Bentley
Hunaudieres
The
Bentley Hunaudières is a concept car built by Bentley for the 1999 Geneva Salon
International de l'Auto. It is powered by a Volkswagen 8.0-litre, naturally
aspirated, W16 engine adapted and modified by Bentley to generate 623 Bhp (465
kW; 632 PS) of power at 6,000 rpm and 760 Nm (560 Lb·ft) of torque at 4,000 rpm
in conjunction with a five-speed manual transmission. It is capable of a 350 kmh
(220 mph) top speed.
The
Hunaudieres concept was intended to test the water to see how close to an all
out sports car Bentley could feasibly create, without compromising the brand's
identity.
The
awkward 'Hunaudieres' name pays homage to the famous straight on the Le Mans
Circuit. It was here that the legend of Bentley was born with five wins at the
track in the 1920's. Sir Tim Birkin in his 4.5 litre 'Blower' Bentley,
undertook a risky overtaking of Rudolf Carraciola's Mercedes SSK at 125 mph
with one wheel on the grass down the Hunaudières straight.
