THE EMIRATES ARE VISITING: THE NEW CONTINENTAL GTC CABRIOLET, THE SUPERCAR GT, THE LUXURY SEDANES FLYING SPUR AND MULSANNE, AND THE SPECIAL HONORARY GUEST - THE HISTORICAL BENTLEY EXP2.
A professional Bentley team arrived from Cheshire in Abu Dhabi along with cars to demonstrate the beauty and power of legendary models on the spot. And the journalists, including myself, had the opportunity to feel in place of the company's VIP-clients.
Timeless classic
We were the first to be presented with a car created by Bentley Motors founder Walter Owen Bentley, the oldest surviving race car to date.
For its historical value, the Bentley EXP2 is considered one of the most expensive cars in the world, its cost is now 4,297,500 dirhams (US $ 1,170,980) - you can imagine the thrill that I felt when I was driving this luxurious antique. I didn’t have the chance to try to control this machine myself, the responsibility that only one experienced instructor from the Bentley team trusts is too high. But also in the passenger seat, when accelerating to 70 km per hour, I was able to get the feel of the rider of the 1920s.
Other speeds
Transferring from a sports convertible of the 20th century to the new elegant Continental GTC 2012 model is like a leap from the past to the present. As a woman, I primarily pay attention to color - the cool sea breezes of the Mediterranean coast in the early morning. I would like to tie a light silk scarf so that it picturesquely flutters in the wind, but during the trip I noted that, despite acceleration to 150 km / h (well, sorry, the woman is driving), on the track with an open top and lowered windows, a strong no wind was observed, and even the hairstyle did not go bad at all! Moreover, during the movement, I could calmly talk with a nearby instructor, without straining my vocal chords, there were almost no sound effects usual for open models of cars. In confident male hands, the car is ready to reach speeds of up to 312 km / h, thanks to a 12-cylinder twin-turbo engine with a volume of 6 liters. The Continental GTC is very obedient and easy to drive, and I fell in love with this model for its beauty and smooth ride.
Despite the fact that Bentley is owned by Volkswagen, it is hardly possible to call a “German” even an openly sports supercar GT, since it looks and “behaves” too elegantly for a sports model in the best English traditions. It affects the aristocratic spirit of Great Britain, where the production of these cars was founded.
When I got into a car in a skirt and high heels, I did not feel any inconvenience, as is usually the case with sports models, when I have to balance in a half-squat, making my way deep down to a hard leather seat. The seat of this car, surprisingly, was quite comfortable even for a girl. However, in order to feel the power of the Bentley GT, I preferred the passenger seat, wearing a helmet and entrusting the management of the track to an experienced rider who for about 7 minutes showed me all the capabilities of this car. Of course, we did not accelerate to 318 km / h, since a maximum of 250 km / h was allowed for us, but on the other hand, I was able to fully experience the smoothness of changing the speed regime without mechanical “jerking”, and to evaluate the stability of the course at fairly steep turns.
An exclusive transfer to Yas Island, an acquaintance with a professional Bentley team and a fascinating tour of the Yas Marina Circuit, including helicopter flying over objects - all this was somehow "smeared" from the impressions of the test drive of my dream car on the racetrack.
Of course, Bentley cars are not a means of transportation, even if fast and as comfortable as possible. This is a lifestyle! I really want to grow to this style ...
