At the 2010 Geneva Auto Show, seasoned
Italian Coachbuilder Touring Superleggera unveiled the best Bentley
Continental we’ve seen to date.
Called the “Flying Star,” the Shooting
Brake design is “a sports car featuring enough space to join a hunting
party or golf tournament with elegance and efficiency.” Based on the
Bentley GTC Convertible (as that model had the best structural
qualities), the Flying Star offers a third door and folding rear seats
which when stowed offer nearly 43 cubic feet of storage room (twice as
much as a BMW 5er GT!). While significant practicality is added in
shooting brake form, the Bentley loses none of its athletic abilities.
If customers opt for their Flying Star to be based on a “Speed” GTC, the
6.0L twin-turbo W12 motor will produce 610 horsepower and 553 lb-ft of
torque. Touring Superleggera says the Flying Star will travel naught to
sixty in 4.7 seconds, and continue on to a super-car humbling 200 miles
per hour. That makes this one of the world's fastest sport wagons. With
impressive utility, phenomenal performance, and Audi’s (Bentley’s
parent company) all-wheel drive system, the Flying Star Shooing Brake is
the perfect limited-production, go-fast anywhere in style, utilitarian
Sport Wagon.
PRESS RELEASE
The origins of the Bentley Continental Flying Star by Touring
It
takes an avid and passionate collector, with a taste for special coach
building, to be at the basis of a project like the Bentley Continental
Flying Star by Touring. Exactly such a person contacted Touring
Superleggera in early 2008.
An interesting
initial creative process emerged involving parameters for design,
proportions, vehicle concepts and - last but not least- feasibility and
technical factors.
Many
steps from design to execution were shared with the customer, who
contributed with his own ideas and taste to personalise the project and
create a unique automobile.
A
basic idea was formed by the desire to diversify Bentley's very
successful Continental model range, and to explore new concepts.
The
transformation of a 2-door coupé, by expanding the roof line and
enlarging the interior dimensions, has led to a design concept baptised
as shooting brake: a sports car featuring enough space to join a hunting
party or a golf tournament with elegance and efficiency. Touring
Superleggera explored the same field back in 1966, resulting in the
amazing Lamborghini Flying Star II prototype. It was a dramatic
interpretation of a sports car based on a new 2-volume design,
safeguarding the dynamic performance. The Flying Star reference is a
Touring parameter of sportive elegance, applied to many famous cars
since the companies' start in 1926.
Flying Star in 2010 - the Bentley challenge
The
Bentley Continental GT range set innovative and high standards for a
new generation of very sophisticated Grand Tourers. As such, this model
triggered the imagination of automotive designers and coach builders
elsewhere. The GTC convertible, featuring a very rigid platform, proved
to be a fully congruent basis to Touring Superleggera's plans for the
new Flying Star.
The
new project required the modification of a number of external
dimensions starting from the car's A-pillar backwards: extended roof
line, a wider section including the doors, new aluminium door skins and a
new all-aluminium, electrically operated tailgate. It also includes a
completely new rear compartment with two foldable rear seats and a
variable loading space.
This
long list of modifications and transformations had to be paired with,
and to remain fully compatible to the basic car's technical layout and
components. Given the sophistication of the basic car, a new challenge
was laid out for Touring's craftsmen and engineers. The final result
proves that special coach building can live on well into the 21st.
century working with respect to the original manufacturers.
Touring
Superleggera is particularly proud of the fact that the complete
productive cycle of the special coach building process was realized in
their workshop near Milano. Modern body engineering went hand in hand
with traditional handicraft skills, maintaining the highest quality
directives for the final product.
The Bentley Continental Flying Star by Touring
Project Engineering
The
body engineering processes at Carrozzeria Touring are aimed at
safeguarding key parameters for quality, safety and feasibility, within
the perspectives of low-volume automotive production. The project went
through 1:4 and 1:1 modelling, based on the CAD and CATIA data from the
basic vehicle. This digital basis resulted in a milled 1:1 master model
and a number of 1:1 moulds for the manufacturing of the new external
skin, and for important new body components. The rear bodywork was
reinforced with an integrated structure between the rear suspension
domes, functioning both as roll bar, and as support for the new,
extended roofline.
All
structural additions and modifications were thoroughly studied, using
advanced simulation methods and FEM-analysis. As a parallel process,
these data served for the homologation of the structural changes,
including the new foldable rear seats. An important number of hard
points from the basic car could be saved and carried-over. The
engineering team at Carrozzeria Touring was particularly pleased with
the quality assurance support from Bentley engineers.
