All language subtitles for Spy Cars

Narrator: TODAY ON
"HOW IT'S MADE: DREAM CARS,"

THE ASTON MARTIN VANQUISH

AND THE BENTLEY
CONTINENTAL GT SPEED,

TWO SUPERCAR
FOR YOUR INNER SUPER SPY.

-- Captions by VITAC --
www.vitac.com

CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY
DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS

ASTON MARTIN BUILDS THE VANQUISH
AT THEIR MAIN

PRODUCTION FACILITY
IN WARWICKSHIRE, ENGLAND.

THEY'VE BEEN
ONE OF THE MOST QUINTESSENTIAL

BRITISH CAR COMPANIES
SINCE THEIR FOUNDING IN 1913.

ASTON MARTIN'S LONG RELATIONSHIP

WITH BRITISH SUPER SPY
JAMES BOND

BEGAN IN THE 1964 FILM
"GOLDFINGER."

SINCE THAT FILM,
THE MANUFACTURER'S ASSOCIATION

WITH BOND HAS BEEN CEMENTED
IN POPULAR CULTURE.

ALTHOUGH THE EARLIEST
ASTON MARTINS PREDATE BOND,

FROM THE DB5 ONWARD,

THEY HAVE BEEN INDELIBLY LINKED
TO THE FAMOUS FILM ICON.

YOU CAN HAVE
YOUR ASTON MARTIN CUSTOMIZED,

BUT IT'S UNLIKELY TO COME
WITH 007 EXTRAS,

LIKE A PASSENGER EJECTOR SEAT

OR MACHINE GUNS
MOUNTED ON THE HOOD.

THE ASTON MARTIN VANQUISH
HAS ULTRALIGHT

CARBON-FIBER BODY PANELS AND AN
EIGHT-SPEED AUTOMATIC GEARBOX.

WITH A POWERFUL
SIX-LITER V-12 ENGINE

CAPABLE OF LAUNCHING FROM ZERO
TO 60 IN JUST 3.8 SECONDS,

THIS CAR UPDATES THE LEGEND
OF ASTON MARTIN IN HIGH STYLE.

THE VANQUISH'S CHASSIS STRUCTURE
IS BUILT

FROM EXTRUDED
ALUMINUM COMPONENTS,

WHICH PROVIDES
A LIGHTWEIGHT BASIS

WITH THE REQUIRED STRENGTH
AND TORSIONAL RIGIDITY IDEAL

FOR A HIGH-PERFORMANCE
SPORTS CAR.

TECHNICIANS MOUNT CHASSIS PARTS
ON THESE SPECIALIZED JIGS,

WHICH ARE DESIGNED TO HOLD
THE COMPONENT FIRMLY IN PLACE.

COLOR-CODED AND NUMBERED
FOR EASE OF USE,

THE JIGS INCREASE THE SAFETY
AND SPEED OF PRODUCTION.

ONCE A COMPONENT IS CLAMPED ON,
WORKERS CAN USE

POWERFUL RIVETING MACHINES
TO INSTALL THREADED STUDS.

THESE ARE USED
TO ACCURATELY SECURE COMPONENTS

DURING THE ASSEMBLY PROCESS

AND FOR ATTACHING
THE WIRING HARNESS.

THEY ALSO PROVIDE SOMETHING

CALLED AN EARTH PATH
AROUND THE CAR.

THIS REFERS TO HOW THE CAR'S
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM IS GROUNDED.

¶¶

A TECHNICIAN ALSO APPLIES
A BONDING AGENT

TO THE ATTACHMENT AREAS.

ADHESIVE INCREASES
THE RIGIDITY OF THE STRUCTURE

WITHOUT ADDING WEIGHT.

EMPLOYEES USE
SPECIALIZED LIFTING DEVICES

CALLED ASSISTERS TO BRING THE
PARTS OF THE CHASSIS TOGETHER.

THEY CONNECT ALL THE COMPONENTS
OF THE CHASSIS

WITH ADHESIVE AND RIVETS.

THE COMPANY'S ENGINEERS
HAVE GONE TO PAINSTAKING LENGTHS

TO ENSURE
THAT THEY HAVE OPTIMIZED

EVERY ELEMENT OF THE CAR.

FOR INSTANCE, THE ENGINE SITS
SLIGHTLY LOWER IN THIS CHASSIS

THAN IN PREVIOUS MODELS.

THIS ACHIEVES
A LOWER CENTER OF GRAVITY,

A CRUCIAL FACTOR IN THE CAR'S
ENHANCED HANDLING AND AGILITY.

THE CHASSIS STRUCTURE
IS A BONDED ALUMINUM MONOCOQUE,

WHICH IS PART
OF WHAT ASTON MARTIN CALLS

THE CAR'S V.H. ARCHITECTURE.

THE "V" IN V.H.
STANDS FOR "VERTICAL,"

WHICH MEANS
BODY-CONSTRUCTION PRINCIPLES

THAT ARE SHARED
WITH OTHER ASTON MARTIN MODELS.

THE "H" STANDS FOR HORIZONTAL
AND REFERS TO SYSTEMS,

SUCH AS SUSPENSIONS UNITS
AND ENGINES,

THAT ARE SHARED
WITH OTHER CAR MODELS.

THE VANQUISH
CAN BE EASILY UPGRADED

WITH NEWER COMPONENTS
AS THEY BECOME AVAILABLE.

NOW TECHNICIANS POSITION
AND ATTACH THE WINDSHIELD FRAME.

FOR THE FIRST TIME,
ASTON MARTIN HAS BEEN ABLE

TO INCLUDE
A FULL-HEIGHT WINDSHIELD

FOR BOTH THE CONVERTIBLE AND
COUPE EDITIONS OF THE VANQUISH.

NOW THE STRUCTURE
WILL HEAD INTO A GIANT OVEN.

THIS WILL SPEED UP THE
CURING TIME FOR THE ADHESIVE.

¶¶

ONE ADVANTAGE BONDING ADHESIVE
HAS OVER WELDING

IS THAT IT DOES NOT
DISTORT THE METAL.

IT'S NOW TIME
TO CLOTHE THE VANQUISH

IN ITS STREAMLINED SUIT
OF CARBON-FIBER PANELS.

CARBON FIBER
IS AN EXTRAORDINARY MATERIAL.

IT'S STRONGER THAN STEEL
AND LIGHTER THAN ALUMINUM.

IT ADDS TORSIONAL RIGIDITY
TO THE CAR

WHILE HELPING IT
MAINTAIN A LOW CURB WEIGHT.

CUSTOMERS CAN CHOOSE
ANY COLOR SCHEME THEY WISH.

CARBON FIBER ALLOWS DESIGNERS

TO CREATE
LARGE SINGLE-PIECE SURFACES.

THIS MEANS FEWER PANELS,

GIVING THE CAR
CLEANER, UNBROKEN LINES.

¶¶

THE BENTLEY
CONTINENTAL GT SPEED,

COMBINES LUXURY
WITH TURBOCHARGED PERFORMANCE --

TWO MUST-HAVES
FOR ANY SECRET AGENT.

