This month's Cholmondeley Pageant of Power sees the return of the Autocar Supercar paddock. It's the best chance to see some of the world’s most incredible sports cars and supercars.
As always, the paddock features some of Autocar’s favourite exotica. Here’s a full rundown of the exhibits.
Aston Martin Centenary Vanquish
One of just 100 to be produced in celebration of Aston Martin’s monumental 100th anniversary this year, the Centenary-spec Vanquish maintains everything we love about the Vanquish, with detailing flourishes marking its status, including sterling silver Aston Martin badges and a subtly revised paint finish.
Audi R8
You can usually tell how happy a manufacturer is with how a car's performing in its market come facelift time. If the maker gives a car major surgery, you can usually assume it's not doing its job properly. The Audi R8, however, has been given a relatively mild update, reflecting Audi’s confidence. Besides new lights, exhausts and equipment upgrades, the major change is the option of a dual-clutch seven-speed transmission, allowing the R8 V10 Plus to sprint from 0-62mph in 3.5sec.
Bentley Continental GT Speed
The Bentley Continental GT Speed is the fastest road car the firm has ever built. The Speed’s twin-turbo 6.0-litre W12 gets an extra 49bhp and 74lb ft of torque over the standard car, along with myriad interior and exterior upgrades. With 616bhp at 6000rpm and 590lb ft of torque from 1700rpm it’s magnificently fast. Acceleration from 0-60mph takes a mere 4.0sec and its top speed is 205mph - impressive considering it weighs an imperious 2320kg.
Bentley Ice Record Car
Something of a motoring celebrity is also to make an appearance: the bioethanol-fuelled Bentley Continental Supersports Convertible, which powered Juha Kankkunen into becoming the fastest man on ice — a title later snatched away by an Audi RS6. After achieving a record-breaking speed of 205.43mph on the ice flats of the Baltic Sea, Kankkunen’s record run saw Bentley seize the opportunity to celebrate, almost immediately launching a limited-run Supersports ‘Ice Speed Record’ convertible.
Bugatti Veyron Grand Sport Vitesse
As powerful as it is wordy, the Veyron Grand Sport Vitesse’s 1,184 horses ensure that it keeps the title of world’s fastest- and world’s most powerful convertible on sale. Its top speed of 254mph is provided by that gargantuan 8.0-litre W16 engine and aerodynamic tweaks over the ‘standard’ Veyron.
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