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Last week saw a series of leaks on the run up to the 85th International Motor Show in Geneva, which opens its gullwing doors for business on Thursday (5th March). Thankfully for the everyday motoring enthusiast it wasn’t an exhaust leak, but some mouth-watering previews of what we can expect from the first major European motor show of the year.

The Swiss motoring smorgasbord will offer up a number of new launches from a range of the major names such as Audi, Ford, Honda, Aston Martin and the list goes on. There will be a variety of vehicles on show from the more mundane such as the new Skoda Superb or Renault Kadjar, to those with slightly more sex appeal like the Ferrari 488 GTB and the latest V12 Lamborghini Aventador SV; with a top speed of 220mph! The show also provides a platform for manufacturers to release their latest concept cars from the underground laboratories from which they were created, allowing them a brief taste of the outside world.

One such concept due to be unveiled in Geneva is the new, sporty, two-seater Bentley coupe. Or it would have been if motoring magazine Autocar hadn’t stolen their thunder and leaked pictures of it first. Described as a “baby Bentley” the front engine infant of the Bentley range will offer 500 brake horse power and run off a 4.0 litre twin turbo engine; the same one Bentley recently incorporated into the rest of their models.

The smaller model has been designed to rival Aston Martin, Ferrari and Maserati, however there will be the option of a higher powered model to push the maximum speed to a more Bentley-esque 200mph.

It’s rumoured that it will cost between £120-£140k and Bentley expect it will help improve sales from a record number of 11,020 in 2014, to around 20,000 a year.

Bentley bosses also believe it could be just the trick to lure one of Britain’s most famous exports, 007 James Bond, back to his grass roots as a Bentley driver. Although Aston Martin has become synonymous as the car of choice for Mr Bond, he actually drove a Bentley in the original books by Ian Fleming and some of the earlier films.

Most believe Bond should drive something that is quintessentially British and he has by enlarge stuck with an Aston over the years. However, they will remember all too well that there has been a spattering of other lovers in Bonds automotive love life. More recently under the tenure of Pierce Brosnan, Bond has flirted with another British icon Jaguar, as well as a brief affair with BMW.

Bentley is somewhat of a double agent in this instance, British based but with German ownership this might not sit too well with die hard Bond fans. This said the latest rejuvenation of the franchise has switched things up with the first blonde Bond in Daniel Craig, so who’s to say it will stop there.

But for the minute Bentley have their sights on stealing the spotlight and Aston Martins launch in Geneva. Unfortunately that launch is due to be the £1.8m track only, hyper car the Vulcan. Likely to be the star attraction of the show, Bentley might be a little disappointed to say the least. This said there is no doubting the new Bentley is a thing of beauty and we for one are looking forward to it hitting our roads in about three years’ time.

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