W.O. BENTLEY FOUNDED HIS COMPANY
OUTSIDE OF LONDON IN 1919.

AFTER WORLD WAR II,
IT MOVED TO CREWE

IN CHESHIRE, ENGLAND.

AMONG THE CARS KEPT ON DISPLAY
IS A SPEED SIX,

AFFECTIONATELY KNOWN
AS OLD NUMBER 2.

BUILT IN 1930, IT'S PART
OF A SERIES OF LEGENDARY CARS

THAT COMPETED IN THE FAMOUS
LE MANS RACE IN FRANCE.

THANKS TO ITS UNIQUE
RACING HISTORY,

THE AUCTION HOUSE CHRISTIE'S
HAS CALLED OLD NUMBER 2

THE MOST IMPORTANT VINTAGE CAR
IN EXISTENCE.

BUT THE OLDEST CAR HERE
IS THE EXP2.

"EXP" STANDS FOR EXPERIMENTAL.

UNHAPPY WITH EXP1,

HIS FIRST ATTEMPT
AT BUILDING A CAR,

W.O. BENTLEY SCRAPPED IT,

WENT BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD,
AND BUILT THIS MODEL.

IT'S THE OLDEST SURVIVING
BENTLEY.

A 3-LITER PRE-PRODUCTION MODEL,

IT WAS THE FIRST
TO BE ENTERED INTO A RACE

AND ALSO THE FIRST
TO WIN A RACE.

THE CONTINENTAL GT SPEED

BRINGS BENTLEY'S GREAT
AUTOMOTIVE LEGACY UP-TO-DATE

AND INTO THE FUTURE.

THE CAR COMPANY
HAS LONG BEEN KNOWN

FOR ITS USE
OF DELUXE MATERIALS

TO SUPPORT
HIGH-END DESIGN CONCEPTS.

THE GT SPEED
CONTINUES THIS TRADITION

BOTH INSIDE AND OUT.

ALTHOUGH DESIGNERS MAKE USE
OF DIGITAL DESIGN TOOLS

TO WORK OUT THEIR IDEAS,

IN THE END, THEY RELY ON
TRADITIONAL MATERIAL -- CLAY.

A FULL-SCALE CLAY MODEL
OF A CAR PROVIDES AN OBJECT

THAT DESIGNERS CAN VIEW
IN THE REAL WORLD.

THIS DEMONSTRATION MODEL REVEALS
THE LAYERS OF MATERIAL INVOLVED,

FROM PLYWOOD SUBSTRUCTURE

TO STYROFOAM
TO CLAY TO PAINT.

SOME ELEMENTS OF THE GT SPEED
ARE MADE IN IRELAND

AT AUTOLAUNCH,

A DIVISION OF CANADIAN-BASED
MAGNA INTERNATIONAL.

FLAT SHEETS OF ALUMINUM,
CALLED BLANKS,

WILL BE TRANSFORMED
INTO FENDERS AND TRUNK LIDS.

EACH SHEET GOES TO AN
ENVIRONMENTALLY CONTROLLED AREA,

WHERE IT HANGS SUSPENDED
FROM CLAMPS

THAT MOVE ALONG
AN OVERHEAD RAIL SYSTEM.

A TEAM OF ROBOTS THEN SPRAYS ON
A SPECIAL COATING

THAT PREPARES IT TO ENDURE
THE HEAT OF THE FORMING PROCESS.

THE PROCESS IS CALLED
SUPERPLASTIC FORMING.

THESE GIGANTIC OBJECTS
ARE THE FORMING DIES

MADE, FOR THE MOST PART,
FROM CAST IRON AND STEEL.

THESE DIES WERE DEVELOPED
AND ENGINEERED AT MAGNA'S

CANADIAN CORPORATE RESEARCH
AND DEVELOPMENT FACILITY.

A ROBOTIC ARM USES
VACUUM-POWERED SUCTION CUPS

TO GRASP THE ALUMINUM BLANKS

AND PLACE THEM INSIDE AN OVEN
TWO AT A TIME.

THE OVEN HEATS THE SHEETS
AT A TEMPERATURE

OF NEARLY 1,000 DEGREES
FAHRENHEIT

BEFORE TRANSFERRING THEM
TO ONE OF THE FORMING DIES.

BECAUSE IT'S STRONG, RUST-PROOF,
AND LIGHTWEIGHT,

ALUMINUM IS THE PREFERRED METAL
FOR BUILDING HIGH-END CARS.

BUT IT PRESENTS SOME CHALLENGES.

BENT TOO LITTLE,

ALUMINUM SIMPLY SNAPS BACK
TO ITS ORIGINAL SHAPE.

BENT TOO FAR, IT MAY CRACK.

SHAPING THE METAL
INTO THE CURVED AUTO PARTS

REQUIRES CONSIDERABLE INGENUITY.

THE MACHINE INJECTS
PRESSURIZED AIR,

FORCING THE HEATED ALUMINUM
DOWN ONTO THE DIE

TO PRODUCE THE FINISHED SHAPE.

OF COURSE,
IT'S NOT NEARLY THAT SIMPLE.

CERTAIN ELEMENTS, LIKE THE RATE
AT WHICH THE MACHINE

INJECTS AIR PRESSURE
INTO THE TOOL

MUST BE CALCULATED
WITH EXTREME PRECISION.

THE END RESULT
IS A SUPERPLASTIC-FORMED FENDER

PERFECTLY REPLICATING
THE SHAPE DESIGN.

BUT CLEARLY, SOME WORK REMAINS
TO BE DONE BEFORE IT'S READY.

AT THIS STAGE, THE OBJECT
IS CALLED A DRAW PANEL.

WORKERS FIT THE PANEL

ONTO WHAT'S CALLED
A TRIMMING FIXTURE.

THEN THEY LEAVE THE AREA,

ALLOWING A SPECIALIZED
ROBOTIC LASER TO GO TO WORK.

FOR SAFETY REASONS,
THE LASER WORKS ALONE

AND NOBODY MAY ENTER
THIS CLOSED AREA

WHILE IT'S OPERATING.

FOLLOWING
PROGRAMMED INSTRUCTIONS,

THE 5-AXIS GANTRY ROBOT
TRIMS OFF THE UNNEEDED ALUMINUM

AND CUTS OUT
SOME OF THE REQUIRED OPENINGS

WITH INCREDIBLE SPEED
AND ACCURACY.

ONCE THE LASER FINISHES
TRIMMING THE PARTS,

WORKERS PLACE THEM
ON ANOTHER TOOL

FOR A PROCESS CALLED RESTRIKE.

A TECHNICIAN POSITIONS

THE TOP AND BOTTOM LAYERS
OF A TRUNK LID.

THE TOP OF THE FORMING DIE
DESCENDS,

RE-FORMING CERTAIN EDGE SECTIONS

AND PUNCHING OUT
SOME REMAINING HOLES.

THIS PROCESS IS TRADITIONAL,

RATHER THAN
SUPERPLASTIC FORMING.

HERE'S A FENDER
BEFORE AND AFTER RESTRIKE.

