Luxury autos for the Island’s
By Leigh Tahirovic
C
Cruising Marco Island in style just
got easier, with the creation of two
hot new convertibles. But are you
someone who prefers luxury to
performance or vice versa? The
question might not be an easy one
to answer, especially if you are talking about Bentley’s Continental
GTC Speed and Aston Martin’s
DBS Volante.
For those who emphasize luxury
first and foremost, the automobile
to choose is the Speed. “When
someone describes a Bentley, the
word luxury comes out first,” explains sales manager Brian Lambert
of Naples Luxury Imports,
a dealer that carries
both manufacturers.
But don’t underestimate the
Speed; it is aptly
named because
the vehicle reaches a top speed of
200 miles per hour
with the roof up
and goes from zero
to 60 in 4.5 seconds. And no wonder
it is so quick; equipped with a 12cylinder, 6-litre, twin-turbocharged
engine, it is propelled by a continuous all-wheel drive and six-speed
automatic transmission that makes
the Speed the “best performing
convertible Bentley has ever produced,” adds Lambert.
The Bentley Continental GTC Speed has
a 6-litre, twin-turbocharged engine that
goes from zero to 60 in 4.5 seconds.
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The Speed features ample seating
for four adults and premium-grade
leather is also employed to soft
surfaces, such as the trim around
the gear selector and hand-stitched
steering wheel.
haut monde
The Aston Martin DBS Volante has a fabric roof
that is fully retractable in only 14 seconds and at speeds
up to 30 miles per hour.
The Volante is a 6-litre, V12 engine with
2+2 seating. The leather trimmed rear
seats are ideal for younger passengers or
extra luggage, making the DBV Volante a
practical everyday sports car.
The Volante is Aston Martin’s 16th convertible, featuring its quietest and most refined
roof system to date. When raised, the fabric roof is insulated with a layer of Thinsulate
material, relieving cabin noise and protecting passengers from the elements.
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For James Bond enthusiasts, the Volante
is a way to channel his persona, particularly because it is a convertible version of
the DBS that appears in “Quantum of Solace.”To be released later this year, the Volante is a “hard-core performance vehicle,”
explains Lambert.
Featuring an all-alloy, 6-litre, V12 engine, the Volante reaches a top speed of
191 miles per hour and goes from zero to
62 in 4.3 seconds. That’s merely 0.2 seconds faster than the Speed, but because it
has more torque and is a lighter car, it
feels like it goes faster. “This car looks like
it is going fast,” adds Lambert of the Volante.
Built with the driver in mind, the Volante retains the spirit of the DBS and
comes standard as a six-speed manual
gearshift or drivers have the option for an
automatic six-speed Touchtronic transmission. Lambert says the Volante is for
“somebody who wants Aston Martin’s
fastest, most powerful convertible.”
Performance is a front-runner at Aston
Martin, a manufacturer that founded its
roots on the racetrack at Le Mans back in
the early 1900s. Such is also the case at
Bentley, which has its own history at Le
Mans. “Bentley has a performance history,
just nobody knows about it,” explains
Lambert.
Luxury might come to mind first when
thinking of the Speed, but the Volante is
in no way second-rate. It is completely
handcrafted and hand-built in Gaydon,
Warwickshire, England, and constructed
from the finest materials. The full-grain
leather interior showcases the way Aston
Martin fashions their vehicles without
disguise or embellishment. “The Volante is
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Configured with four banks
of three cylinders in a W
formation, the Speed’s engine
is much shorter and more compact and allows for significantly
more interior space and
improved dynamics.
The new Continental GTC Speed is the
most powerful Bentley convertible ever made.
To ensure safety, the Speed is equipped with
the largest front brakes of any car on the road.
Channel your
inner James Bond
by driving the
DBS Volante, which
is the convertible
version driven by
007 in “Quantum
of Solace.”
The Volante affords the option
of a ten-spoke, 20-inch forged
aluminum lightweight wheel with
diamond-turned surface, available
in silver or graphite finishes.
luxurious, with all the fine features, like finely
crafted woods and veneers found in other luxury cars,” offers Lambert. Plus, the Volante has
the assembler’s name engraved on a plate
fixed to the engine, re-emphasizing the extensive man-hours of labor that go into each Aston Martin.
One major difference between the two automobiles relates to the size of the passenger
compartment. Touted as a two-door convertible with 2+2 seating, the Volante is more suited for a driver looking for a practical everyday
sports car, whereas the four-door Speed is designed to seat four adults comfortably. It also
sits higher off the ground than the Volante and
has wider door openings, making it “easier to
get in and out of,” states Lambert. “In the Aston Martin (Volante), drivers drop down into
the car, like a cockpit.”
Lambert agrees that the two vehicles compete with each other, not just in performance
and overall luxury, but also in price. Both vehicles are priced comparatively, with the
Bentley coming in around $250,000 (base) and
the Volante priced closer to $300,000. “It will
be interesting to see where the interest will
be,” he states.
He is already seeing the results, as Lambert
has one Volante on order so far. Even though
the dealership won’t have a model available
until early fall, he does have a 2009 DBS to
view and test drive, with the only difference
being that it is not a convertible. Lambert is
certain that, “loyal Aston Martin owners will
migrate to it.”
On the other hand, Lambert has two models of the Speed on his showroom floor and
expects to have 15 available by the end of September.
Whether you prefer luxury over performance, or the other way around, these two
new convertibles will appeal to a common
driver, with one thing for certain. As Lambert
attests, “People here in Naples have to have
the latest and greatest.” M
The Volante employs an Adaptive Damping System (ADS),
which uses two separate valves to set the dampers to five
different positions, allowing instant adjustment of the car’s
ride and handling characteristics.
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