Welcome to the Hooniverse News! As always, this is a weekly recap of some of the biggest stories in the automotive industry without the fluff or bull. There’s also just a little opinion of mine because I can. This week:

• Bentley reveals sharper, more advanced Continental GT

• Polestar does more with less with the new Volvo S60 and V60 Polestars

• Porsche is still building the Cayenne

• Cummins surprises with EV truck concept

• Mercedes-AMG releases new image of Project One hypercar, sort of

• Kia teases attractive new five-door hatchback

• What’s your automotive news?

Bentley Continental GT

Bentley’s tried and true luxury grand tourer is getting its biggest update yet for next year and beyond. The third-generation Continental GT gets more power, more refinements in styling and interior quality, and more features as usual. Even though the Continental GT has only been in production since 2003, Bentley says they’ve drawn on their some 100 years of experience to build what they say is the pinnacle of their design and engineering achievements.

That pinnacle of Bentley design is essentially the stunning EXP 10 Speed 6 concept, a car that was pretty much universally loved, in production form. It’s not 100% identical, but really close. Highlights include a longer and lower profile, an extended bonnet with a lowered nose (made possible by pushing the front wheels up 135mm), a “power line” going all the way from the headlights to the rear haunches, and sharper lines all around.
A major technical achievement that helped greatly with the design process is an expanded use of Super Formed aluminum. Previously used to create Bentley’s fenders, this method of production was used on the entire body which permitted many of the new changes.

There’s also new lighting at each end inspired by the concept. Using the latest Matrix LED technology and an intricate lens design inspired by the finest cut crystal glasses, the new headlights create an effect similar to that of an illuminated gem. The taillights aren’t nearly as special, but they’re now shaped into ellipses.

There’s still seating for four inside if you try hard enough and all the materials are as nice as you’d expect from a Bentley. Ten square meters of wood (107 square feet!!!) is used for various trim pieces and inlays and there’s a new “diamond in diamond” quilt available which makes the leather seating even softer. You can even get the center console finished in the same material used in automatic Swiss watches known as Côtes de Genève, because Bentley. They also added a ton of other little details all around the cabin for a greater sense of quality, too many to talk about really.
There are three audio systems to choose from (standard, Bang & Olufsen, and Naim) paired with new laminated acoustic glass to offer a nine-decibel reduction in exterior noise over the outgoing model. A new and configurable digital gauge cluster is borrowed from Audi as is the 12.3″ MMI display (Bentley’s largest ever) that’s hidden behind veneer until startup.

Power comes from a familiar 6.0-liter twin-turbocharged W12 but a series of enhancements bump its output to 626 horsepower and 664 lb.-ft. of torque. The engine is also more responsive which helped make it a prime candidate for the new eight-speed dual-clutch gearbox which will offer the quickest gear changes any Continental has ever seen. It also runs with a new AWD system which ditches the traditional 40:60 power delivery split in favor of a more dynamic one. 0-60 mph takes just 3.7 seconds and the top speed is an eye-watering 207 mph.
Improving ride quality and helping to make full use of its extra power is Bentley’s advanced Dynamic Ride control. It controls and adjusts the electronic actuators on the anti-roll bar of each axle to improve handling and ride comfort, as well as making the car feel lighter and more precise. The car also rides on a new three-chamber air suspension system for extra softness and electric power steering so rich people’s hands don’t go numb or something.
The 2018 Bentley Continental GT will make its international debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show on September 12th and we’ll likely see it in dealerships by next summer.
[Source: Bentley]

Volvo S60 and V60 Polestar

Polestar, Volvo’s new performance brand, is bringing new enhancements to the 2018 Volvo S60 sedan and V60 wagon. It’s primarily an aero and suspension package, but many of these components were developed and tested by Cyan Racing, Polestar’s motorsports partner in the World Touring Car Championship. Should you be lucky enough to snag one of the 1,500 units planned for production, here’s what you can expect.
Polestar’s attractive new aero package adds a new front splitter, side sills, and a rear spoiler extension. Every new piece is made from carbon fiber and contributes to a 30% increase in downforce, increasing grip and high-speed stability.

