Bentley Destroyed in Cash for Clunkers Program

A 1997 Bentley Continental R — a car that when new sold for $250,000 — was destroyed in the Cash for Clunkers program, according to data gathered by the federal government and discovered by the Detroit Free Press. Keep in mind that the Bentley’s owner only got a $4,500 credit at best.

This trade-in, obviously, makes absolutely no sense. According to the program’s rules, the vehicle had to be drivable, which means the Bentley was probably worth a lot more than $4,500. As Howard Krimko, a former chairman of a luxury car club, told the blog Wheels, “The seats for the car would be worth more than that.”

What’s even more mystifying is that dealers had the option of buying the car outright. Why wouldn’t they just take the car? The report listed no details on the condition of the car or where it was turned in, so curious parties will be maddened until someone steps forward and identifies the party responsible. Could this trade-in be illegitimate or even made up?

A few other vehicles of note that owners scrapped through the program include a 1997 Aston Martin DB7 Volante (that sold for $135,000 when new) and a 1987 Buick GNX (one of 547 ever built).

Exotic Clunkers Also Got the Crunch Under Program (Detroit Free Press)

Cars.com Reviews the 2010 Bentley Continental GTC

Normally, Cars.com only reviews vehicles that fall into the general category of “Your average Cars.com employee could afford it.” Or at least somewhere close to that range. Somehow, though, reviewer Joe Wiesenfelder finagled his way into a $270,000 2010 Bentley Continental GTC – and, coincidentally, the price tag reminds him strongly of his childhood. Is Wiesenfelder secretly a Rockefeller? Find out by reading his full review of the GTC.

2010 Bentley Continental GTC Review

Bentley Debuts E85-Capable Continental Supersports

Bentley unveiled a new vehicle today, the Continental Supersports, that is the automaker’s first step toward developing an entire trim range of biofuel vehicles.

The Supersports is essentially a Continental GT, but with one important addition; it’s E85 capable. This is a big deal for Bentley, which is trying to burnish its environmental image; its models are some of the worst gas-guzzlers on the market.

The Supersports packs an ethanol-capable twin-turbocharged W-12 that produces 621 hp, making the coupe the fastest, most powerful Bentley ever.

That powertrain pushes 4,939 pounds of car from 0-60 mph in just 3.7 seconds. When it’s time to stop, Bentley says the standard ceramic brakes are the largest, most powerful ones ever fitted to a production vehicle.