Styling Specification ups sportiness of Bentley Continental GT, Bentayga

MANILA: Bentley customers can expect a sportier edge to the Continental GT Convertible or Bentayga, and Continental GT through an added Styling Specification.

Carefully designed to precise tolerances in compliance with a rigorous development system, the Styling Specification consists of a boot lid spoiler in high-gloss carbon fiber, rear diffuser, side skirts with metallic Bentley emblems, and a front bumper splitter.

The same engineering team that developed the carbon fiber components on the previous-generation Continental GT made the Styling Specification (including the Supersports and GT3-R models) and the Ice Race Continental GTs and the Pikes Peak.

The Styling Specification is designed mainly to enhance the aerodynamic efficiency of the Bentayga and Continental GT family. The first models are tested and optimized using computational fluid dynamics (CFD) software for aerodynamic performance, which includes overall drag and front and rear lift.

Tests were also done in terms of the effect on noise, vibration, and harshness (NVH), brake cooling, and powertrain cooling. Electric testing helps reduce the impact of carbon fiber components on the vehicle systems from the park distance control (PDC) to on-board communication, antennas, and entertainment radar systems.

The Styling Specification can be ordered from the network of retailers of Bentley. It can be stated when a new car is requested on a later date to improve the current vehicle of the customer. The option will also be introduced soon to the new Flying Spur.

The Bentayga package also consists of rear screen strakes and a bi-plane tailgate spoiler, which is also in high-gloss carbon fiber, with extra components of wing vents, front air blades, and mirror caps in a corresponding finish.

The development of the sign-off, testing, improvement, and design of the components is a smaller-scale facsimile of the method that Bentley explores in every phase of a new model. It also highlights what the Bentley is known for — craftsmanship.

Similar to the veneer that embellishes the cabin space, the carbon fiber exterior elements are mirror-matched across the centerline of the vehicle for proper visual appeal. The carbon fiber appears to be laid up in several layers, each oriented to durability and maximum strength while maintaining optimum weight.

The side skirts consist of intricate details in terms of the addition of a three-dimensional electroformed Bentley logo. The profile of the logo was designed mainly for the Styling Specification to reduce the risk of air bubbles accumulating in the lacquer overcoat while offering an eye-catching visual presence.

The first physical models were made when these virtual evaluations were completed, before being tested on the test track and in the wind tunnel. The components are also tested for performance, stability, and top speed under braking and acceleration to guarantee that the Bentley driving dynamic is not compromised.

When the functionality is signed off on, several validation tests evaluate the components. These involve durability systems, which include general vehicle tests of 100,000 kilometers, to abuse testing like rough roads, curb strikes, and wading. Rig testing, which occurs in the Consistency Laboratory of Bentley, measures efficiency through vibration rigors, point impacts and loading, and thermal cycling.

After the completion of the test and development work, the production process is optimized over a variety of development cycles to deliver repeatable and reliable production tolerances that meet the exacting specifications expected of a Bentley model. The three-dimensional monitoring and comparison with nominal buck metrology define the quality of the results.

Photos from Bentley

Also read: Bentley Flying Spur rolls out as China retailers reopen