So there we were, 1964, down the open road on a quiet Sunday afternoon. Nat King Cole singing “I don’t Want to be Hurt Anymore”, the graphic equalizers on the two LCD monitors show the bass guitar to be a little too high on the notes. It’s all hard to notice too much though, thanks to the little rumble under the ‘hood, a 4.4-litre V8 borrowed from German automaker BMW. Cool dual air conditioning is keeping heads sane, while the leather and suede interior is built for comfort as well as speed. Huh?
Lovely dream it is, but technically possible, thanks to the Bentley Boys USA, and specifically Arturo Alonso who is an engineer and automotive visionary. These guys are working on very exclusive machinery in the guise of a 2009 Bentley S3-based concept. Although it will use the original body and chassis, some modern additions have taken place. These include the use of that 4.4-litre BMW V8 with close to 300 horsepower running inside it, a 5-speed ZF BMW automatic transmission, custom-made stainless steel exhaust pipe with two rear mufflers and double tips. The forged wheels you see measure a decent 20 X 9.5 inch and will have 275/40/20 Continental Sport tires wrapped around them.
Alonso and his colleagues are going to build only three of these special, extremely exclusive and unique vehicles, each of them at eight month intervals, kinda like three human babies of the same family, born consecutively. The asking price, if you insist on knowing, is estimated at around USD150,000 each. No problem. The target customer who live in cash-rich metroplitan cities like Dubai, Johannesburg, New York City, London and Moscow will probably find the value proposition being made here.
Bentley S3 E Design Concept by the Bentley Boys
Unique. Only three are to be made.
Bentley Boys / Bentley S3 E Design concept
by Thami Masemola
March 21, 2008 10:52 PM
Filed Under: Bentley, Concept Car, European, General, Specialty Marques
March 21, 2008 10:52 PM
Filed Under: Bentley, Concept Car, European, General, Specialty Marques
Comments
mickey_f1
March 21, 2008 11:26 PM
The world must have gone crazy! No excuse for the existence of such thing!
BabyMilo
March 21, 2008 11:28 PM
that is one of the ugliest cars i have ever seen! bently dont make it!!
nmnissan
March 22, 2008 5:52 AM
this will probably be the last we see of this concept, at least I hope!
pzigly
March 22, 2008 7:18 AM
This car looks beautiful (a work of art). I dont know what you guys are talking about. Only 2 things I dont like is the rims and the 4 door layout. It should be a 2 door 5 seater ant 20 inchers are enough..
[]V[]orbid[]V[]an
March 22, 2008 7:23 AM
a hot rod bentley....i'm so confused!!?! You're right pzigly, not sure about the four door, but what if they were suicide doors?? Kickin it old school!!!
pzigly
March 24, 2008 6:55 AM
I dont know, the suicide doors might make it look a little better for the rear. I just feel like the rear doors were forced into the design. Imagine a 2 door with long front doors that are suicide like the new rolls. I still cant get over those rims. They are horrendous!!!!! This is not a frikin hummer!!!!!
pzigly
March 22, 2008 7:25 AM
O ya and the engine 4.4L V8 should be more than 300 hp. Nissan has 3.5L and 3.7L v6's that kick out over 300hp.
benz_man
March 22, 2008 5:29 PM
Its the 4.4L from the 90's 740iL and V8 X5. However, BMW did twin-turbo this engine for a few years in the Arnage. It would be interesting if Bentley Boys USA could reconstruct that turbo & transmission arrangement.
unknown
March 22, 2008 6:26 PM
4.4L twin turbo huh? i always thought it was a 6.75 turbo....where you get the info from?
Bremen_Koenigsegg
March 23, 2008 3:58 AM
When it began production, the Arnage was powered by a twin-turbo 4.4L V8 from BMW until the marque was bought by Volkswagen who reckoned it would be damaging to their image to sell a product featuring a rival's power plant.
racsozelev
March 22, 2008 3:33 PM
Rappers and Cruella de Vil will go mad about it. Too much of a revival to be interesting. Adds nothing good to the original design. Greetings from Spain.
benz_man
March 22, 2008 5:26 PM
As rapid-prototyping grows from its current infancy, we'll see many more "reproductions" such as this. Personally I like it. And yeah, suicide doors would be awesome.
DieselDog
March 23, 2008 3:26 AM
Yikes. It looks like a cross-eyed Morgan shacked up with a stuffy Brit Roller from 1974. Not pretty.
