The car that crashed at the bridge in Niagara Falls(Slowly I turned, step by step, inch by inch…) was a Bentley! They had previously been at a casino only a mile away. Didn’t know they were made for that kind of speed.
Cars can be cracked through software now since they have throttle by wire. The driver can’t control the throttle. The rev limiter and speed limiter can be disabled. With electric power steering the steering can be taken over too. The ABS can disable the brakes. With push button start what has to be done to force the car off while driving varies by manufacturer.
Maybe this is like one of those Toyota situations where the throttle would stop responding.
All current Bentleys are capable of crazy speed.
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Had a customer back around 2015ish that had one… Very nice car… Top of the line…
The new Bentley Continental GT Speed has a top speed of 208 MPH and can reach 0-60 MPH in only 3.5 seconds (3.6 seconds in the Speed Convertible), thanks to its powerful 650 horsepower twin-turbo W12 engine.
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One commenter on another board suggested that the car had a launch button that would propel it o to 60 instantly and on up to 200 mph. Also that there may have been a recall for sudden acceleration. Seemed like they were a nice couple who did a lot for others. I know nothing of these cars but think there is a bigger story here.
If it can be cracked (which I seriously doubt to that level of control), then it was an extremely poorly designed piece of software. You CAN’T crack a 128/bit or 256/bit encrypted system.
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Just read they were a couple from Western NY that owned a Lumber Yard and a couple hardware stores. Both were 53. My first thought (after possible terrorism) was a medical emergency.
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Yes, most likely something like a medical emergency. Never a good idea to invent conspiracies or bizarre mechanical failures when a simple explanation is much more likely.
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I doubt it. The car is so powerful that it doesn’t need a launch button to make it incredibly powerful. All it needs is a firm foot on the throttle.
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Launch control is typically on very powerful cars to manage wheel spin while maximizing acceleration. A Bentley could have it, for sure.
Edit-yep it has it. Read about it here:
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Didn’t know. I thought of them as lumbering land barges for wealthy cruisers looking for comfort. I saw one in the neighborhood a few years ago, looked up the county’s appraisal for the home; it was less than the new price of the car.
Less than the price new. Bentley and Rolls Royce cars drop dramatically in resale. I see a 2008 Bentley Continental GT Speed with AWD on line. The asking price is under $40,000.
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Yeah, luxury cars often have the worst depreciation, % wise, maybe because image drops as the car ages. 9 out of 10 of the worst are luxury cars:
Could also be the maintenance costs.
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About a mile from my home, there is a house that has a nice-looking Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud III, of what appears to be mid-60s vintage, sitting in the semi-circular driveway in front of the house. A few times per year, it moves to a slightly different position in front of the house, so it is apparently driveable, but I suspect that the price of parts, repairs, and insurance for that old dinosaur keeps them from really using it.
Royces (and Bentleys) of that vintage had a V-8 with a respectable about of power just to be able to move those heavy land barges–but nobody bought them for their speed potential. By comparison, most modern Bentleys have a W-12 engine capable of incredible performance, and like many modern high-performance vehicles, they have a “launch” button in order to do maximum-torque take-offs.
A Modern Bentley is at the top of my list of cars I’d love to own if money was no object. But unfortunately money is an object. They are gorgeous vehicles. Luxury and performance in one package. I was at a car show once in Boston, and there was one Bentley I wouldn’t buy. It was painted lime green. Although if I could afford a Bentley, I could also afford a new paint job.
Bentley also makes furniture
Next best thing:
I’d enjoy to see a Bentley the topic of a classic car magazine restoration article. Take it apart to see what makes it tick.
Was the driver drunk? Pressed the accelerator instead of the brake?
Happens not infrequently by older drivers.
56 or somewhere around there. Not elderly. Assuming not a floor mat problem or a murder suicide pact.
Brings back memory of the California highway patrol killing his family. Regardless of all the previous arguments over the years, I still maintain software or electronic glitches are possible.
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