As a Bentley customer you already have a long list of bespoke colours and interiors to choose from. However. Bentley has just announced that customers are now able to add an extra sporting edge to their Bentley Continental GT, Continental GT Convertible or Bentayga with the addition of their new Styling Specification package.
The Styling Specification includes items such as front bumper splitters, side skirts with metallic Bentley badges, a rear diffuser and boot lid spoiler in high gloss carbon fibre and so forth.
For example, the Bentayga package includes a bi-plane tailgate spoiler and rear screen strakes, all in high gloss carbon fibre, with the additional options of front air blades, wing vents and mirror caps in a matching finish.
The attention to detail of the design of these components is second to none, as you would expect from Bentley, such as the carbon fibre exterior components that are mirror-matched across the centreline of the car for precise visual appeal. The carbon fibre weave is a 2×2 twill pattern, woven in the same direction for all components to ensure consistency and laid-up in multiple layers, each oriented for optimum strength and durability whilst maintaining minimal weight.
Expect exquisite detail from the side skirts with the inclusion of a three-dimensional electroformed Bentley badge. The profile of the badge was developed specially for the Styling Specification, to minimise the risk of air bubbles forming in the lacquer overcoat while still giving its eye-catching faceted appearance.
The Styling Specification is specifically designed to complement the aerodynamic performance of the Continental GT cars and Bentayga. The first designs were assessed and refined using computational fluid dynamics (CFD) software for aerodynamic performance, including front and rear lift and overall drag. Bentley then carried out simulations to assess the effect on powertrain cooling, brake cooling and noise, vibration and harshness (NVH). Electrical testing aimed to minimise any affect that the carbon fibre parts may have on the vehicle’s systems, from PDC (park distance control) to radar systems and antennae for on-board communications and entertainment.
Then and only then, are the first physical prototypes made, before they are refined in the wind tunnel and on the test track. The parts are assessed across every conceivable driving condition, such as the vehicle’s top speed, stability and performance under both acceleration and braking to ensure that the Bentley driving dynamic is not degraded in any way.
The parts are then put through a number of durability programmes such as wading, kerb strikes, and rough roads.
The engineering team responsible for the carbon fibre components on the previous-generation Continental GT, including the GT3-R and Supersports models and the Pikes Peak and Ice Race Continental GTs have also been responsible for the development of these new components.
The Styling Specification is available to order through Bentley’s dealership network and the owner can be specify the parts when they place an order for a new car or can get them retrofitted at a later date. The option will also become available for the new Bentley Flying Spur.
Author Bio:
Simon Burrell is Editor of Our Man Behind The Wheel, a professional photographer and former saloon car racing driver.
Photographs courtesy of Bentley Motors
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