New Bentley drop-top debuts in Detroit (BLOG)

The one-percenters are doing well these days. Bentley's global sales surged 25 percent during the first three quarters of 2012, and bu...

The one-percenters are doing well these days. Bentley's global sales surged 25 percent during the first three quarters of 2012, and business was up nearly 30 percent in the United States.

A redesigned 2012Continental GT with a new, more fuel-efficient V8 engine no doubt boosted business, as did the supercoupe's higher-powered Speed version unveiled last fall.

Now the automaker is pushing hard into motorsports again to maintain the momentum. It's been nearly 10 years since Bentley had a one-two finish in the 24 Hours of Le Mans endurance race. A Continental GT3 concept unveiled at the 2012 Paris Motor Show previewed a real race car being prepped in the company's new motorsports department in Crewe, England. It is set to do battle late this year.

Meanwhile, Bentley's usual pace of new unveilings continues, with an exclusive Speed version of the Continental GT convertible — no longer called the GTC — taking the spotlight at the 2013 North American International Auto Show in Detroit this week, a few months after the fixed-roof version was unveiled.