Bremen_Koenigsegg
March 23, 2008 3:49 AM
What is wrong with Americans? Why do they insist on ruining everything? I live in Canada, so I am constantly subjected to their delusions of grandeur. Shaping a piece of moldy cheese to look like a Bentley is not cool. Appealing to Russian oligarchs or oil-rich Arabs does not make you an "automotive visionary." It makes you a whore with calipers and grid paper. Here we are, on the outside, watching the birth of yet another litter of OPEC Mopeds.
cronan
March 24, 2008 1:41 PM
I couldn´t agree more. What´s whith americans and the lack of respect, taste and decency.
Andres2007
March 26, 2008 1:57 AM
Hate to generalize, but the way Canadians generalize is just plain stupid.
Bremen_Koenigsegg
March 26, 2008 7:49 PM
When an overwhelming majority of Americans share an intense shortage of taste, it is fair to say, "In general, Americans have no taste." This is a country with a rich history, unimaginable wealth, brilliant citizens (albeit few and far between), and still manages to share a childish love of chrome and shiny objects; still believes in money above culture, tradition, and all else; and cowardly accuses their northernly neighbors of being obtuse without finding fault in their arguments. Open your eyes, dude; this car sucks.
NISMO
March 27, 2008 4:25 AM
Taste...is subjective, and borderline abstract...just because you see something made in America as distasteful, does not mean that "All Americans have bad taste". And as for our "rich history" "culture" and "tradition" that we prefer money over...Ever seen an American car from the 50's?? Chrome IS our culture and history. Using chrome pays homage to our history, in fact chrome is used mostly when going for a more classic look...a more current modern trend here in the states, is actually black wheels, carbon fiber, and matte paint jobs...just like every other country, it really just depends on the car. So when we start copying history from Canadian car culture then you can talk...so when you see an american car with all of your Canadian...uhhh....ummmm...well nevermind, there really isn't much/any Canadian car culture...maybe you just shouldn't generalize so much...
benzboy
March 23, 2008 8:43 AM
as an american, I think this car is beyond cool, and I have to add Rolls Royce is not an american made car and it not owned and developed by an american company, so canada boy what the heck are you talking about?
benz_man
March 23, 2008 8:58 PM
Rolls-Royce doesnt own Bentely anymore. And this isnt a "Bentley". Its made by an American Company called Bentley Boys USA.
Bremen_Koenigsegg
March 26, 2008 12:49 AM
I've got a pseudonym, use it! My name is not "Canada Boy", you prick.
norther
March 24, 2008 1:10 AM
bentley boys? so this is why it looks like an american modified hot rod. i was having a headache... well, i think it looks kind of....nice? i dont know, its like a puff daddy mobile or..50 cent or, someone who only knows to say GYEAH with a lot of gold on him..and in him. and...and....with that engine is completely stupid. how much does the tank weighs...3 tons?
cronan
March 24, 2008 1:26 PM
Blasphemy! What have they done to this beautiful car? Looks like some "Fast and furious"-kid had restyled it in his "need for speed" game.
Bristol411S3
March 24, 2008 9:02 PM
Hideous. I hope Bentley takes them to court for trademark infringement or somesuch. The Bentley S3 was a wonderful and elegant looking car. This looks like a horrorbly vulgar interpretation of someone else's dream by a bunch of talentless numbskulls.
Racketeer
March 25, 2008 2:25 PM
Why would anybody in their right mind fit a 4.4l BMW V8 into this car, when there is a perfectly fine 530 HP twin turbo 6.75l Bentley V8 available in-house?
And who are "Bentley Boys USA"?
devsadvocate
March 27, 2008 9:24 AM
This thing is ugly! But, as with American Chopper, the craftsmanship might be more the point. I don't like it one bit but the guys that built this obviously take a lot of pride in their work. I have to say the colour is a poor choice too. Maybe the company that built this is just full of incredibly skilled tradesmen in need of some design guidance? My two cents.
Decypha
May 22, 2008 11:48 AM
HAHAHAHAHA... "why do Americans insist on ruining everything" AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!! Bremen you are the MAN!!! I've been cracking up on that comment for months now!! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!! that said... this car is ugly. And to the smart guy that said Rolls Royce ain't American, umm we know that...
TheNecromancer
June 1, 2008 6:50 PM
Does anyone know how I ma contact Arturo Alonso's Bentley Boys USA to place an order? I can't locate them in web searches and the American Embassy has no knowledge of them. Thank you.
TheKars
November 17, 2008 12:08 AM
I think it's really pathetic and o so easy to have negative critic about someone's else creation. Maybe you should try to design a beatiful car by yourself before you have a lot of comment on this car. Come on guys this car is really cool and has by far more character and style than 99% of the modern cars ! ! And for this price it's actually a steal ! !
I congratulate The Bentley Boys with their beautifull and impressive creation ! !
The Kars
Add Your Comment
[cancel]
Additional Images
Receive an email each time a new
comment is posted to this article