Porsche is celebrating 75 Years, Lamborghini is reining in their 60th. Now, Bentley wants to join in on the global festivities.

The Bentley Continental GT is getting a cake for being 20 years in production. Yes, it’s already been 2 decades. This all started when a Cypress Green Continental GT, flashing VIN number 20001, rolled off the production line in Crewe, England, back in December 2003.

That coupe also introduced the world to the now-legendary 6.0-litre W12 engine. In 2003, it was making 550 bhp and 649 Nm of torque, back when the Ferrari 456M was handling a measly 442  bhp and 550 Nm from its V12, Even the Ferrari 575M was making “just” 508 bhp and 588 Nm from the same engine.

Of course, with an anniversary means an anniversary model, and Bentley has decided to launch it at the Shanghai Auto Show. It’s a special one too; a one-off celebration in the form of a Bentley Continental GT S.

This unique spec comes in Magnetic Dark Grey Metallic, sitting pretty on 22-inch black chrome and black wheels. Red accent lines highlight mirror caps and form an outline around the base of the coupe. 

Inside, specialty division Mulliner was roped in to produce a unique arrangement of Beluga (black) and Hotspur (red) leather against gloss piano black trim. The bi-finish fascia puts Granite Stone above Grand Black veneer, separated by red pinstriping.

Special badging and laser etching are prominent in places like the treadplates, centre console, and veneers. You know, so you have ample opportunity to brag to others you have something truly special.

This isn’t the only one-off Bentley will be producing either. After celebrating with months of themed events, ranging from the Goodwood Festival of Speed in July, and a global relay of Continental GTs crossing three continents to pass a custom Bentley baton, there will also be drive hubs at the HQ in Crewe and in Geneva, Switzerland where invited guests can drive all three Continental generations.

After all of that, another one-off Continental GT inspired by the aforementioned first unit produced will debut during Monterey Car Week.

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“Maximum interior space on a minimum footprint”. This was what Sir Alec Issigonis did in 1959 with this simple yet ingenious vehicle concept, giving birth to the original MINI we know and love.

Back in 2013, MINI presented the current reinterpretation of the compact 3-door for the first time, which has been available worldwide since 2014. Now, in 2023, the one millionth MINI 3-door has just rolled off the production line at the MINI plant in Oxford. This model in particular is the all-electric MINI Cooper SE.

Fittingly, the tradition-rich British plant is also celebrating its 110th anniversary this year. In addition to the British production site, the MINI 3-door was also produced for a time in Born, the Netherlands.

Unmistakably MINI

The MINI needs no introduction. Characterised by dynamic lines, clear shapes and short overhangs, the agile four-seater is the ideal companion for dense cityscapes. But while automobiles in almost all other vehicle segments have become increasingly similar, the MINI 3-door has remained true to its original icon over all these years.

Signature bulbous headlights make up the purist front and, together with the Union Jack combination rear lamps, bonnet stripes and stylish side scuttles, all culminating in a smorgasbord of expressive design. 

Cannot beat the original

Since going into production, fans have been able to choose between numerous configurations of the 3-Door MINI. From the MINI One with its modest 75bhp to the more powerful MINI Cooper with 136bhp, and even the racing-inspired MINI John Cooper Works models, the MINI 3-Door impresses with inspiringly agile driving characteristics, setting the standard for modern compact cars.

Since 2020, MINI even introduced the Cooper SE, a new electrified variant. In 2022, MINI recorded a significant increase in sales of electrified models, with one in five MINI models now electric. In addition to providing fun for MINI fans, the focus of MINI is also on minimising its ecological footprint. 

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