Elite Traveler July-August 2017

INSPIRE TOP CARS

Bentley ENGLAND, 1919 Walter Owen Bentley, or WO as he was known, had an ambition: “To build a fast car, a good car, the best in its class.” That ambition became a reality when the first car to bear his name pulled out of New Street Mews in London in 1919. Luxury and performance were the ideals that WO vigorously pursued, and the same holds true for the people who create Bentley’s modern models today at the company’s HQ in Crewe, England. Having been incorporated into Volkswagen Group in 1998, Bentley has the resources to combine the very latest technology with its traditional leather and wood finishing. bentleymotors.com

THE EXP 12 SPEED 6E CONCEPT IN NUMBERS Unveiled Geneva 2017 Body 2-seat roadster Power source electric Recharging method contact- free inductive Range approximately 220 miles

EXP 12 Speed 6e Concept MODERN

Today, manufacturers of luxury performance cars face challenges that cannot be overcome simply by fitting larger engines or bolting on superchargers. They must negotiate their way through a minefield littered with stringent legislation as they seek to develop new propulsion sources capable of delivering sustainable mobility. The recently revealed EXP 12 Speed 6e Concept shows Bentley’s take on the future. The stunning-looking electric roadster is capable of being driven from London to Paris or Milan to Monaco on a single charge. It’s still a concept at this stage, but it shows what Bentley is aiming to produce in the future.

Bentley EXP 12 Speed 6e Concept

Ferrari ITALY, 1947

This year Ferrari celebrates its 70th birthday. Company founder Enzo Ferrari took the first car to bear his name, the 125 S, for its maiden run on March 12, 1947. The former racing driver possessed tremendous self-belief, and lived his life by the motto, “Think as a winner and act as winner. You’ll be quite likely to achieve your goal.” Today Ferrari is once again a standalone company. With 16 F1 and 14 sports car manufacturers’ titles, and the creation of the most desirable cars the world has ever seen, Enzo Ferrari achieved his goal and much more. ferrari.com 250 GTO CLASSIC Given all the sublime creations to have left the Maranello factory in northern Italy bearing the iconic Cavallino Rampante Prancing Horse symbol, where do you start with choosing one classic? For any child of the 1980s there’s an argument for the F40, with its outrageous spaceship looks and 201mph performance. But for purists it will always be the 250 GTO. The fact that just 39 examples were built between 1962 and 1964 adds to the allure of this stunningly beautiful creation. In 2014 one example sold at auction for over $38m, making it the most valuable car the world has ever seen. 812 Superfast MODERN If you have the audacity to call your new car the 812 Superfast, then it really had better be something truly special. Naturally, the latest Ferrari is just that. Aside from the ultra-limited edition LaFerrari and LaFerrari Aperta, this is the most powerful Ferrari yet. Launched in a special new color, Rosso Settanta, to mark Ferrari’s 70th anniversary, the 812 Superfast is powered by a 789hp V12 mounted engine under its oh-so elegant hood. It’s designed to deliver a second-to-none driving experience on the road — or on the track if you really want to make the most of it — yet still be sufficiently comfortable to use every day.

Ferrari 250 GTO

THE 812 SUPERFAST IN NUMBERS Engine 6.5-liter V12 Power 789hp

Weight 3,362lbs 0-62mph 2.9 sec Maximum speed 211mph plus

Ferrari 812 Superfast