Design
'Variations
on a theme' not rarely implicate a larger design challenge, than
starting-off with a white sheet of paper. The basic mission was to
create a body incorporating the essence of Touring elegance and harmony,
while clearly recognizable as a Bentley. This task was challenging
because a fully new volume had to be added to the GTC basis. The
proportions were totally new, but the overall design had to be kept
consistent. That is why only the section in front of the car's A-pillar,
including the windshield has been maintained.
Viewed
from the rear, the new tailgate dives between the wide rear wings. The
oval rear light chrome bezels are a reference to Bentley fastback cars
of the '50. The side view features a low roof, prominent quarter panel
shoulders and wide wheel arches, suggesting perfectly mastered energy.
The
Touring Superleggera designers were challenged by the target to give
the new interior equal elegance, whether the back of the rear seats are
folded or not. The solution was to design an "S" shaped trim of the rear
quarter panels linking the passenger area to the rear luggage area. The
beige and dark green leather contrast also adds to this visual unity.
First
time ever in this class and size, the twin individual rear seats fold
completely to create a flat loading surface more than 2m long with
1200lt capacity. This is instrumental to fulfill the functional mission
profile, which requires loading in full comfort a wide array of leisure
equipment, including 4 full golfing bags with the rear seats up. An
example of bespoke finish is the woven leather boot carpet offering
superior endurance and coordinated with the special luggage set.
The
overall result is perfectly in line with the Touring and Flying Star
heritage: a timeless shape, a design statement combining elegance and
sportiveness, with a strong and unmistakable own personality and
individuality.
Manufacturing
When
digital technologies are blended with traditional manufacturing skills,
a fascinating process emerges that is typical for Touring Superleggera.
A discriminating factor for traditional coach building was and is the
vast amount of handwork that is involved in the creation of a new body.
In this process, multiple practical solutions are also found for a wide
variety of minor technical issues. This includes quick, practical
solutions based on years-long experience, common sense and an expert
eye.
The result is a final product entirely produced within the high quality parameters of today's automotive industry.
From
the A-pillar backwards, new exterior body panels were hand shaped in
steel - including the roof, new wider rear wings, and the internal
reinforcements of the complete rear section of the car. Aluminium was
used for the door skins, and for the complete rear bonnet including its
structure. New, handmade brightwork was added according to the new
exterior design.
The
all new rear compartment required shaping of the foldable rear seats
and a full set of interior panels, leather trimmed with meticulous care.
Wide leather hides were selected with great attention to provide
uniform finish to the vast continuous surfaces.
After
inspection, the body in white was prepared and painted in the Touring
state-of-the-art paint facilities. The final result underwent again a
special final quality audit.
Performance
The
Bentley Continental Flying Star by Touring inherits the chassis of the
Continental GTC. The 6-liter, W12 engine is available either in the
560HP version which delivers 650NM of torque at 1600rpm or the GTC Speed
variant which delivers a massive 750Nm from 610HP. The car exhibited in
Geneva Motor Show features the GCT Speed specifications.
Performance
braking, cornering and traction functions mesh together to provide
precise and immediate driving control under extreme or difficult
conditions.
Self-adjusting
air springs and electronic dampers operate independently for each
wheel. All-wheel drive promotes advanced traction.
Homologation
The
model is CEE homologated according to the new low-volume production
directive. For the first time since its introduction, the type approval
was awarded without destructive test, using simulation and FEM-analysis.
Future Programme
Touring
Superleggera undertakes a limited production run of up to 20 units of
the Continental Flying Star. This series will be exclusively built to
special order and customer specifications. The car is offered at a basic
price of 2 590.000 when based on a Continental GTC - 560 PS. Other
versions on request.
The
car will be serviced at the Bentley dealers. Bentley Motors and Touring
Superleggera have developed a special mutual warranty program, which
safeguards warranty clauses for both the basic car, and the
transformation by Touring.
Personalisation
The
customers are actively involved in the early stage to choose the
specifications of their own unique automobile, ranging from bespoke
cabinetry and trim to a wide choice of dedicated options. The accessory
collection includes the Touring designed luggage set coordinated with
the boot trim, and the distinctive Borrani X-Ray spoke wheels.
Blending
advanced technology with craftsmanship, Borrani 20" 9.5j X-Ray spoke
wheels provide distinctive design, precision and comfort. Featuring
monolithic spun aluminium rim and hand assembled steel spokes, they can
be tailored to the car's painting and finish.
