18:46
‘Vitality of language’ earns Burnside prestigious prize18:07
Arguably the world’s most luxurious soft top, the Bentley Continental GTC has it all. With a 6.0-litre twin-turbo W12 engine, it possesses a blend of trans-continental pace and luxurious comfort that very few other vehicles can match. The evening was a huge success with around 60 invited guests enjoying the genial hospitality provided by Bentley Edinburgh. Attention to detail was the order of the day with guests being served Ruinart champagne in Reidel glasses and canapés by Neil Forbes of Café St Honore in Edinburgh, who has been awarded Scottish Chef of the Year for 2011. The guests were then treated to an exclusive fashion tutorial by Marc Psarolis, chief executive of the exclusive British luxury goods label Duchamp. The ambience of the evening was further enhanced by an elegant light sculpture designed by Bruce Munroe as well as other examples of this artist’s fine work. The dealership was decorated throughout with examples of six artworks that had been commissioned specifically for the new Bentley Continental GTC launch by up and coming artists such as Paul Wearing, Darren Hopes and Jimi Crayon.As for the new Bentley Continental GTC, it is now better looking, roomier and even faster than before. It isn’t too taxing to create a supercar capable of flying around racetracks at outlandish speeds, but to create something that can do almost the same while cosseting you in an atmosphere akin to an exclusive gentleman’s club is a rare feat.Some 70kg lighter than its predecessor, this second generation GTC also plants a larger footprint on the road thanks to a 40mm wider track. Retuned steering and recalibrated suspension settings also contribute to the GTC’s sportier remit. And it really is surprising just how quickly you can hurl this car around twisting country lanes. The notably stiff body structure prevents the kind of open-top body wobbling you feel in cheaper convertibles and, true enough, this car feels as solid and planted at all times as the coupé model on which it’s based. With the top down, there’s neck-level heating for chilly days and very little buffeting, even if you don’t use the standard wind deflector, and what there is only becomes noticeable when you’re seated in the back at speeds well over the legal limit.The cabin has come in for some attention too. Most obvious from the driver’s seat is the all-new larger touch-screen infotainment system, which is much easier to use than the previous item, though still sits a little incongruously in a dash trimmed in wood and leather and styled to echo the wings of the Bentley badge. Although the driver won’t notice any difference in the superb comfort and support offered by the front seats, their backrests are actually slimmer, creating extra legroom for back seat passengers. They also now feature a vent, just below the bottom edge of the head restraint, for blowing warm air at their occupants necks – perfect for those winter morning drives with the top down. Of course, that roof has to go somewhere when not in use and, sure enough, bootspace is reduced to 235 litres, down from the 475 litres you could expect from the coupé model. The rear seats are OK for short journeys but you’d be better leaving them to children or shopping bags.Owning one of these is like having your own private jet, only better – it’s so much more usable and, with the roof down, you can enjoy the journey so much more. It’s a convertible in the best tradition, a true convertible, a Bentley convertible.l Bentley Edinburgh, 8 Whitehill Road, Fort Kinnaird, Edinburgh, EH15 3HR, telephone 0131-629 9135, or visit {http://www.edinburgh.bentleymotors.com |Edinburgh Bentley Motors|Edinburgh Bentley Motors}Arguably the world’s most luxurious soft top, the Bentley Continental GTC has it all. With a 6.0-litre twin-turbo W12 engine, it possesses a blend of trans-continental pace and luxurious comfort that very few other vehicles can match. The evening was a huge success with around 60 invited guests enjoying the genial hospitality provided by Bentley Edinburgh. Attention to detail was the order of the day with guests being served Ruinart champagne in Reidel glasses and canapés by Neil Forbes of Café St Honore in Edinburgh, who has been awarded Scottish Chef of the Year for 2011. The guests were then treated to an exclusive fashion tutorial by Marc Psarolis, chief executive of the exclusive British luxury goods label Duchamp. The ambience of the evening was further enhanced by an elegant light sculpture designed by Bruce Munroe as well as other examples of this artist’s fine work. The dealership was decorated throughout with examples of six artworks that had been commissioned specifically for the new Bentley Continental GTC launch by up and coming artists such as Paul Wearing, Darren Hopes and Jimi Crayon.As for the new Bentley Continental GTC, it is now better looking, roomier and even faster than before. It isn’t too taxing to create a supercar capable of flying around racetracks at outlandish speeds, but to create something that can do almost the same while cosseting you in an atmosphere akin to an exclusive gentleman’s club is a rare feat.Some 70kg lighter than its predecessor, this second generation GTC also plants a larger footprint on the road thanks to a 40mm wider track. Retuned steering and recalibrated suspension settings also contribute to the GTC’s sportier remit. And it really is surprising just how quickly you can hurl this car around twisting country lanes. The notably stiff body structure prevents the kind of open-top body wobbling you feel in cheaper convertibles and, true enough, this car feels as solid and planted at all times as the coupé model on which it’s based. With the top down, there’s neck-level heating for chilly days and very little buffeting, even if you don’t use the standard wind deflector, and what there is only becomes noticeable when you’re seated in the back at speeds well over the legal limit.The cabin has come in for some attention too. Most obvious from the driver’s seat is the all-new larger touch-screen infotainment system, which is much easier to use than the previous item, though still sits a little incongruously in a dash trimmed in wood and leather and styled to echo the wings of the Bentley