Other less functional styling changes include high-gloss black Polestar diamond cut wheels, carbon fiber door mirror housings and a new Bursting Blue Metallic paint option. The interior gets its fair share with new seat upholstery, blue contrast stitching, and Polestar embroidering.
But most of the updates have been made beneath the skin. More than 250 chassis and powertrain components have been changed compared to the standard Volvo counterparts to deliver year-round performance with Volvo practicality. The highlights are adjustable Öhlins shock absorbers, six-piston Brembo brake calipers with 14.6″ discs, Michelin Pilot Super Sports, “Polestar optimized” steering, various chassis and body reinforcements, and 80% stiffer springs compared to S/V60 T6 R-Design.

It retains Volvo’s record-breaking turbocharged and supercharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder gas engine but benefits from a higher capacity turbo, strengthened conrods and camshaft, higher capacity fuel pump, and a new intake and air filter. Power is now rated at 367 horsepower and 347 lb.-ft. of torque. Out of a four-cylinder. From Volvo.
With Polestar-calibrated BorgWarner AWD and an eight-speed automatic, 0-60 mph is handled in 4.5 seconds and its top speed is limited to 155 mph. And until the new Panamera Turbo and the Giulia Quadrifoglio beat them, an S60 Polestar with many of these same enhancements held the Nürburgring lap record for production four-door sedans.
It may not be as big of a jump over the standard car as an AMG, RS, or an M, but it’s more than enough to turn a sensible Swedish family car into a serious sports car. We’re fans.
[Source: Volvo]

Porsche Cayenne

I can’t imagine there’s any other car that anyone reading this could care about less than the Porsche Cayenne, so I’ll make this quick.
Hey guys there’s a new Porsche Cayenne. More than 760,000 people bought these hot peppers since 2002 for some reason, so a new third-generation model was justified. It has new engines, more features, and a somewhat new design.

It will launch next year as a Cayenne and Cayenne S, each with turbocharged V6s. The S is faster because of the name and because its V6 produces 440 horsepower. The poors with their non-S Cayenne pepper will only have 340 horsepower.
Because the Cayenne Pepper SUV is “based heavily on the iconic 911 sports car” (their words, I swear), it too has a new four-wheel steer system and other stuff that other Cayennes and other Porsches have had for years like standard AWD, air suspension, and a drastic 143-pound weight reduction on a 4,400-pound SUV. You know, just like the 911.

And because it’s so much like a 911, it has its taillights too. And fancy new headlights. And uh… yeah that’s about it. They’ll continue to sell tons of these.
[Source: Porsche]

BLIPS

Cummins made headlines this week by introducing an all-electric truck meant for local deliveries. The main thing that got people talking is that they beat Tesla to the punch who are also expected to show their EV truck this month. The Aeos, as it’s called, is a concept that shows what the future of trucking could look like. As of now, that future won’t go very far. They expect a 100-mile range when loaded up to its gross weight limit of 75,000 pounds, but that could be pushed to 300 miles with extra batteries. Cummins is being realistic in saying this isn’t meant to replace the diesel-powered beasts that long-haul truckers drive, at least not yet. Even though it may not be very useful for many truckers right now, this could be an ideal option for cross-town deliveries and may even open the door to diesel-electric trucks that can benefit from what both diesel and EV trucks have to offer.
[Source: Autoweek]

Mercedes-AMG finally released an image of their upcoming Project One hypercar… driving through a dark tunnel. This is our first glimpse at what will likely end up being the final product or something close to it, which will actually be on display at the Frankfurt Motor Show most likely. It’s a hypercar in the sense that it’ll essentially have a modern F1 engine with four electric motors making lots of power in a lightweight, aerodynamic form. It’ll be nuts and we can’t wait to see it.
[Source: Autoweek]

Kia also has a new concept coming to Frankfurt, but it’s a bit more realistic. Designed by Kia’s European Design Center in Frankfurt, a little over a quarter-mile away from where it’ll be unveiled, it’s basically an extended hatchback or a wagon. They say it’ll preview what the next cee’d could look like, but my first impression gave off more of a Stinger GT wagon vibe than anything. Regardless of what this will actually be, it looks promising.
[Source: Kia]

What’s your automotive news?

That’s all I’ve got for you this week, so now it’s your turn. If you saw anything, fixed something, broke everything, or otherwise did anything even remotely car related that you want to share with your fellow hoon, sound off in the comments.
Have a good weekend.
[Image © 2017 Hooniverse/Greg Kachadurian]