THE PROCESS ADDS SMALL BUT
IMPORTANT DETAILS TO THE PART.

FINALLY, THE PARTS HEAD
TO A HAND-FINISHING AREA,

WHERE HIGHLY TRAINED,
SKILLED CRAFTSMEN

APPLY THE FINISHING TOUCHES.

AS THEY FINESSE THE PARTS,

THEY ALSO PERFORM THOROUGH
QUALITY-CONTROL INSPECTIONS.

ONCE THE BODY OF THE GT SPEED
HAS BEEN BUILT,

IT NEEDS A PAINT JOB.

SOPHISTICATED ROBOTS
DO MOST OF THE WORK,

HITTING NOT JUST
THE LARGE SURFACES,

BUT ALSO HARD-TO-REACH AREAS.

THE SPEED GETS FIVE COATS,

INCLUDING
A CHEMICAL PRE-TREATMENT,

AN ELECTRIC COATING
FOR CORROSION PROTECTION,

A PRIMER,
A BASE COAT FOR COLOR,

AND A FINAL
SCRATCH-RESISTANT CLEAR COAT.

IN BETWEEN COATS,

THE CAR BAKES
IN AN ENORMOUS OVEN

TO CURE THE PAINT.

IN ALL, IT TAKES 110 HOURS
TO FULLY PAINT A GT SPEED.

¶¶

Narrator: THE ASTON MARTIN
VANQUISH DASHBOARD

IS THE CENTRAL FEATURE
OF ITS LUXURIOUS COCKPIT.

ITS HIGH-TECH CENTER STACK
IS UPHOLSTERED IN LEATHER

AND FEATURES A WIDE ARRAY
OF CONTROLS,

ALL EMBEDDED
IN A CARBON-FIBER FASCIA PANEL.

HERE, A CRAFTSMAN
CAREFULLY UPHOLSTERS

ONE OF THE MANY ELEMENTS THAT
GO INTO MAKING THE DASHBOARD.

HE STARTS BY ADHERING A BACKING
MATERIAL TO THE SUBSTRATE.

WHILE THE VANQUISH MAY BE A WORK

OF CUTTING-EDGE
AUTOMOTIVE PRODUCTION,

FINE HANDCRAFTSMANSHIP
STILL CHARACTERIZES

IMPORTANT PARTS
OF THE BUILD PROCESS.

¶¶

ASTON MARTIN
HAS MADE IT POSSIBLE

FOR CUSTOMERS TO TAILOR THEIR
CARS TO THEIR INDIVIDUAL TASTES.

BUYERS CAN CUSTOMIZE
EVERY DETAIL,

FROM PAINT COLOR
TO LEATHER EMBROIDERY.

IN A NOD TO THE CAR MAKER'S
LONG RELATIONSHIP

WITH THE BOND FRANCHISE,

THIS SERVICE IS CALLED Q
BY ASTON MARTIN.

EVEN A PART THIS SMALL
IS EMBLEMATIC OF THE WAY

IN WHICH OLD MEETS NEW
IN THE ASTON MARTIN VANQUISH.

WHILE THE CRAFTSMAN MAY BE USING
OLD-SCHOOL HANDIWORK

TO ACCOMPLISH THIS TASK,

HE'S FITTING THE COMPONENT
FOR MODERN FEATURES,

LIKE THE CONTROL SWITCH
FOR THE PASSENGER-SIDE AIRBAG.

ONCE THE LEATHER CRAFTSMAN HAS
FULLY UPHOLSTERED ALL THE PARTS,

IT'S TIME
TO ASSEMBLE THE DASHBOARD.

A TECHNICIAN STARTS

BY CLAMPING THE BONDED-ALUMINUM
FRAME IN PLACE.

THEN HE INSTALLS THE WIRING
FOR THE ELECTRONIC COMPONENTS.

HE AND ANOTHER WORKER

WILL INSTALL THE COMPONENTS
ONE BY ONE,

INCLUDING THE SPEED-DEPENDENT

RACK-AND-PINION
POWER-ASSISTED STEERING.

THE FINISHED DASHBOARD
WILL HOUSE A WIDE ARRAY

OF FEATURES AND CONTROLS,

INCLUDING A CUSTOMIZED
BANG & OLUFSEN SOUND SYSTEM.

THERE ARE 13 SPEAKERS
CAREFULLY POSITIONED

THROUGHOUT THE VANQUISH.

IT TOOK SKILLED TONE-MEISTERS
FROM BANG & OLUFSEN

MORE THAN 400 HOURS TO MAKE
ALL THE NECESSARILY ADJUSTMENTS

TO PERFECT THE SOUND SYSTEM.

THE AUDIO EXPERIENCE
REMAINS UNCHANGED

REGARDLESS
OF DRIVING CONDITIONS,

THANKS TO THE USE
OF CLOSED SPEAKER CABINETS.

THESE COMPONENTS
ENHANCE THE SYSTEM'S ABILITY

TO MAKE HIGHLY NUANCED
EQUALIZATION ADJUSTMENTS,

WITH THE HELP
OF SOPHISTICATED ALGORITHMS

AND MULTIPLE VEHICLE SENSORS,
INCLUDING AN IN-CAR MICROPHONE.

DRIVERS AND PASSENGERS CONTROL
THEIR VANQUISH'S SOUNDSCAPE

FROM THE CENTER STACK.

IT'S THE CAR'S
HIGH-TECH NERVE CENTER.

NOW A TECHNICIAN
DOWNLOADS THE NECESSARY SOFTWARE

TO KEY ELEMENTS
OF THE CENTER STACK.

NOT ONLY DOES THIS CONSOLE
CONTROL THE SOUND --

IT ALLOWS PASSENGERS TO USE
SATELLITE NAVIGATION TECHNOLOGY,

BLUETOOTH, AND PHONE STREAMING
THROUGH THE INFOTAINMENT SYSTEM.

THERE'S AN OPTIONAL CAMERA
AVAILABLE,

WHICH DISPLAYS A REAR VIEW
AND GUIDE LINES

FOR BACKING INTO TIGHT SPOTS.

THE VANQUISH
FEATURES LIGHTWEIGHT

YET POWERFUL THIRD-GENERATION

BREMBO CARBON-CERAMIC
MATRIX DISK BRAKES.

TO CREATE
THE CARBON-CERAMIC BRAKE DISKS,

BREMBO USES CARBON FIBERS

TREATED WITH
A SPECIAL PROTECTIVE COATING.

THEY CHOP THEM DOWN TO
A SPECIFIC LENGTH AND THICKNESS

AND MIX THEM
WITH A BINDING RESIN.

THE NEXT STAGE
IS CALLED A PREFORM PRESSING.

HERE, THE MANUFACTURERS
APPLY PRESSURE TO THE MATERIAL

IN A SPECIALLY DESIGNED MOLD

TO CREATE THE COMPONENT'S
GENERAL SHAPE.

THEY CALL THIS A GREEN BODY.

FOR THE VANQUISH,
THE DISKS WILL MEASURE

16x1 INCHES AT THE FRONT
AND 14x1 INCHES AT THE BACK.

