bradley emmanuel

It takes an enthusiastic and passionate collectors who will be with a penchant for special coach building, on the basis of a project like the Bentley Continental Flying Star of Touring. Exactly such a person contacted Touring Superleggera early 2008.

An interesting first creative process developed with parameters for the design, proportions, vehicle concepts and - last but not least-feasibility and technical factors. Many steps from planning to execution, have been associated with the customer to personalize the design with his own ideas and contributed to the project and create a unique automobile shared. A basic idea was the desire of the very successful series formed Bentley Continental diversify and explore new concepts.

The transformation of a 2-door coupe, by extending the roof line and the expansion of the internal dimensions, baptized into a design concept as a "shooting brake" means a sports car with enough room for a hunting party or a golf tournament with elegance and efficiency led combine. Touring Superleggera studied the same field back in 1966, leading to the stunning Lamborghini Flying Star II prototype. It was a dramatic interpretation of a sports car on a new basis of 2-volume design, ensuring the momentum. The Flying Star Touring parameter since a reference is sporty elegance, many famous carsthe foundation of the company in 1926, applied.

Flying Star in 2010 - the challenge Bentley

The Bentley Continental GT range eingestelltinnovative and high standards for a new generation of very sophisticated grand tourer. As such, this model triggered the imagination of automobile designers and coach builders elsewhere. The GTC convertible, turned with a very rigid platform, to be completely identical basis for the Touring Superleggera plans for the new Bentley Continental Flying Star.

The new project has required the amendment of a number of external dimensions from the A-pillar backwards Car: extended roof line, a larger part, including the doors, new aluminum door skins and a new all-aluminum, electrically operated tailgate. This includes a brand new fund, with two folding rear seat and a variable holds.

This long list of modifications and changes had to be paired with and remain fully compatible with the technical interpretation of the basic cars and components. Designed, given the complexity of the basic car, a new challenge for craftsmen and engineers Touring. The result shows that can coach special building to live well in the 21st. Century of work with respect to the original manufacturers.

Touring Superleggera is particularly proud of the factthat the entire production cycle was the special coach building process in her workshop realized in the near Milano. Modern Body Engineering went hand in hand with traditional craft skills, the maintenance of the highest quality guidelines for the final product.


Project Engineering

The body of engineering processes at Carrozzeria Touring is on ensuring the decisive parameter for the quality, safety and feasibility of goal within the perspectives of low-volume automotive production. The project took about 1:4 and 1:1 models, based on the CAD and CATIA data from the base vehicle. This digital basis led to a ground 1:1 master model and a series of 1:1 molds for the production of the new external skin and for important new body parts. The rear panel has been reinforced with an integrated structure between the rear suspension domes, as well as the roll bar, and as support for the new extended roof line.

All structural additions and changes have been thoroughly investigated, using advanced simulation techniques and FEM analysis. As a parallel process, the data for the homologation of the structural changes that served, including the new folding rear seats. A large number of hard points of the basic car could be saved and carried over. Engineersat Carrozzeria Touring was particularly pleased with the quality of Bentley engineers.

Design

"Variations on a Theme" often imply a greater challenge, design as starting off with a blank sheet of paper. The basic idea was to create a post involving the essence of elegance and harmony of the Touring, to recognize with clear, like a Bentley. This task was a real challenge because einvöllig new band had to be added based on the GTC. The circumstances were entirely new, but the overall design was kept abreast stand in line. Therefore, only the section in front of the car A-pillar, has been retained, including the windshield.

Viewed from behind, appears the new tailgate between the broad rear fenders. The oval chrome taillight bezels are an indication of Bentley cars of the '50 fastback. The side view features a low ceiling, prominent shoulders, side panels and wide wheel arches, suggesting a perfect command of energy.

The Touring Superleggera designers were by the objective of the challenge to give the new interior as elegant as to whether the back of the rear seats are folded or not. The solution was to design an "S"-shaped trim the rear wheel arches linking the passenger compartment to the rear cargo space. The beige and darkhowever, green leather also adds this visual unit.

The first time in this class and size, fold the twin individual rear seats are completely created on a flat load floor for more than 2m long with 1200LT capacity. This is an important tool in meeting the functional task profile, requires the full loading in a wide range of recreational facilities including 4 full golf bags with the rear seats up to. An example of custom finish is the woven carpet leather boot offers a superior stamina and coordinated with the special luggage set.

The overall result is entirely consistent with the Flying Star Touring einnd heritage: a timeless design, a design statement combining elegance and sportiness, with a strong and distinctive personality and individuality.

Manufacturing

If the digital technologies produced with traditional manufacturing skills, blended a fascinating process that is typical for Touring Superleggera. Discrimination based on traditional construction manager was and is the large amount of manual labor, involved in the creation of a new body. In this process, several practical solutions are found for a number of minor technical problems. This quick, practical solutions are based on years of experience, common senseand a trained eye.

The result is a fully finished product produced in the high quality parameters of today's automotive industry.

From the A-pillar rearward, new body parts were hand-shaped steel - even the roof, new larger rear wing, and the internal amplification of the entire back of the car. Aluminum was used for the door skins and the complete rear hood, including its structure. New, handmade brightwork was based on the new exterior design was added.

The new fund desired shape of the folding rear seats and a range of interior trim, leather, trimmed with care. Wide leather hides have been selected with great care to provide a uniform interface for the large continuous surfaces.

After examining the carcass has been prepared and painted in the touring state-of-the-art facilities suit. The final outcome examined again subjected to a special final quality.

Performance

The Bentley Continental Flying Star Touring inherits from the chassis of the Continental GTC. The 6-liter W12 engine is either delivers the 560HP version which 650NM of torque at 1600rpm or the GTC Speed variant, which delivers a massive 750Nm of 610HP. The car presented at the Geneva Motor Show 2010 featured the GTC Speed specifications.

Performance brakes, in Kurven and traction features interlock for precise and direct traffic control system under extreme or difficult conditions.

Self-adjusting air springs work independently and electronic damping for each wheel supports advanced all-wheel traction.

Homologation

The model has been approved by the CEE new low-volume production policy. For the first time since its introduction, the approval was granted without destructive testing, with simulation and FEM analysis.

Future Program

Touring Superleggera undertakes a limited production run of up to 20 units of the Bentley Continental Flying Star. This series is built exclusively to order and customer. The car is offered at a base price of € 590.000, if based on a Continental GTC - 560 PS.Andere versions on request.

The car will be serviced at the Bentley dealer. Bentley Motors and Touring Superleggera a special reciprocal guarantee program designed to ensure safeguards for both the basic car, and the conversion of Touring.

Personalization

The customers are active in the early stages of drafting specifications to choose their own car, from custom-made furniture and cut a large selection of special options. The accessories include the collection designed Touring luggage set with the boot trim and coordinating the distinctiveness Borrani X-Ray-spoke wheels.

Blending advanced technology with craftsmanship, Borrani 20 "9,5 J X-Ray spoke wheels offer distinctive design, precision and comfort. Featuring monolithic spinning wheel and hand-assembled steel spokes, they can be tailored to the painting of the car and finish.via