak Continental GT and Continental GT Convertible. All of the vehicles will then be on display at the Bentley Hospitality Pavilion.

And in the Concours d’Elegance, the annual finale to Monterey Auto Week on Aug. 18, numerous classic models will compete in Bentley Centennial classes, including Vintage 4 Cylinder, Vintage 6 Cylinder, Derby and Postwar in

Throughout the weekend, the Home of Bentley will feature a selection of new and visionary vehicles, including the new Flying Spur, EXP 100 GT, Continental GT V8 Coupe and Convertible, and Bentayga range.

Combined, the activities planned on and off the Monterey peninsula will showcase the carmker’s evolution since its debut in 1919.

Article Last Updated: August 7, 2019.

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