QUIET AND EFFECTIVE, THESE DISKS
STOP THE CAR MORE QUICKLY

AND LAST LONGER
THAN CONVENTIONAL STEEL BRAKES.

BECAUSE OF THEIR LIGHT MATERIAL,

THEY ALSO REDUCE
THE CAR'S UNSPRUNG WEIGHT.

TO CONVERT THE GREEN BODY
INTO CERAMIC,

BREMBO STARTS BY CARBONIZING
THE COMPONENT AT 1,650 DEGREES.

THEY COOL THE MOLD IN WATER

IN ORDER TO MOVE IT
TO THE NEXT STAGE.

TO CREATE THE COOLING-CHANNEL
GEOMETRY INSIDE THE DISK,

BREMBO USES
A MANUFACTURING PROCESS

CALLED LOST-CORE TECHNOLOGY.

WITH LOST-CORE TECHNOLOGY,
A PLASTIC MATRIX INSIDE THE MOLD

BURNS OUT DURING
THE CARBONIZATION PROCESS,

LEAVING NO RESIDUE BEHIND.

NEXT, MANUFACTURERS POUR
SILICON GRANULES INTO THE MOLD,

THEN HEAT IT UP TO 3,092 DEGREES
IN A VACUUM ATMOSPHERE.

THE SILICON LIQUIFIES
AND INFILTRATES THE MATERIAL,

COMPLETING THE CONVERSION
TO CERAMIC.

FINALLY,
BREMBO MACHINES THE PART

TO MEET
PRECISE DESIGN PARAMETERS.

DUE TO THE EXTREME HARDNESS
OF THE CARBON-CERAMIC MATERIAL,

THIS OPERATION REQUIRES
HIGH-TECH DIAMOND TOOLING.

¶¶

Narrator: THESE DAYS, IT'S RARE
TO SEE REAL WOOD IN A CAR.

THE LAVISH INTERIOR

OF THE BENTLEY
CONTINENTAL GT SPEED

I FRAMED BY A HANDCRAFTED,
HIGHLY POLISHED WOOD VENEER.

BENTLEY OFFERS
10 DIFFERENT VENEERS.

THEY COME IN BUNDLES
OF 24 LEAVES,

SHAVED FROM A SINGLE PIECE
OF WOOD.

THE VENEERS IN A GIVEN BENTLEY

ALWAYS COME
FROM THE SAME BUNDLE.

A WORKER CAREFULLY FLICKS
THE LEAVES FROM A BUNDLE,

USING THE SWIRLING KNOT PATTERNS
TO ALIGN THEM PERFECTLY.

ONCE THEY'RE ALIGNED,

HE'LL CHOP A TINY BIT OFF
THE ENDS TO GET A CLEAN EDGE.

THIS STEP IS NECESSARY
TO PREPARE THE VENEERS

FOR THE NEXT PHASE
IN THE PROCESS.

THIS CRAFTSMAN
OPENS A SET OF LEAVES

SO THAT THEY PRESENT
A MIRROR IMAGE OF EACH OTHER.

HE THEN STICKS ON
A PIECE OF TAPE

TO TEMPORARILY HOLD THEM
IN PLACE

BEFORE BRINGING THEM
TO THE STITCHING MACHINE.

THIS DEVICE USES A ZIGZAG STITCH
OF ADHESIVE, NOT THREAD,

TO HOLD THE TWO LEAVES OF VENEER
TOGETHER.

IT QUICKLY DEPOSITS
A THIN BEAD OF HOT GLUE

IN A REPEATING PATTERN.

THE CRAFTSMAN PUTS THE VENEER
THROUGH TWICE

TO ENSURE A SECURE JOINT.

THIS GLUE STITCH
PREPARES THE TWO LEAVES

FOR THE NEXT PHASE OF PRODUCTION

AND IS NOT MEANT TO HOLD THEM
TOGETHER PERMANENTLY.

¶¶

A TECHNICIAN PLACES
A SET OF VENEERS

ON THE BED
OF A LASER CUTTING DEVICE.

THE BED HAS A VACUUM FEATURE
WHICH SUCKS THE LEAVES DOWN,

HOLDING THEM IN PLACE.

THE DEVICE,
WHICH IS ESSENTIALLY

A CNC MACHINE
EQUIPPED WITH A LASER,

GOES TO WORK CUTTING OUT
A SERIES OF SHAPES.

IT FOLLOWS INSTRUCTIONS

SUPPLIED BY COMPUTER-ASSISTED
DESIGN SOFTWARE.

THIS WORK WAS ONCE DONE
WITH STAMPING TOOLS,

BUT MANUFACTURERS
SWITCHED TO A LASER

DUE TO THE REPEATABLE PRECISION
OF ITS PERFORMANCE.

THE VENEER IS LESS THAN
A MILLIMETER THICK.

THE LASER'S ABILITY
TO CUT THE ULTRA-THIN WOOD

WITHOUT CRACKING IT
IS ANOTHER ADVANTAGE.

THIS CRAFTSMAN ASSEMBLES A KIT.

THE KIT INCLUDES
THE DECORATIVE VENEER

LAYERED WITH
A THIN SHEET OF GLUE,

THEN A VENEER OF PINK TULIPWOOD
AND ANOTHER LAYER OF GLUE,

FOLLOWED BY
A SECOND VENEER OF TULIPWOOD.

HE THEN PLACES THE KIT
ON AN ALUMINUM SUBSTRATE.

HE PLACES THE ASSEMBLED KIT ONTO
A MACHINE CALLED A DIE PRESS.

ONCE ALL THE KITS
ARE IN POSITION,

A SAFETY SCREEN DESCENDS,

FOLLOWED BY THE TOP HALF
OF THE DIE PRESS.

THE PRESS EXERTS
MORE THAN 120 POUNDS OF PRESSURE

WHILE COOKING THE KIT
AT OVER 250 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT

FOR FIVE MINUTES.

THE WORKER GIVES
THE RESULTING LAMINATE

A THOROUGH
QUALITY-CONTROL INSPECTION

BEFORE IT CAN BE MOVED ON
TO THE NEXT PHASE.

AFTER A SANDING,

THE PART BEGINS A 1½-HOUR,
5-LAYER LACQUERING PROCESS.

IT TAKES 72 HOURS
FOR THE LACQUER JOB

TO CURE COMPLETELY.

USING AN ORBITAL SANDER,

A CRAFTSMAN WORKS TO COMPLETELY
SMOOTH OUT THE SURFACE.

HE FINISHES THE JOB BY HAND,

WHICH ALLOWS HIM
TO SAND THE BEVELED OPENINGS.

THOROUGHLY INSPECTING
EVERY INCH OF THE WOOD,

HE ENSURES THAT IT'S READY
FOR THE NEXT STEP.

HE THEN USES
A SOFT-MOP POLISHING WHEEL

TO APPLY FINISHING WAX,

GIVING THE VENEER
A BURNISHED SHEEN.

