BENTLEY
The Continental VT V8S has some
detail changes front, side and rear,
and special 20" wheels. But the
real business is an upgraded 4.0
engine with 528hp and 8-speed auto
powering an AWD drive system. A
4.5secs sprint to 100km/h is possible,
and improved suspension offers what
the company calls a 'more exhilarating
and involving driving experience'.
BMW
The latest generation of the X5 is
making a determined effort to become
a Range Rover, maybe? Detuning
the overall styling in favour of some
extra space inside is one thing, the
smart details of lights in some way
compensating for less shape. A plugin hybrid concept showed the car's
place in the expanding electric BMW
verse. Below 90g/km from the 4-pot
268hp petrol engine and electric motor
combo will certainly be an economical
consideration when it happens.
Meanwhile, the standard new X5 is
going to get 4-cylinder engines too.
When BMW decides to do
something, the company commits for
the long haul. In the still-iffy electric
car field, it has spent some years
preparing us with concepts and
prototypes, and now we can see the
actual production i3 pure electric and
i8 cars. Experience with the former
doing shuttle duty at the show has
probably wowed us all at what might
well be a potentially very successful
niche player.
31