Kankkunen Breaks World Ice Speed Record with Bentley Continental SuperSports

In 2007, four-time world rally champion Juha Kankkunen shattered the world ice speed record by achieving an average two way speed on a 1000m long straight on the frozen waters of the Baltic Sea, off the coast of Finland, of 199.86 mph (321.6 km/h) in a Bentley Continental GT. Fast forward to 2011, and Kankkunen has done it again breaking his own record at the same location with a Bentley Continental Supersports Convertible. This time, Kankkunen surpassed the 200mph mark reaching a top speed of 205.48 mph (330.695 km/h).

?The last time, I narrowly missed the magical 200 mph mark in a Continental GT. When I heard about the Supersports I was determined to go record breaking again with the Bentley Boys. This time, with over 600bhp under the bonnet, a Quickshift transmission and the security of the all-wheel drive system, the Supersports convertible was the perfect car to go for the record,? said Kankkunen.

?200mph came up after 5km on sheet ice. Then it was just a question of getting everything right in the timing zone and hoping the snow kept away. There?s nothing to beat driving a Bentley at these speeds; the conditions may be perilous but the car responds so well to the slightest adjustment which gives you the confidence to push even harder.?

As was the case with the previous record-breaking drive in the Continental GT, Kankkunen and his team used a regular car with some minimum modifications including a heavy-duty safety roll-cage, along with Pirelli winter tyres (Pirelli SottoZero II 275/40R20) and a rear bumper-mounted parachute, plus front and rear spoilers

[From Bentley Press Release]

JUHA KANKKUNEN: BRIEF CV

• Juha Matti Pellervo Kankkunen, born 1959 in Laukaa, Finland
• One of the most experienced rally drivers of all times
• Four times rally World Champion (1986, 1987, 1991, 1993)
• 23 times World Rally Winner
• Started his career in 1978
• First World Rally win in 1985 (Safari Rally)
• Won Dakar Rally in 1988
• World ice speed record in 2007, in a Bentley Continental GT

HISTORY OF WORLD ICE SPEED RECORDS

• 2011: Bentley Continental Supersports convertible: 205.48 mph (330.695 km/h) driven by Juha Kankkunen
• 2007: Bentley Continental GT: 199.83 mph (321.6 km/h) driven by Juha Kankkunen
• 1995: Bugatti EB110 Supersport: 184 mph (296 km/h)

BENTLEY?S EARLY HISTORY OF RECORD BREAKING

• 1924: John Duff in a Bentley 3-litre took records at Brooklands between 87mph (139.7 km/h) and 93 mph (149.3 km/h) and a Double-Twelve race victory at 86.69 mph (139.2 km/h)
• 1925: A Bentley 3-litre established a 24-hrs record at Montlhery at an average speed of 95 mph (152.9 km/h).
• 1927: The 24-hrs Grand Prix de Paris at Montlhery was won by a Bentley 41/2 ?litre at an average speed of 52.5 mph (84.5 km/h)
• 1928: A Bentley 3-litre driven by Dudley Froy became the first car to average more than 115 mph (185.1 km/h) over a distance of 100 miles (160.9 km) at Brooklands
• 1929: Mrs Victor Bruce drove solo in a Bentley 41/2-litre at Montlhery to set a Class C record at over 89mph (143.2 km/h)
• 1932: Tim Birkin in a Birkin blower single seater broke the Brooklands Outer Circuit lap record with a speed of 137.96 mph (221.47 km/h)
• 1934: Walter Hassan in a Barnato ? Hassan single seater set a new Brooklands Outer Circuit record of 142.6 mph (228.9 km/h). It achieved a faster lap time of 143.11 mph (230.3 km).

Car Magazine Bags 2010 Grand Bentley in the Flesh

For a moment there I had a "grand" flashback that took me back to my junior years and my neighbor"s "swanky" 1970s Ford LTD - that"s the Australian market model which you can check out after the jump. In all fairness, I must say that Ford"s Aussie limo shamelessly aped traditional Rolls Royce and Bentley styling cues. But anyway, back to today, the crew over at UK"s Car Magazine somehow managed to photograph the Arnage"s successor, currently referred to as the "Grand Bentley", in production guise at Bentley"s Crewe headquarters.