EVERY GT SPEED
IS BUILT TO ORDER,

AND EACH VENEER PANEL
HAS BEEN CUSTOMIZED TO MEET

THE SPECIFICATIONS DESIRED
BY THE CAR'S FUTURE OWNER.

BENTLEY UPHOLSTERS
THE COMPLETE INTERIOR

OF THE GT SPEED IN LEATHER.

INSPECTORS EXAMINE A BULL HIDE
AND MARK IT ACCORDINGLY.

THEY SCAN THE HIDE.

GREEN MARKS
ARE FOR FLAWS MINOR ENOUGH

THAT THE LEATHER
CAN STILL BE USED

ON UNSEEN SECTIONS
OF UPHOLSTERY.

ORANGE MARKS
ARE FOR UNUSABLE PARTS.

A CNC CUTTING MACHINE
SCORES OUT THE PIECES.

WORKERS REMOVE THE CUT LEATHER

AND SPRAY IT
WITH A SOAPY SOLUTION

TO REMOVE THE CRAYON MARKS.

NEXT, THEY'LL TRANSFER
THE PIECES

TO A PERSON CALLED A BUNDLER,

WHO SORTS THE LEATHER
FOR DELIVERY TO THE NEXT PHASE.

HERE, SKILLED LEATHERWORKERS
APPLY THEIR TRADE.

THERE ARE SEVEN DIFFERENT ZONES
OF LEATHERWORK.

AS AN EXAMPLE OF BENTLEY'S
ATTENTION TO DETAIL,

THE COMPANY CHOOSES TO UPHOLSTER
THE GT SPEED STEERING WHEEL

WITH A SINGLE PIECE OF LEATHER.

THIS MEANS A CRAFTSMAN
HAS TO CREATE A PERFECT FIT

BETWEEN THE MATERIAL
AND THE WHEEL.

FIRST, HE BRUSHES ON
A SPECIAL GLUE.

THEN, WORKING WITH GREAT CARE,

HE STRETCHES THE LEATHER
INTO PLACE.

OF COURSE,
THE GLUE IS NOT ENOUGH

TO HOLD THE LEATHER
FIRMLY IN POSITION.

EACH STEERING WHEEL MUST BE
FLAWLESSLY HAND STITCHED.

THE LEATHERWORKERS PUNCH
A SET OF NEEDLE-SIZED HOLES

ALONG EITHER SIDE OF THE SEAM

USING A TOOL MADE
AT THIS FACILITY.

THE CRAFTSWOMAN
THEN CLOSES THE SEAM

USING A STURDY CROSS STITCH.

THE WHEEL ONLY REPRESENTS
A TINY PORTION

OF THE LEATHERWORK DONE HERE.

IT TAKES 12 BULL HIDES
TO UPHOLSTER A SINGLE GT SPEED.

THE STEERING WHEEL,
LIKE THE REST OF THE GT SPEED,

IS BESPOKE,
MEANING IT'S CUSTOM-MADE.

CUSTOMERS CAN CHOOSE
FROM A WIDE RANGE

OF COLORS AND PATTERNS
WHEN PLACING THEIR ORDER.

¶¶

Narrator: THE TECHNICIANS
AND CRAFTSPEOPLE OF ASTON MARTIN

HAVE BUILT THE PARTS
FOR THIS VANQUISH.

NOW IT'S TIME
TO PUT EVERYTHING TOGETHER.

IT TAKES 220 HOURS

TO BUILD THIS HIGH-PERFORMANCE,
LUXURY DRIVING MACHINE.

ASTON MARTIN'S
FIRST PURPOSE-BUILT FACILITY

OPENED IN 2003
IN GAYDON, WARWICKSHIRE.

AT THIS STATION, TECHNICIANS
BEGIN WIRING THE CAR.

IT HAS ELECTRONIC CONTROL UNITS
READING ALL THE CAR'S SYSTEMS.

THIS INCLUDES EVERYTHING
FROM THROTTLE AND BRAKE POSITION

TO STEERING-WHEEL ROTATION
AND VEHICLE SPEED.

TO MINIMIZE ENGINE
AND ROAD NOISE,

WORKERS INSTALL A LAYER
OF INSULATING FOAM.

THIS, ALONG WITH
THE FINAL UPHOLSTERY,

WILL FURTHER ENHANCE
THE INTERIOR SOUNDSCAPE.

NEXT, A TECHNICIAN LAYS OUT
THE WIRING HARNESS.

IT HAS BEEN WARMED UNTIL
FLEXIBLE FOR EASY INSTALLATION.

THESE WIRES
CONTROL TRACTION, STABILITY,

AND MANY OTHER
ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS.

ASTON MARTIN FINE-TUNES
THESE ELECTRONIC SAFEGUARDS

ON A FROZEN LAKE
IN NORTHERN SWEDEN

BEFORE RE-TESTING THEM

ON SPECIALIST PROVING GROUNDS
AROUND THE WORLD.

ON EACH SIDE OF THE DASHBOARD,
THE BANG & OLUFSEN SOUND SYSTEM

INCLUDES TWO COMPONENTS
CALLED ACOUSTIC LENSES.

THESE SIT FLUSH WITH THE SURFACE
UNTIL ACTIVATED.

ONCE ACTIVATED, THEY ELEVATE,

ENSURING A 180-DEGREE
DISPERSION OF SOUND.

A TECHNICIAN NOW PREPARES
TO UNITE A HUB ASSEMBLY

WITH THE CAR'S SUSPENSION.

THIS FORMS
PART OF ASTON MARTIN'S

ADAPTIVE DAMPING SYSTEM,
OR A.D.S. FOR SHORT.

A VANQUISH DRIVER
CAN SWITCH BETWEEN

THREE DIFFERENT DAMPING MODES --
NORMAL, SPORT, AND TRACK.

DEPENDING
ON THE DRIVER'S CHOICE,

THE A.D.S. WILL AUTOMATICALLY
ADJUST THE SUSPENSION SETTINGS,

TRANSFORMING
FROM A SMOOTH GRAND TOUR

TO AN AGGRESSIVE SPORTS CAR
AT THE PUSH OF A BUTTON.

THE CAR'S MASSIVE, ALL-ALLOY,
48-VALVE, 6-LITER V-12 ENGINE

IS READY FOR INSTALLATION.

BUT FIRST, THE POWER TRAIN NEEDS
ITS REAR MID-MOUNTED

TOUCHTRONIC III EIGHT-SPEED
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION.

A WORKER JOINS THE GEARBOX
TO THE ALLOY TORQUE TUBE,

WHICH FEATURES
A CARBON-FIBER PROPELLER SHAFT.

THE TOUCHTRONIC III
INCLUDES A SPECIAL MODE

CALLED LAUNCH CONTROL
FOR OPTIMAL STANDING STARTS.

IT'S NOW TIME
TO INSTALL THE ENGINE,

WHICH BRINGS WITH IT
565 HORSEPOWER

AND 457 FOOT-POUNDS OF TORQUE.

WITH THE INSTALLATION
OF THE FRONT MID-MOUNTED ENGINE,

THE REAR-WHEEL-DRIVE POWER TRAIN
IS COMPLETE.