badge. Although the driver won’t notice any difference in the superb comfort and support offered by the front seats, their backrests are actually slimmer, creating extra legroom for back seat passengers. They also now feature a vent, just below the bottom edge of the head restraint, for blowing warm air at their occupants necks – perfect for those winter morning drives with the top down. Of course, that roof has to go somewhere when not in use and, sure enough, bootspace is reduced to 235 litres, down from the 475 litres you could expect from the coupé model. The rear seats are OK for short journeys but you’d be better leaving them to children or shopping bags.Owning one of these is like having your own private jet, only better – it’s so much more usable and, with the roof down, you can enjoy the journey so much more. It’s a convertible in the best tradition, a true convertible, a Bentley convertible.l Bentley Edinburgh, 8 Whitehill Road, Fort Kinnaird, Edinburgh, EH15 3HR, telephone 0131-629 9135, or visit www.edinburgh.bentleymotors.com.18:06
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Jonathan Melville - Reeltime17:15
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Spotlight on . . .17:01
No cliques in England camp, insists Milner17:01
McManus aims to finish salvage job17:00
Fletcher left at home, but hopes to be fit for Spain16:58
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I want to go back to university, says Knox16:54
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Hibs stars born on fields of Capital . .16:39
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Acts of heroism and kindness honoured at award ceremony`16:34
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City solicitor ‘glassed girl’16:28
£1.2m class A drugs seized16:28
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Evening News Caption Competition 6/10/201116:28
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Plumbing the depths of ancient city16:27
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Falkirk take the points as Midlothian fail to shine16:08
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Police probe Chamber of Commerce trust’s finances03:54
Obituary: Bert Jansch, gifted Edinburgh guitarist who deservedly earned the soubriquet ‘Britain’s Bob Dylan’03:53
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There’s no business like Mobo business in Glasgow03:25
Kodak on the brink of fading into history books03:24
Record and Mail cash in on cutbacks03:23
CAP reform plans ‘will turn clock back’ says minister03:23
Don’t suffer in silence, charity urges03:13
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Carlton Bingo wins £3.9m tax rebate03:13
Argent Energy unveils £7m expansion plans03:13
Andrew Jack: Devil is in the detail to ensure enterprise zones’ success03:01
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Freescale unveils Scots centre of excellence02:48
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Bankier sticking strictly to studies02:43
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Theatre review: The Fun of the Fair02:42
Gig review: Gym Class Heroes02:39
Professor Petra Wend: Universities need freedom to make next big discovery02:39
Fiona McCade: Lose-lose situation for talent show children02:31
Michael Kelly: SNP will pay heavy price for churches’ loss of faith02:27
Leader: Guitar legend’s influence will live on02:13
De Sousa’s title bid hit by four-day ban02:08
Blow for Byrne02:08
Tait baffled as ‘moaners’ fail to give Tour full backing02:08
Millar witnesses development on visit back to Asia02:08
Farah named top athlete in Europe02:02
Moment World Cup got real for England02:01
Fear of the end drives Nallet on02:01
Wilkinson recovers in time for French02:01
Smit back to captain South Africa01:47
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Jones excited by firepower of Wales’ young guns01:45
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Saracens’ SA switch01:45
Scots stars’ memories of mentor01:45
Tributes after shock death of Graham Dilley01:45
New contracts for Glasgow trio01:44
Tevez advisor points blame at interpreter01:44
Mourinho is banned over eye-poking01:43
Racism probe after England trip to Bulgaria01:43
Top Fifa official says sorry over ‘pirates’ jibe01:43
Leicester bid to lure Beckham01:43
Boyce warns British of threat to Fifa post01:32
International double-headers to be staggered over ‘Week of Football’01:30
US spending cuts put Nato ‘at risk’01:29
Spain’s Duchess of Alba – descendant of Scottish kings – marries at 8501:29
Von Trier takes vow of silence over Cannes charges01:29
Putin’s set-up ancient jug find ‘completely normal’ says PR aide01:29
La Familia cartel leader is arrested01:28
Chinese spy charged over missile designs01:28
Spain and US agree on naval base plan01:28
India launches £22 student computer01:28
Gay candidate’s past takes the heat off McGuinness in race for presidency01:27
Democracy that owes it all to unrest01:27
First Minister honours pond rescue teen01:25
Monkeys’ virtual brain power provides hope for humans01:25
Big drop in seal shootings01:25
Lower-paid ‘more fatalistic’ about cancer01:25
Urgent repairs to close Brunel bridge to traffic01:24
Duggan family want ‘justice’ over death01:24
£11m pre-Games boost for music venues01:24
Drunk driver who caused death jailed for two years01:23
Domestic abuse against men rises 10%01:23
Islanders told not to drink contaminated tap water01:13
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Pittodrie for sale as club plans move to outskirts01:09
Helicopter horror for expatriate Briton celebrating 40th in New York01:03
Murder inquiry launched after flat disturbance01:03
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Fans are finally offered the chance to get between the covers with Rod01:01
Scotland has five universities in top 20000:59
Ambulance crews will go to 999 calls in breaks – for £100 a time00:58
Dictionary gets right up to date with inclusion of ‘mumpreneur’00:57
‘Labour connived to free Lockerbie bomber’ – Hague00:56
Tory playlist mix-up sees band’s rant hit the rocks00:54
‘Furious’ councillor urges Aberdeen to quit Cosla00:54
David Maddox: The urbane space man plays for more time00:54
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