The photos reveal that the new Arnage (Bentley has yet to reveal the official name) will have a "grand" front end dominated by a massive grille that"s flanked by a pair of headlamps that are surrounded by small LEDs. There"s also a cryptic photo of the rear end that suggests a more curvy design for the Grand Bentley"s arse.

The VW Group owned automaker has not released any information on its Rolls Royce Phantom challenger, but it is said that the British firm"s flagship limo will use a modified version of the Audi A8"s spaceframe chassis as well as new range of engines that might include a Flex-Fuel variant capable of running on either petrol or E85 biofuel or any combination of the two.

The Arnage"s successor is expected to be officially revealed later in the summer.

Via: Car

Grand Bentley Useless Teaser Video No4: Fusion of Extremes

Being in the auto biz, we"re obliged to take a look at all official videos released by automakers even if we"re almost certain that it"s going to be a complete waste of our time. But that doesn"t mean that you have to go through the ordeal of hearing that annoying piano-music for the fourth time on Bentley"s latest teaser video for the Arnage replacement, so do yourself a favor and just ignore this post...

VeilSide 4509 GTR is a Toyota Supra IV with an Identity Crisis

Japanese tuners sure love breaking the mold and shocking people with their creations. Revealed at the Tokyo Auto Salon, the 4509 GTR is the product of VeilSide, a Japan-based tuning firm established in 1990 by Yokomaku Hironao. It is based on a fourth generation Toyota Supra Turbo from 1993 and has received a complete makeover with the exterior design borrowing styling elements from the Bentley Continental with a hint of an Audi R8 here and there.

The body parts are made out of carbon fiber and fiberglass, while the look is completed by the new black wheels sized 20-inches up front and 22-inches at the back. The alloys are wrapped in Bridgestone Potenza rubber, 255/30R20 at the front and 295/25R22 at the rear.

Inside, VeilSide"s tune sees the addition of new sports seats upholstered in leather and diamond quilted alcantara, a sports steering wheel, modified instrument panel and more.

The 4509 GTR also benefits from a plethora of performance upgrades for the powertrain as well as the chassis. The Toyota Supra"s twin-turbocharged inline six-cylinder engine gets an HKS turbo kit complete with an intercooler and a variety of other mods, which help boost output to an impressive 680-horses at 6,250 rpm and 745 Nm or 594.5 lb-ft of peak torque. A new racing clutch, custom sports exhaust system, braking system and sports suspension round off the package.

Source: VeilSide

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A Chrysler Sebring-Based Bentley Replica that could Actually Pass for its Inspiration

Here?s a scary admission for you: I actually don?t mind the first generation Chrysler Sebring. It was sort of ?Mustang-lite? in the styling department and is still a lot better looking than the latest incarnation of America?s middle-age spread, the almost universally despised third generation Sebring. And, as you no doubt know by now, here at Carscoop we love us some eBay-found Euro reskins of fifteen plus year old American cars.

Today?s entrant is this, dare I say it, rather convincing replica of a 2009 Bentley Continental GT convertible or GTC based on a ?96 Chrysler Sebring Convertible. Fashioned in ghetto / Saudi Arabian sheik white with the typical, so-not-a-Bentley blinger rims that?d make even Lil? Jon a lil ill, our wanna-B (you see what I did there?) comes complete with 175,000 miles on the clock and a full fibreglass body.

Before it leaves the seller?s hands, he or she claims to be fitting new carpet, a new windscreen, new door mirrors and a custom dual exhaust with genuine Bentley tips. All the buyer needs to do, we are told, is reupholster the seats, install a Bentley dash and centre console and fit a new convertible top, a new sound system and a sat nav system. And et voil?, your very own Bentley - sort of.

You have to admit, US$21,100 (?16,302) isn?t half bad for something that looks this good. You could get a ?96 Sebring for a lot less, but who wants one of those? You certainly can?t pick up a second-hand Bentley for this sort of money, that?s for sure. So, what?s the verdict? Would you or wouldn?t you? Let us know in the comments.

By Tristan Hankins

Link: eBay

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