It’s hard to explain exactly why, but beige in some instances is incredibly good. Long a metaphor for boring, beige and it’s variants are having an absolute moment, whether it’s Audi’s Siam Beige and Mocha Latte, or the Mercedes-Benz Manufaktur Sand Beige seen here. It’s a clear play to the G-wagen’s military and industrial heritage, both of which propelled sales for a few decades before the G became a shuttle for wealthy American urbanites. Perhaps Sand Beige is most fitting on this particular 4×4 squared variant, the most rough and ready of the Geländewagen lineup.
What: 2023 BMW M4 Competition Color: BMW Individual Fire Orange III (fuerorangeiii; non-metallic uni; P7E; BMW) VIN: WBS43AZ04PCM81308 Mileage: 6,829 miles Price at Time of this Writing: $84,900 CarFax: N/A Window Sticker: N/A Location: Sam Lehman Jeep, Champaign, IL Dealer listing:Link
Why we love it:
BMW’s Fire Orange made quite the impact when it was applied to the North American market-specific M3 Lime Rock Edition and RoW-only M3 GTS during the E9X generation, as it was just as in-your-face as the four-liter V8 shoved between it’s front fenders. In the time since, Fire Orange has had a few iterations (now on its third) and take rate seems to be somewhat slim. I suppose we can’t really blame potential buyers for not selecting P7E as their BMW Individual (option code 490) hue of choice when Tailoring a nearly $100,000 M3 or M4, but we have to assume quite a few give it some real thought. With that, we say be bold, enjoy someone else’s depreciation, and take the plunge.
What: 2023 Audi RS e-tron GT Color: Matador Red (matadorrot; metallic UNI; Y3S; Audi) VIN: WAUBHBFW4P7901038 Mileage: 20,090 miles Price at Time of this Writing: $82,999 CarFax:Link Window Sticker: N/A Location: Manheim, PA Dealer listing:Link
Why we love it:
Audi exclusive paint on the four rings’ RS e-tron GT is more rare than you’d think, making cars like this one even more special when they come to market. This one is in handsome Matador Red Metallic, offering a fresh take on the familiar RS e-tron GT form.
What: 2023 Audi S8 Color: Brewster Green (brewstergrün; nonmetallic UNI; 22B; Porsche) VIN: WAULSAF88PN003524 Mileage: 7,921 Price at Time of this Writing: $99,995 CarFax:Link Window Sticker: N/A Location: Birmingham, MI Dealer listing:Link
Why we love it:
Even in the rare air of D-segment German luxury sedans, the Audi S8 tends to garner an extra level of respect as a performance legend thanks to its one-time association with the movie Ronin. Now throw in a special color with deep heritage like Porsche’s Brewster Green and pair that with always handsome Cognac leather interior and you have something very special.
This one’s also got low mileage, which greatly helps the case for adding a special tailored car to your garage – bonus points if it matches your Brewster Green Porsche.
What: 2023 Porsche Cayman GT4 Color: Paint to Sample Irish Green (irischgrün; non-metallic UNI; L60E; Porsche) VIN: WP0AC2A86PS275446 Mileage: 1,648 Price at Time of this Writing: $165,979 CarFax:Link Window Sticker: N/A Location: Marietta, GA Dealer Listing:Link
Why we love it:
We’re massive fans of the Cayman GT4 here at Tailored Driver, so when a Paint to Sample’d VIN enters our radar it’s impossible to not take notice. With this Market Find, we have the realization of a spec that’s been kicked around our internal group chat for quite some time- Paint to Sample Irish Green, 6 speed manual transmission, Yellow deviated stitching, belts and door pulls, and because we’re not as young as we once were, 18-way power seats. If we had to split hairs on this Tailored Driver, we’d ditch the wheels in favor of something from Augment Wheel Company or a similar OEM+ source and add a 917-style shift knob, but that’d be our only adjustment. For our sake, please go buy this before we do.
In recent months it seems Aston Martin’s Racing Green is just as common on Porsche models as it is on Astons. Potentially a result of sheer volume, but we frankly dig the color and if you squint hard enough, you can see a clear parallel between Racing Green (racinggrünmetallic; metallic UNI; Y68; Porsche) and Porsche’s Wimbeldon Green which was commonly found on the 964-era 911. Call it a win-win.
Found on Bring a Trailer, this 2023 Porsche Taycan GTS Sport Turismo (VIN: WP0CD2Y16PSA90170) features the aforementioned Racing Green paint to sample finish (Color Code: Y68) over Chalk leather, resulting an incredibly handsome combination.
If you’re as smitten as we are, act fast- this auction ends in just a few short hours. Get all the details in teh full Bring a Trailer listing, here.