Louis de Fabribeckers, Head of Design
Responsible for the design team of the Flying Star project is the 32 years young Belgian designer Louis de Fabribeckers.
Graduated
from the ISD of Valenciennes in France in Engineering Design, de
Fabribeckers started to work with Touring in 2006 as project leader.
Under
his hands, the Maserati based Bellagio and A8GCS Berlinetta projects
materialized; the first one being a fastback, 5-door version of the
Quattroporte model, and the second a magnificent concept for a light and
compact, modern sports car. Both new projects were presented at the
occasion of the 2008 Villa d'Este Concours d'Elégance. The A8GCS
Berlinetta was granted the 'Plus Belle Supercar de l'Année 2008' award
by the expert jury of the 24th. Festival Internationale de l'Automobile
in Paris.
Louis de Fabribeckers lives and works in Milan.
Technical information
(where appropriate based on a Continental GTC Speed)
ENGINE
Capacity 5998 cc W shaped 12 cyl.
Max.Power 610 PS /449 kW @ 6000t/m
Max. Torque 750 NM @ 1700-5600t/m
DRIVELINE AND TRANSMISSION
Continuous all-wheel drive
6-speed automatic transmission
PERFORMANCE
Max. Speed 322 km/h (TBC)
Acceleration 0-100km/h 4.8 seconds (TBC)
DIMENSIONS
Overall length 4815mm
Width 1943mm
Overall Height 1395mm
Min. Boot volume 400L
Max. Boot volume 1200L
The Touring A8 GCS Berlinetta is now ready for one-off production
Geneva is the first public appearance of this prototype after the Concours d'Élegance previews.
Touring
Superleggera has completed the development stage and is now ready to
produce a rolling concept for one of the passionate clients who showed
their enthusiasm since the first debut.
The
Berlinetta is based on a high-end production platform revised by
Touring. It has been carefully selected to match the mission profile in
power, torque, and handling.
Compact,
light and powerful, the shape embodies the perfect high performance
sports car in the Touring tradition. The A8 GCS Berlinetta is a strict
two-seater with perfectly balanced volumes and frugal decoration.
"We
wanted a strong project" – says the Belgian Head of Design of Touring
Superleggera, Louis de Fabribeckers – "I drew from the stylistic
heritage of Touring the work of surfaces and also this sinusoidal line
across the side of the Berlinetta".
The car is 4,20 m. long and only 1,22 m. high on a 2,50 m. wheelbase. Engineers target a 1500 kg weight for the finished car.
Carrozzeria Touring Superleggera
Founded
by Felice Bianchi Anderloni and Gaetano Ponzoni in 1926, the company
started to produce custom built automotive bodywork with two distinctive
features form the very beginning: sporting elegance and lightness.
Early customers were reputed car makers as Isotta Fraschini and Alfa
Romeo. It would mark the start of a flamboyant period, also culminating
in the 'Flying Star' period with several spectacular spider coachworks.
Touring
Superleggera also gradually researched the streamlining process. The
marriage between this, and their Superleggera construction system using
aluminium body panels over a light but rigid tubular steel frame,
resulted in some extremely elegant masterpieces such as the 1938 Alfa
Romeo 8C2900 Touring spider, which today have become icons of automotive
design and body construction. In 1945, the excellent Carlo Felice
Bianchi Anderloni joined his father at the company, which soon started
to receive its first orders from a motivated Modenese entrepreneur
called Enzo Ferrari. The Tipo 166 Touring 'Barchetta' of 1950 formed a
new milestone for light, elegant and effective design on a competition
chassis.
Under
Carlo Felice, Touring saw its industrial customer basis grow in the
mainstream of the expanding automotive industry in Italy and Europe. A
number of niche models were designed and built on Alfa Romeo 1900,
Lancia Flaminia and Maserati 3500. Another new inspired car manufacturer
from the Bologna area relied on Touring's skills: Lamborghini. At the
same time, Aston Martin produced their DB4, 5 and 6 models with a
license for the Superleggera system.
The
energy crises of the early seventies, and the increasing mass
production methods in the car industry would regretfully force many
specialist companies to close their doors. The last production car left
Carrozzeria Touring in 1966, but the true Touring spirit was firmly
consolidated in the company's products, that found their ways to an
international community of motoring enthusiasts and car collectors.
In
2006, the year of its 80th. Anniversary, Carrozzeria Touring
Superleggera of Milan restarted its activities, now part of Zeta Europe
BV, a private company specializing in automotive high-end products and
brands.
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