NEXT, TECHNICIANS LOWER
THE BODY ONTO THE POWER TRAIN,

COMBINING THEM
INTO A SINGLE UNIT.

THIS OPERATION
TRANSFORMS THE MANY COMPONENTS

AND SUBASSEMBLIES INTO
THE BASIC STRUCTURE OF A CAR.

BUT THERE'S STILL
A LONG WAY TO GO

BEFORE THIS MACHINE
BECOMES A VANQUISH.

THE STAINLESS-STEEL
EXHAUST SYSTEM

IS FULLY CATALYZED AND
FEATURES ACTIVE BYPASS VALVES.

THE MUFFLER IS ALSO 22 POUNDS
LIGHTER THAN EARLIER ITERATIONS,

HELPING TO IMPROVE HANDLING

BY MINIMIZING MASS
BEHIND THE REAR AXLE.

HERE A WORKER BUILDS THE LAYERS
OF THE CENTER CONSOLE.

THIS STRUCTURE HOUSES

MORE THAN 120 CUBIC INCHES
OF STORAGE SPACE.

IT ALSO CONTAINS CUP HOLDERS,
A CELLPHONE DOCK,

AS WELL AS USB AND A/C PORTS.

THERE'S A SURPRISING AMOUNT
OF INTERIOR SPACE

IN THIS VERSION OF THE VANQUISH.

THIS IS BECAUSE THE DASH PANEL,
BRAKE, AND ACCELERATOR PANELS

HAVE ALL BEEN MOVED FORWARD.

ALSO,
THE SEATS CAN SLIDE FURTHER BACK

THAN IN PREVIOUS MODELS.

SPEAKING OF SEATS,
CUSTOMERS CAN CHOOSE

WHETHER OR NOT THEY WANT TO HAVE
REAR SEATS IN THEIR VANQUISH

FOR OCCASIONAL PASSENGERS.

A TECHNICIAN
USES A HYDRAULIC ASSISTOR

TO MOVE THE DOOR INTO POSITION.

LIKE THE REST OF THE CAR BODY,
THE DOORS HAVE

A CARBON-FIBER SKIN
COVERING THE ALUMINUM STRUCTURE.

THE STEERING WHEEL
AND OTHER INTERIOR ELEMENTS

HAVE BEEN FULLY INSTALLED.

THE SEATS ARE AVAILABLE
IN VARIOUS FINISHES.

BUYERS CAN CUSTOMIZE
THE COMPLEX STITCHING

AND QUILTING PATTERNS
AS DESIRED.

NEXT, A SPECIALIST
THOROUGHLY EXAMINES THE CAR

TO ENSURE IT MEETS THE STANDARDS
SET BY ASTON MARTIN.

HE CHECKS THE FINISH,
THE PAINT JOB,

THE ALIGNMENT BETWEEN THE FENDER
AND THE HEAD LAMP,

AS WELL AS A HOST
OF OTHER DETAILS,

BEFORE DRIVING IT
TO THE NEXT STATION.

¶¶

Narrator:
THE CONTINENTAL GT SPEED

IS MORE THAN
A SUMPTUOUS LEATHER INTERIOR

AND STATE-OF-THE-ART
ALUMINUM BODY PARTS.

IT ALSO HAS A POWER TRAIN

THAT CAN WIND THE COUPE
UP TO 205 MILES PER HOUR.

THE BENTLEY MOTORS FACILITY
IN CREWE, ENGLAND,

STARTED DURING WORLD WAR II
AS A SECRET SHADOW FACTORY

MADE TO BUILD AIRPLANE ENGINES
FOR THE WAR EFFORT.

HERE, THE ROLLS-ROYCE COMPANY
MANUFACTURED

ITS LEGENDARY MERLIN ENGINE,
WHICH POWERED

THE FAMOUS SUPERMARINE SPITFIRES
AND HAWKER HURRICANES

THAT WON THE BATTLE OF BRITAIN.

ALSO ON DISPLAY IS A MODEL
OF BENTLEY'S W12 ENGINE

WHICH RUNS THE GT SPEED.

WITH 12 CYLINDERS FIRING,

THE TWIN TURBOCHARGED ENGINE
CAN ACCELERATE THE CAR

FROM 0 TO 60 MILES PER HOUR
IN JUST 4.4 SECONDS

AND FROM 0 TO 100
IN UNDER 10 SECONDS.

A TECHNICIAN COATS A CRANKSHAFT
WITH ENGINE OIL

WHILE ANOTHER SUPPLIES HIMSELF
WITH A PISTON.

NEXT, THEY ALIGN THE CRANKSHAFT
BEFORE INSTALLING THE PISTON.

GUIDE RODS
ON THE END OF THE PISTONS

PREVENT DAMAGE TO THE CASING
AS THEY PULL THEM THROUGH.

THE CASING IS ONLY 5 MICRONS
LARGER THAN THE PISTON ITSELF.

ONCE INSTALLED, THEY BOLT
THE PISTON ONTO THE SHAFT.

ONCE AGAIN,
THEY ALIGN THE CRANKSHAFT

TO PREPARE FOR THE NEXT PHASE
OF INSTALLATION.

THEY'VE PLACED A CLEAR COVER
OVER THE INSTALLED PISTONS

TO ENSURE NO DUST
OR OTHER CONTAMINANTS GET IN.

SINCE IT'S A W12 ENGINE,

THERE ARE 12 PISTONS IN TOTAL
THAT HAVE TO GO IN.

THE "W" IN THE W12 NAME

REFERS TO
THE STAGGERED "W" ARRANGEMENT

OF THE CYLINDERS.

UNLIKE STRAIGHT, FLAT,
OR "V" CONFIGURATIONS,

THIS ARRANGEMENT ALLOWS
FOR A VERY COMPACT ENGINE

DESPITE THE NUMBER OF CYLINDERS.

THE RESULT
IS A 48-VALVE POWERHOUSE

WITH 616 HORSEPOWER

AND A PEAK TORQUE
OF 590 POUND-FEET

ABOVE 2,000 RPMs.

TOP SPEED -- 205 MILES PER HOUR.

ONCE THEY'VE BUILT THEM,
TECHNICIANS TRANSFER EACH ENGINE

TO AN AREA CALLED
THE HOT TEST FACILITY.

HERE, THEY FIRE IT UP

AND RUN IT FOR A TOTAL
OF 21 MINUTES

TO MAKE SURE THERE ARE NO LEAKS

AND THAT THE ENGINE
IS WORKING AS IT SHOULD.

PIPES BLOW AIR AT THE ENGINE
TO COOL IT

AS MONITORING EQUIPMENT
MAKES SURE

ALL PARAMETERS ARE MET.

THE TURBOCHARGER GETS SO HOT

THAT WHEN THE LIGHTS GO OUT,
IT GLOWS IN THE DARK.

EVEN THE EXHAUST PIPE
BURNS RED-HOT.

TECHNICIANS NOW BRING THE ENGINE

TO AN AREA CALLED
THE MAIN BUILD HALL.

