2009 Bentley Brooklands coupe
Auction lot 14, titled “Bringing Up Bentley,” is the 2009 Bentley Brooklands coupe. This grand touring coupe with classic British proportions is one of only 550 cars to be produced worldwide, and it has been specially customized for the 2008 Naples Winter Wine Festival. It also carries the distinction of being the first customer production Brooklands for North America.

The 2009 Brooklands boasts the most powerful Crewe-built V8 ever produced. It is capable of reaching 60 mph in just 5.0 seconds, has a top speed of 184 mph, and with an enhanced chassis and 20-inch alloy wheels, provides the handling to match its awesome power.

Its sporting nature is evident in its low roofline with dramatically raked front and rear screens, pillar-less, elongated glass area and graceful, prominent haunches. The interior design, which provides a feeling of space and comfort, with individual, electronically operated seats in the rear, also offers a new, single-piece, hide-trimmed roof lining that flows uninterrupted from the front windscreen to the rear of the car. This extensive use of leather hides makes Bentley the only manufacturer in the world to offer a cabin entirely trimmed with leather hides.


2008 Maserati GranTurismo
Lot 66, titled “That Maserati Is Quite a Hottie,” is a specially customized 2008 Maserati GranTurismo finished in deep metallic carbon black with an elegant interior of beige. Unique doorsill plates read ‘Naples Winter Wine Festival 1 of 1’ and a host of other options complete a very special car.

With the 2008 GranTurismo, Maserati and the renowned Turin coach-builder Pininfarina have produced a timeless design. The engine sits low and behind the front axle, and the completely revised 4.2 V8 engine is lightweight and high-revving, producing 405 horsepower and rocketing from 0 to 60 in 5.1 seconds. The transmission is automatic, with self-adjusting controls that adapt the gear change to individual driving style and road conditions.

Poltrona Frau leather adorns the interior, while supple Alcantara trim lines the back of the gearshift paddles. Maserati’s signature Trident logo is handcrafted individually on each headrest.


2008 Lexus IS F
After 72 incredible lots have been auctioned, next up will be the raffle of a 2008 Lexus IS F -- a high-performance sport sedan that is set to debut in early 2008. No more than 200 raffle tickets will be issued at a ticket price of $5,000 each, with the winner able to custom-order the Lexus IS F to his or her liking. “Our guests are responding very enthusiastically to this vehicle,” said Retta Singer, raffle chairperson and trustee of the Naples Children & Education Foundation, the founding organization for the festival. “There’s strong demand for raffle tickets already, and the festival is more than a month away.”

The Lexus IS F was designed, tested and refined on the world’s most challenging racetracks. The 5.0-liter direct-injected V8 engine delivers more than 400 horsepower, over 350 ft-lb of torque and a 0-to-60 time below 4.9 seconds. The car also features the world’s first eight-speed Sport Direct-Shift transmission and is equipped with steering-wheel-mounted paddle shifters capable of up shifting within a tenth of a second, and enabling a throttle blip to precisely match engine speed on downshifts. High-performance Brembo brakes were specially designed for Lexus, and the 19-inch forged alloy wheels are by BBS. At the rear, distinctive quad exhaust tips accent the car’s lower profile and wider stance. The car’s interior has aluminized composite trim, special surface treatments and uniquely shaped and trimmed sport seats.

A complete listing of the 72 lots to be auctioned at the 2008 Naples Winter Wine Festival is available at www.napleswinefestival.com.

The Naples Winter Wine Festival is the most successful charity wine auction in the world. Ranked by the Luxury Institute as a top 10 arts and entertainment event for wealthy Americans, the festival was founded by and is hosted annually in Naples, Fla. by trustees of the Naples Children & Education Foundation. Their vision was to create an exquisite event that would raise funds for area charities that assist underprivileged and at-risk children. Since the first festival in 2001, more than $55 million has been raised toward making a profound and sustainable difference for children in need.

For a schedule of 2008 festivities and more information about the Naples Winter Wine Festival, please visit www.napleswinefestival.com, or call the wine festival office at 888-837-4919.

Note to editors: photos of automobiles are available by contacting Melissa Sweat at 239-514-2239 or Melissa@napleswinefestival.com