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Behind the wheel of the BB10-powered Bentley (pictures)

CNET checks out the cool new features of the custom Bentley Continental GTC, enabled by a BlackBerry 10 phone.

Roger Cheng
Roger Cheng (he/him/his) was the executive editor in charge of CNET News, managing everything from daily breaking news to in-depth investigative packages. Prior to this, he was on the telecommunications beat and wrote for Dow Jones Newswires and The Wall Street Journal for nearly a decade and got his start writing and laying out pages at a local paper in Southern California. He's a devoted Trojan alum and thinks sleep is the perfect -- if unattainable -- hobby for a parent.
Roger Cheng
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1 of 9 Roger Cheng/CNET

BlackBerry-powered Bentley gets some new tricks

The custom Bentley Continental GTC with QNX software debuted earlier this year, but it's back at BlackBerry Live with two new features. The highlight feature, demonstrated during the keynote on the first day of BlackBerry Live, was videoconferencing, which easily connects to another person with a BlackBerry 10 phone. In addition, the BlackBerry 10 phone, such as the Z10, can direct the car to download software updates, which might include bits like new maps. It's also no longer powered by QNX; BlackBerry has renamed it BlackBerry 10 to better align it with its other products.
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2 of 9 Roger Cheng/CNET

A driver's command station

BlackBerry actually worked with Bentley to tweak the user interface and experience to better align it with Bentley.
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3 of 9 Roger Cheng/CNET

Full touch-screen display

BlackBerry used a prototype curved DLP screen from Texas Instruments to get the unique look of the touch-screen dashboard. The screen actually senses your fingers before they touch, and automatically brings up options to press. The physical knob at the bottom is used for navigation.
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4 of 9 Roger Cheng/CNET

Software updates are a snap

You can automatically push software updates to the Bentley with the aid of a BlackBerry 10 phone.
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5 of 9 Roger Cheng/CNET

The Z10 as car remote control

You can remotely control the locks, lights, windows, and roof with your BlackBerry Z10. Want to honk the horn from afar? You can do that, too.
BlackBerryBentley07.jpg
6 of 9 Roger Cheng/CNET

Get status updates on your Bentley

In addition to controlling the car, you can get an update on gas, oil, the pressure of each tire, and other information on the car's condition, all from the BlackBerry Z10.
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7 of 9 Roger Cheng/CNET

One of a kind

The BlackBerry Bentley is a concept car built to show off the capabilities of BlackBerry 10. There are no plans to sell the car, though BlackBerry said Bentley has the option to do so.
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8 of 9 Roger Cheng/CNET

A hefty price tag

This Bentley (without the BlackBerry 10 improvements) retails for $272,000, according to a BlackBerry representative.
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9 of 9 Roger Cheng/CNET

A CNET editor's dream car

CNET editor Brian Bennett daydreaming about driving off with the BlackBerry-powered Bentley. He even has a BlackBerry Z10.

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