THEY LOWER IT ONTO A TOOL
CALLED A STUFF-UP TABLE.

IT ALREADY HAS ITS GEARBOX,
STEERING ARMS,

FRONT BRAKE CALIPERS,
FRONT EXHAUST SECTION,

AND TRANSMISSION.

NEXT, THE WORKERS ATTACH

THE REAR END
OF THE EXHAUST SYSTEM,

WHICH FLARES OUT
INTO DUAL TAILPIPES

IN TRUE SPORTS CAR FASHION.

A TECHNICIAN USES
A COUNTERBALANCED WRENCH

TO FASTEN THE BOLTS.

THE TORQUE REQUIRED
FOR EACH BOLT

HAS BEEN PRE-CALCULATED.

NOW, THE WORKERS BRING IN
THE REAR BRAKE CALIPERS.

THEY THEN INSTALL
THE PROP SHAFT.

THE ENTIRE POWER TRAIN
OF THE GT SPEED

IS COMING TOGETHER.

THANKS TO CAREFUL ENGINEERING
OF THE CLOSE-RATIO TRANSMISSION

AND AN ENERGY RECUPERATION
SYSTEM

BUILT INTO THE ENGINE,

THE CAR'S FUEL ECONOMY
AND CO2 EMISSIONS

HAVE IMPROVED 15%
OVER THE FIRST-GENERATION SPEED.

WITH THE POWER TRAIN
FULLY ASSEMBLED,

IT'S NOW TIME TO BRING THE REST
OF THE CAR UP TO GT SPEED.

Narrator:
THIS ASTON MARTIN VANQUISH
MIGHT LOOK COMPLETE,

BUT BEFORE IT CAN BE CALLED
AN ASTON MARTIN,

IT MUST PASS
A RIGOROUS SERIES OF TESTS

TO ENSURE IT MEETS
ALL OF THE DESIGN PARAMETERS.

A TECHNICIAN DRIVES THE VANQUISH
ONTO A ROLLING ROAD,

WHERE HE TESTS THE CAR
TO ITS FULL CAPACITY.

ASTON MARTIN
HAS ALREADY INVESTIGATED

THE PROTOTYPE OF THE VANQUISH
FROM EVERY ANGLE.

THIS INCLUDES DURABILITY
AND HIGH-SPEED TRIALS,

AS WELL AS HIGH-ALTITUDE,
COLD-, AND HOT-WEATHER TESTS.

HOWEVER, EACH FINISHED VEHICLE

MUST MEET THE SAME STANDARDS
SET BY THE PROTOTYPE.

THIS STATION
SIMULATES A DOWNPOUR

AS THE DRIVER INSPECTS EVERY
INCH OF THE INTERIOR FOR LEAKS.

CONTRARY TO POPULAR BELIEF,

THE U.K. IS NOT ONE OF THE
RAINIEST PLACES IN THE WORLD.

EVEN SO,
THIS BRITISH CAR MANUFACTURER

KNOWS HOW TO KEEP THE WATER OUT.

INSPECTORS RARELY
FIND ANY LEAKS.

THE ASTON MARTIN WINGS
ARE PRECIOUS TO THE COMPANY.

A CAR ONLY
GETS TO WEAR THE FAMOUS BADGE

ONCE ITS QUALITY IS ASSURED.

AT EVERY STAGE
OF THE BUILD PROCESS,

THE VANQUISH
UNDERGOES A CLOSE INSPECTION.

THIS SPECIALIST EXAMINES
EVERY ELEMENT OF THE VEHICLE,

INCH BY INCH,
TO ENSURE THAT IT MEETS

THE COMPANY'S STRINGENT
QUALITY PARAMETERS.

THE SPECIALIST'S NAME
WILL BE PRINTED

ON THE FINAL INSPECTION PLATE
INSTALLED UNDER THE HOOD

SO OWNERS WILL KNOW
WHO SIGNED OFF ON THEIR CAR.

A FLOOD OF FULL-SPECTRUM LIGHT

REVEALS ANY FLAWS
IN THE CAR'S BODY PANELS.

THE BODY PANELS HAVE
A 200-MICRON-THICK TOPCOATING

OF EPOXY AND GLASS TO ACHIEVE
THE SMOOTHEST POSSIBLE FINISH.

THE INTERIOR HAS RECEIVED
THE SAME ATTENTION TO DETAIL,

WITH A MILLION SEPARATE STITCHES
SEWN IN SEVEN LEATHER HIDES.

IT'S TAKEN 70 HOURS OF
HIGHLY SPECIALIZED HANDCRAFTING

TO FASHION
THE QUILTED UPHOLSTERY

OF THE VANQUISH'S
PASSENGER COMPARTMENT.

COORDINATE MEASURING MACHINES,
OR CMMs,

ALSO SCRUTINIZE THE CAR,

COMPARING THEIR FINDINGS
TO THE DIGITAL DESIGNS

TO ENSURE
THAT EVERYTHING IS FLAWLESS.

BUT IT'S A PERSON,
NOT A MACHINE,

THAT WILL BE DRIVING THE CAR.

THAT'S WHY AN INSPECTOR

CHECKS EVERY ASPECT
OF THE FIT AND FINISH,

EVEN VERIFYING THE DIFFERENCES
IN SURFACE HEIGHT

DOWN TO THE MILLIMETER.

ONCE SATISFIED, HE DRIVES THE
VANQUISH OFF THE FACTORY FLOOR.

IN ITS DAY, JAMES BOND'S
SOUPED-UP DB5

WAS LIGHTNING-FAST,

WITH AN 8-SECOND SPRINT
FROM ZERO TO 60 MILES PER HOUR.

HALF A CENTURY LATER,
NOT ONLY DOES THE VANQUISH

BOLT TO THAT SPEED
IN LESS THAN HALF THE TIME,

IT MANAGES TO USE
HALF AS MUCH FUEL.

THE HIGH-TECH GEARBOX
CAN SHIFT BETWEEN RATIOS

IN AS LITTLE
AS 130 MILLISECONDS.

[ ENGINE TURNS OVER ]

THE CAR WEIGHS IN
AT JUST 3,834 POUNDS.

THIS MEANS
THAT THE 565-HORSEPOWER ENGINE

HAS MORE THAN ENOUGH JUICE
TO POWER A GETAWAY.

THE DB5 MAY HAVE BONDED BOND
TO ASTON MARTIN,

BUT YOU DON'T NEED Q TO TELL YOU
THAT THE VANQUISH

IS THE MUST-HAVE RIDE
FOR THE 21st-CENTURY SUPER SPY.

THE BENTLEY
CONTINENTAL GT SPEED'S

TURBOCHARGED POWER TRAIN
HAS BEEN BUILT.

ITS BODY HAS BEEN MANUFACTURED,
ASSEMBLED, AND PAINTED,

AND ITS PLUSH LEATHER INTERIOR
FULLY UPHOLSTERED.

IT'S NOW TIME
TO BRING EVERYTHING TOGETHER.

TECHNICIANS NOW INSTALL
THE CAR'S EXTENSIVE WIRING.

