Bentley and Ferrari Throw the Dice At Pebble Beach

Pebble Beach on California’s Monterey Peninsula is currently the place to be seen when it comes to the good, the great, the bad, and the downright rich in America this weekend. Anyone who is anyone in the world of speed, prestige and motoring superiority will be there ready to flash Rolex, Diamonds and lots and lots of cash.

Because this is where the Concours d’Elegance takes place with car manufacturers showing off their latest wares, and glimpses into the future to people who have pockets as deep as the Grand Canyon, bank statements as long as a Budget speech and garages the size of a small English village.

But it’s not just the future and the present that are on show. The legendary auctions of classic and vintage cars that take place here will attract collectors, show-offs and the downright curious to this prestigious event.

Which is why both Bentley and Ferrari are there.

BENTLEY

Bentley Motors Inc are debuting two models – the Continental GT Speed and the EXP 9 F luxury SUV concept, and Christophe Georges, president & COO of Bentley Motors, Inc explains why: “Pebble Beach and the spectacular scenery of the Monterey Peninsula provide the perfect venue for automotive connoisseurs and enthusiasts from around the world to display and celebrate the very best of motoring. It also serves as an ideal backdrop for Bentley to showcase not only its latest production model, the Continental GT Speed, but also, with the EXP 9 F SUV concept, to provide a glimpse into Bentley’s future.”

It’s the first ever visit to North American shores for the 616hp Continental GT Speed which Bentley are claiming as their fastest ever production model. But with no track on which to show off its 0-60mph in 4 seconds and top speed of 205mph, customers for it are going to have to close their eyes and imagine just how good it will feel sat in luxury, speeding along at a ridiculous speed, waiting for that tell-tale siren to appear in the rear-view mirror.

Or maybe just dream of the looks of envy on their friends faces with it parked on their massive drive.

And as for the EXP 9 F SUV concept, it’s just a sign of things to come. Bentley, like so many car manufacturers these days, have decided that the future of the SUV is secure and that they will be investing heavily into that sector. But Bentley being Bentley, they just don’t want to make any old SUV – they want to make their ‘marque’ and be the best; the fastest and the most luxurious.

So the EXP 9 F SUV is there to whet the appetite for what is in the future – but no doubt those who want it won’t have to put pennies in a jar to save up!

And for Bentley there is the past to show off as well, with three pre-WWII Bentleys in the auction (one of which is estimated to sell for around $8 million) and a 2001 Bentley Speed 8 Le Mans Prototype Racing Car that is estimated to sell for somewhere in the region of $2 million.

FERRARI

A pebble Beach display wouldn’t be one without Ferrari’s attendance. One of the greatest sporting brands in the world, this year they will be showing off their powerful 12-cylinder F12berlinetta for the fist time in the States. And Ferrari have high hopes for the model considering the glowing praise in media ll round the world wherever it had debuted.

And then…

…well, what can I say about the first ever tailor made car to hit the American shores?

Using the Ferrari Personalisation programme, Ferrari CEO Amedeo Felisa wil be handing over the keys to an FF, designed and created by British golfer Ian Poulter, in which you will find colours and patterns linked to Poulter’s next clothing line collection. And you’ll no doubt be pleased to hear that there is tartan in it, meaning that British golf course around the country should brace themselves for an invasion of Americans dressed in even more outrageous clothing than normal – itself hard to believe!

Ferrari’s Prancing Horse past will be represented in the auctions by a 1973 365 Daytona Spider, a 1960 250 California Spider Competizione passo lungo and a 1955 857 Sport once owned by the artist Andy Warhol. Estimates for these cars?; a mere £10million.