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Adding Italian Flair to British Elegance

The Bentley Continental receives a luscious new look in the GTZ, which made its debut at the Geneva Motor Show

Adding Italian Flair to British Elegance

By Stuart Schwartzapfel

New approaches to existing automotive hits can offer a fresh perspective on already popular models. Case in point: this new Bentley Continental GTZ, created by Italian custom manufacturer Zagato. The GTZ concept, which is based on the hot-selling Bentley Continental GT, debuted at this year's Geneva Motor Show.

The GTZ's styling creates a more aggressive, racy look for the normally elegant and understated Bentley. Changes include a bolder mesh grille in the front, sharply creased fenders, and a curvier rear end. The new design of the front fascia also allows for more airflow to the engine, improving the car's performance. While the GTZ is only a design exercise, Bentley could use public response to it to gauge interest in a potential limited production run down the line.

The Verdict: Adding Italian flair to beautiful British lines is a winning combination.

Stuart Schwartzapfel is a regular contributor to BusinessWeek.com. He has studied the automotive marketplace and works as an advertising and marketing strategist for major manufacturers. He does not write about any car brands for which he currently works.