WIRES CAN BE STIFF
AND HARD TO HANDLE.

TO MAKE THESE BIG BUNDLES
PLIABLE,

MANUFACTURERS FIRST HEAT THEM.

ONCE THE TECHNICIANS
FINISH INSTALLING THEM,

THE CABLES WILL COOL
AND HARDEN IN PLACE.

EACH CAR HAS NEARLY 8 MILES
OF WIRING RUNNING THROUGH IT.

USING A SPECIALLY DESIGNED LIFT,

WORKERS INSTALL THE
LEATHER-UPHOLSTERED DASHBOARD.

LIKE THE REST OF THE CAR,
THE DASH IS BUILT TO ORDER.

HERE WE CAN SEE
THE TWO-TONED COLOR SCHEME

CHOSEN BY ITS FUTURE OWNER.

TECHNICIANS NOW BRING

THE POWER TRAIN
AND THE BODY TOGETHER.

MANUFACTURERS HAVE A ROMANTIC
NAME FOR THIS DRAMATIC MOMENT

WHEN THE TWO MAIN ELEMENTS
ARE FUSED.

THEY CALL IT THE MARRIAGE.

IT'S AT THIS POINT
THE CAR REALLY BECOMES A CAR.

THE TECHNICIANS WILL USE
32 CAREFULLY PLACED

AND PERFECTLY TORQUED BOLTS
TO SECURE EVERYTHING TOGETHER.

ALTHOUGH THEY PERFORM
THIS OPERATION MANUALLY,

A COMPUTER MONITORS THEIR WORK,

ENSURING
THEY DON'T MISS ANYTHING.

NEXT, WORKERS BEGIN
FILLING THE CAR

WITH GAS, ENGINE OIL,
BRAKE FLUID,

TRANSMISSION FLUID,
ANTIFREEZE,

AND ALL THE INGREDIENTS
IT NEEDS TO RUN.

THANKS IN PART TO THE GT SPEED'S
ENERGY RECUPERATION SYSTEM,

IT CAN GO 60 MILES
ON 3.8 GALLONS OF GAS.

RECUPERATION TECHNOLOGY MANAGES
THE CAR'S USE OF ELECTRICITY

TO MAXIMIZE EFFICIENCY,

REDUCING EMISSIONS

WHILE INCREASING
THE CAR'S RANGE.

THE FRONT WINGS NOW GO ON,
FOLLOWED BY THE GRILLE.

THAT DISTINCTIVE GRILLE,

THE ROUND HEADLIGHTS,
AND CURVED WINGS

ARE ALL PART
OF THE SIGNATURE BENTLEY LOOK

THAT DATES BACK
NEARLY A CENTURY.

THEY ARE SUBTLE DESIGN TRIBUTES
TO THE SPEED'S ANCESTRY.

THESE 20-INCH, 10-SPOKE
ALLOY WHEELS

ARE MADE EXCLUSIVELY
FOR THE GT SPEED.

THE CAR FEATURES
PERMANENT ALL-WHEEL DRIVE.

THE DIFFERENTIAL DISTRIBUTES
60% OF THE TORQUE

TO THE REAL WHEELS
AND 40% TO THE FRONT,

HELPING KEEP THE VEHICLE
IN POSITION WHEN CORNERING.

THE WHEELS
CAN COME TO A FAST STOP,

THANKS TO
THE 16-INCH-DIAMETER FRONT

AND 13-INCH, REAR-VENTILATED
CAST-IRON BRAKE DISCS.

WORKING ON THE CONVERTIBLE MODEL
OF THE GT SPEED,

TECHNICIANS BRING THE WINDSHIELD
TO ITS FRAME

AND MANUALLY INSTALL IT,

TAMPING IT IN PLACE SECURELY.

NEXT, THEY USE A HYDRAULIC LIFT

TO HELP ATTACH THIS COMPONENT,
CALLED A TONNEAU.

THE TONNEAU
IS A SPECIALLY DESIGNED PANEL

WHICH COVERS
THE CONVERTIBLE ROOF

WHEN IT'S RETRACTED.

A TECHNICIAN INSTALLS
THE HAND-STITCHED,

LEATHER-UPHOLSTERED
STEERING WHEEL.

A SECOND WORKER
THEN MOUNTS THE CENTRAL PANEL,

WHICH BEARS THE FAMOUS
BENTLEY WINGED "B" LOGO.

THEY CLOSE THE HOOD,

CHECKING TO MAKE SURE
THE FIT IS PERFECT.

THE GT SPEED IS FULLY ASSEMBLED.

THIS HIGH-TECH FACILITY
APPEARS ULTRAMODERN

AND SHOWS LITTLE SIGN
OF ITS DRAMATIC HISTORY.

BUT A MEMORIAL REMINDS US

THAT WORKERS
BUILDING AIR FORCE ENGINES

DIED HERE DURING A WORLD WAR II
BOMBING RAID.

TODAY'S CRAFTSMEN CONTINUE

THE PROUD
MANUFACTURING TRADITION

BEGUN HERE
MORE THAN 70 YEARS AGO.

EACH FINISHED GT SPEED

IS CAREFULLY DRIVEN
OFF THE LINE,

READY FOR DELIVERY
TO ITS NEW OWNER.

BENTLEY MOTORS
HAS A SPECIALLY APPOINTED AREA

IT CALLS THE LIVING ROOM.

HERE, CUSTOMERS MAY COME,
RELAX ON THE PLUSH FURNISHINGS,

AND BROWSE THE LITERATURE.

UNDER THE BENEVOLENT GAZE
OF W.O. BENTLEY,

THEY CAN LEARN ABOUT THE COMPANY

AND CHOOSE THE SPECIFICATIONS
THEY REQUIRE.

BENTLEY CONSIDERS
THE CONTINENTAL GT SPEED

TO BE ITS NEW FLAGSHIP MODEL.

INSPIRED BY
THE RENOWNED PERFORMANCE

OF THE OLD SPEED SIXES
AT THE 24-HOUR LE MANS RACE

IN THE 1930s,

THIS CAR IS MADE
FOR HIGH VELOCITY.

IN FACT, TOPPING OUT
AT 202 MILES PER HOUR,

THE DROP-TOP VERSION

IS CURRENTLY THE FASTEST
4-SEAT CONVERTIBLE IN THE WORLD

AND THE COUPE MODEL
IS EVEN FASTER.

[ ENGINE REVS ]

EVERY SQUARE INCH OF THE CAR
IS OPULENT,

FROM THE BESPOKE
LEATHER UPHOLSTERY

TO THE WOOD VENEERS

AND THE AEROSPACE-GRADE
ALUMINUM FENDERS.

IN THE EARLY DAYS OF BENTLEY,

THE CARS DEVELOPED
A FAN FOLLOWING

AMONGST A GROUP
OF WEALTHY BRITISH MOTORISTS

WHO BECAME KNOWN
AS THE BENTLEY BOYS.

PERHAPS THE REBIRTH
OF THE LEGENDARY SPEED

WILL INSPIRE
A NEW GENERATION OF FANS.