Crewe, England – Bentley Motors brought the 20th birthday celebrations of its now-iconic Continental GT to a close with the reveal and immediate sale of a one-of-one Continental GT Speed, with a specification inspired by that of the very first production Continental GT from 2003. The muse for the project – VIN20001, the first GT off the Crewe production line – was displayed alongside the 2023 version at The Quail, A Motorsports Gathering, also celebrating its 20th birthday and an ongoing part of Monterey Car Week.
Having redefined the Bentley brand for the 21st century when it was launched in 2003, catalysing a ten-fold increase in sales, the Continental GT continues to be the benchmark for modern, luxury grand tourers. The first production car – the most important modern car in Bentley’s rejuvenated Heritage Collection – was finished in Cypress Green (cypressgreen; metallic UNI; 6604 / 9560119; Bentley) paint, with an interior of Saddle leather upholstery and Burr Walnut veneer. The bespoke 2023 Continental GT Speed displays a specially commissioned interior inspired by that of its illustrious forbear.
While Saddle leather and Burr Walnut veneer feature in both cabins, the third-generation model features subtle enhancements of the original model’s theme. The rich Saddle colour is complemented by an accent hide in ‘Special Green’, with contrast stitching in the same shade throughout. The fascia and waist rails feature two different veneer finishes – open pore Dark Burr Walnut over high gloss Dark Burr Walnut – separated by a painted pinstripe in Cypress, connecting the interior with the exterior.
An extensive list of features includes the Blackline, Touring and Styling Specifications – together bringing polished black exterior brightware, a suite of technical enhancements and a carbon fibre front splitter, side skirts, diffuser and subtle boot lip spoiler respectively. Self-levelling Mulliner wheel badges finished the 22” Sports Wheels in unique Dark Grey Satin. The interior features Naim for Bentley audio and the Bentley Rotating Display, while the personalised treadplates read, ’20 years of the Continental GT by Bentley Mulliner’. Outline representations of the 2003 and 2023 Continental GTs feature on the fascia, centre console and outer sill. This celebratory one-of-one car has already been sold, was handed to its new owner at The Quail, and represents the highlight of four months of activities and events to celebrate this milestone in Bentley’s history.
20 Years and three generations
The impact of the first-generation Continental GT was seismic, not only redefining Bentley as a modern luxury brand but also creating a new market sector. The first all-new Bentley with no carried-over components since the original 3 Litre of 2019, the Continental GT was designed at the Crewe studio under then Design Director Dirk van Braeckel and Head of Exterior Design Raul Pires. The sleek lines of Bentley’s new grand tourer were inspired by those of the 1952 R Type Continental, with a Bentley ‘powerline’ that starts low at the front and follows the shoulder line of the bonnet and door before meeting a muscular rear haunch. Twin round headlamps and a Bentley mesh grille gave a subtle nod to the company’s thunderous Le Mans-winning racers of the 1920s.
Under the bonnet was an all-new 6.0-litre twin-turbo 48-valve W12 engine. This compact, smooth and powerful design developed 550 bhp and 650 Nm, powering all four wheels via a ZF six-speed automatic transmission. Acceleration from 0-62 mph took 4.8 seconds and top speed was a shade under 200 mph.
During the seven years the first-generation Continental GT remained in production it sired a family of models including the Continental GT Convertible, Continental Flying Spur, Continental GT Speed and Supersports.
Arrival of the V8
The second-generation Continental GT, launched in 6.0-litre W12 form at the Paris Motor Show in 2010, also saw the arrival of a second all-new Bentley engine. The efficient and charismatic 4.0-litre V8, which made its debut in 2012, endowed the Continental GT with an eager, agile and responsive character, accompanied by a characterful V8 exhaust backbeat. In 2017 the line-up was joined by the limited edition 710PS Supersports, its conception inspired by the Team Bentley racing GT3.
2018: the third generation
Bentley’s third generation Continental GT was launched in 2018. An entirely new design, its sharper, sleeker lines took full advantage of a new, purpose-designed platform. Even its W12 engine was all-new, paired with a new dual-clutch transmission. Highlights of the new model’s specification included three-chamber air springs and 48V electric active anti-roll control, while the on-board technology took a major leap forward thanks to all-new electrical architecture. It was simultaneously faster, more comfortable, more efficient and more luxurious than its predecessors – yet unmistakably still a Continental GT.
Around the world in 20 reviews
A Bentley ‘baton’, designed and created in house to represent the key lines of the Continental GT, visited Monterey to start a global journey – travelling in a variety of Continental GT models across Europe, the Middle East, China, Asia Pacific and the US before returning to Crewe. At journey’s end at Bentley’s Dream Factory in Crewe, the baton – which will contain 20 mementoes of the tour – will become a time capsule as a permanent reminder of a unique journey.
