Highlightsfrom just 1350 rpm, driving at low speeds istruly an effortless and leisurely affair. Youcan even enjoy some respectable fueleconomy, thanks to new variable displacementtechnology that causes one entire bank ofcylinders to disengage, reducing the numberin operation to six without the driver evernoticing. As soon as the throttle body opens toa certain threshold, the engine then reengagesall 12 cylinders. But for the rest of the trip,we’d be sure to let the 626bhp W12 sing.As we begin our climb, passing several smallventas peddling fresh oranges, the roads beginto narrow around the wide haunches of the GT.As the turns tighten, more opportunities arisefor the Continental to show off its new, sharperhandling. Tipping the scales at over 2244 Kg,this heavyweight grand tourer is exactly that.But it certainly hides its mass well at speed,offering great turn-in, making it feel far morenimble than a vehicle of its weight or size evershould.Our meandering path ahead began towiden again, opening to long sweeping turnsthat reveal more of the endless sea of layeredmountains and valleys below. With the W12motor effortlessly surging forward, the widertrack enabled us to experience the huge levelsof mechanical grip and stability on offer. Evenin Sport mode, the ride remains supple andfeels to barely compromise damping at all.And in comfort mode, it can hardly feel likeyou’re in a 333km/h land-based vehicle atall, with the air suspension providing a crisp,smooth ride.The higher you ascend, the more dramaticand sparsely inhabited the desolate landscapebecomes, with small valleys turning into gapingcrevasses. The sunlight begins to shade distantmountains in a dark royal blue and the rockypasses that besiege the roads become evenmore untamed. The outside air thins, tastingclean and crisp. At approximately 750 metersabove sea level, you’ll discover the ancient cityof Ronda. Set above a deep gorge named ElTajo, over a 100 metre sheer drop that separatesthe city’s 15th-century new town from its oldtown, dating to Moorish rule. Puente Nuevo, astone bridge spanning the chasm, has a lookoutthat serves up some spectacular scenery.Ronda wasn’t set to be our final destinationfor the Bentley however, as in true grandtouring heritage, the destination is the mostinconsequential part of the journey. Instead,we traversed Puente Nuevo, taking in thesights and sounds of the ancient city; seeminglyworlds away from Marbella’s throngs ofglamour, and yet still only an hour away. It alsogave plentiful opportunities for the locals andtourists to bask in the gravitas and presenceof the Continental, and certainly made forphotographs with stirring composition - anew, brilliant feat of engineering juxtaposedbetween buildings and landmarks that arehundreds of years its senior. Before long, webegan our return journey, enjoying each twist,apex and rolling panorama as if it were thefirst time again, but now at a thrilling paceddescent, putting the GT’s enormous 420mmiron discs to the ultimate test.As cues of familiar civilization grewmore frequent, we knew our time with theContinental was coming to an end. It hadproven itself as more than a brilliant grandtourer. The connection between car and driver,like that between horse and rider, needs toclose, emotional and purposeful, and whilstnot having the dexterity of a sports car orthe exhilarating power of a supercar, thenew Continental still manages to offer thataffiliation, whilst providing pure opulence andan unwavering sense of majesty. The GT alwaysfelt capable and athletic, and never left mewanting for anything. And aesthetically, I thinkit may be one of the most gorgeous realisedjoint ventures of art and engineering of alltime. It’s a masterpiece.18
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- Page 1 and 2: HIGHLIGHTSSHOWCASING SOME OF MARBEL
- Page 3 and 4: WelcomeDEAR READER,We would like to
- Page 5 and 6: CONTENTS17BentleyThe marque of luxu
- Page 7 and 8: HighlightsTrends inMARBELLAARCHITEC
- Page 9 and 10: Highlightsautomated home functionsp
- Page 11 and 12: 9
- Page 13 and 14: HighlightsDESIGNINGfor a 360 DEGREE
- Page 15 and 16: Highlightsentertaining areas like a
- Page 17 and 18: HighlightsLing Jian, Golden Hall, 2
- Page 19: HighlightsRoads less travelled & th
- Page 23 and 24: HighlightsWhether it’s an apartme
- Page 25 and 26: Highlightsbecause in Europe, “the
- Page 27 and 28: HighlightsMARKETREPORT 2019By Miche
- Page 29 and 30: HighlightsNew build vs Resales 2012
- Page 31 and 32: HighlightsRanking of foreign nation
- Page 33 and 34: PROPERTY CONTENTS32Benahavís62Marb
- Page 35 and 36: BenahavísThe first sign of a disti
- Page 37 and 38: cinema and wine cellar, and a spa a
- Page 39 and 40: BenahavísLa ZagaletaELEGANT COUNTR
- Page 41 and 42: Benahavís39
- Page 43 and 44: BenahavísLa ZagaletaMAGNIFICENT FA
- Page 45 and 46: BenahavísEl MadroñalELEVATED SEA
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- Page 49 and 50: Benahavísthe wonderful views enjoy
- Page 51 and 52: BenahavísLa AlqueríaSTATE OF THE
- Page 53 and 54: BenahavísMarbella Club Golf Resort
- Page 55 and 56: BenahavísLos Flamingos GolfCONTEMP
- Page 57 and 58: BenahavísEl HerrojoIMMACULATE REFU
- Page 59 and 60: EsteponaCasasolaNEW BEACHSIDE VILLA
- Page 61 and 62: EsteponaAtalayaWALKING DISTANCE TO
- Page 63 and 64: Estepona61
- Page 65 and 66: MarbellaGuadalmina BajaSPLENDID FAM
- Page 67 and 68: MarbellaLas BrisasFRONTLINE GOLF VI
- Page 69 and 70: MarbellaLas BrisasRENOVATED CONTEMP
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MarbellaLas BrisasMODERN GOLF VILLA
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MarbellaAloha ParkSIZEABLE SEA-VIEW
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MarbellaLas BrisasSUPERB FRONTLINE
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MarbellaBahía de BanúsSPACIOUS BE
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MarbellaMonte ParaísoELEGANT COUNT
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courses and the shoreline all the w
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MarbellaMarbella Hill ClubEXCLUSIVE
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MarbellaLa Quinta de Sierra BlancaE
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MarbellaMarbella Hill ClubCHARMING
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Marbella89
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MarbellaSierra BlancaSUPERB ANDALUS
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MarbellaCascada de CamojánULTIMATE
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MarbellaSierra BlancaCENTRAL MODERN
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MarbellaAltos RealesGREAT FAMILY HO
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MarbellaMarina de Puente RomanoBEAC
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MarbellaAltos de Puente RomanoMODER
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MarbellaRío Real GolfLOVELY GOLF T
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MarbellaBahía de MarbellaDELIGHTFU
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MarbellaElviriaMEDITERRANEAN HILLTO
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Casares109
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Inland111
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International113
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InternationalPush & Pull: Life post
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Internationalvery different stages
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InternationalGERMANYPLAYSCATCH-UPOv
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InternationalGermany, Kronberg im T
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InternationalSwitzerland, WallisGRI
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InternationalSpain, MadridMONTALBÁ
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InternationalAustria, ViennaTRADITI
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InternationalUSA, Miami Beach, Flor
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InternationalFrance, PampelonneEXCE
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International131
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InternationalUAE, Dubai, Palm Jumei
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InternationalPush & Pull: Life post
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HIGHLIGHTSPublisherPia ArrietaDiana