Bentley News

Volkswagen is looking good to claim the crown as its two biggest rivals, Toyota and General Motors, both run into trouble.Brand T has been hit badly by its reliability and safety scare in the world's biggest showroom, the USA, and hurt in many other countries - including Australia - by the production troubles triggered by the Japanese tsunami and earthquake earlier this year.Volkswagen is already number one in Europe, with sales of 2.8 million vehicles - nearly triple the annual sales rate in Australia. Meanwhile, General Motors is still rebuilding after its bankruptcy and is also impacted by sluggish sales at home in America.Volkswagen Group has been aiming for the top spot for several years under the aggressive leadership of Ferdinand Piech, and forecasts it will hit the target in 2018 as it aims to increase its annual global sales to around 10 million vehicles.It is spending around $100 million to increase production across the   world, as well as developing a vast range of new models currently   headed by the value-driven baby Up.But, with the troubles at its rivals, three forecasters are now saying it will finish on top at the end of 2011. The respected JP Power organisation in the USA, as well as IHS Automotive and PwC Autofacts, believe Volkswagen's worldwide sales this year will rise by around 13 per cent to 8.1 million.Its biggest successes are coming in China off the back of the Volkswagen brand, but VW Group can also claim totals from a huge range of brands including Bugatti, Bentley, Audi, Seat and Skoda. At the same time, Toyota's total is forecast by Power to fall by 9 per cent to 7.27 million.The Japanese slide is worse than it looks, as it could also cost Toyota second place to General Motors after the hard work to become global number one in 2010. Power says GM's sales will improve by 8 per cent to 7.55 million, although the margins at the top of world motoring will be very tight by December 31.

Bentley's chief executive Wolfgang Duerheimer told Carsguide this week that he is "writing the business case and I hope to bring it to the (Volkswagen) Group board this financial year". Duerheimer has driven the case for Bentley's SUV, which would sit well above the current crop of luxury soft- roaders, possibly to the north of $350,000. The 12-year veteran of Porsche was research and development chief there for a decade, a time during which the Cayenne came to fruition, revitalizing the brand's fortunes. "The SUV will be," Duerheimer told Carsguide at the launch of the renewed Continental GTC in Croatia. "I have been working on this project for eight months. The longer I dive into this the more confident I get thrash this is the right decision. There is no SUV in the Bentley segment, there is nothing above the ($250,000) Porsche Cayenne Turbo S. "A car which contains the quality, luxury and craftsmanship that Bentley stand for does not exist. A slice of a big cake is possible for us." The German points to Porsche for proof. "When we proposed the Cayenne the dealers said we were crazy. Our clients said 'we drive sports cars, we don't need an SUV'. Even the media told us we were crazy. "We have sold 50,000 units of the SUV without hurting the sports car business." While nothing approaching that volume is mooted, Duerheimer suggests an SUV will push Bentley toward 20,000 annual sales of all models. While he says a version of the Continental GT coupe with a bespoke version of Audi's new twin turbo V8 will become e marque's entry car, the SUV would at least in part be derived from much humbler models. VW's Touareg, Audi's Q7 and the Cayenne have such commonality they are assembled on the same Slovakian production line. "We will not do everything from scratch," Duerheimer concedes. "We are in the lucky situation where Bentley can access all the technology in the group. "I have design models. Our assessment shows we have a completely new approach to SUVs in the group."

Synonymous with the unique twin turbo W12, an assortment of variants, including a brand entry Continental GT, will run an Audi-sourced V8. Wolfgang Duerheimer, chief executive of the Volkswagen Group-owned ultra luxury marque, tells Carsguide "it will not be many motor shows before we (officially) announce it". "It will be a group engine and it will be developed with our own calibration and our own settings." While Duerheimer refused to be specific, the engine in question is almost certain to be the 4.0-litre direct injection twin turbo V8 soon to debut in Audi's S6 and S7. While the fearsome emissions of the W12 - almost  380 grams of Co2 per km - are ameliorated across the VW Group, the Crewe UK based marque is not immune to the global push to downsize engines. Increasingly that pressure is coming not only from European legislators, but those of China whose new money elite comprise Bentley's second biggest market after the US. More affordable variants, as bent eights would certainly be, are also central to Duerheimer's push to get the iconic brand's sales back to five figures annually, as they were before the GFC. The primary sales shove will come in the form of a new SUV, but Durheimer says this would run only a 12-cylinder engine. Bentley's Asia Pacific spokesman Robin Peel says that while the eight is born of necessity it also represents a reconnection with its pre-VW Group heritage. "After all, we ran a V8 for more than 50 years," he says. "It's en engine we would expect to have appeal for Australians given your enthusiasm for V8s."

The previous luxury cabrio launched in 2006 and Bentley says the assertive stance of the new model has a more modern and muscular presence. The four-seater boasts a new, even more spacious and sumptuous hand-crafted cabin, with a choice of 17 leather colours and seven wood veneers to choose from. The 6.0-litre W12 engine is good for 423kW and 700Nm to ensure it lives up to Bentley's "wall of torque" reputation. Bentley has defied the market in the past 12 months to grow by more than 30 per cent. China has led the growth, with 1000 Bentleys finding a home there - or one in four of every Bentley made in the past 12 months.

...this 2012 Bentley Continental GTC Speed hit British roads for final testing.The update for the drop-top includes a more aggressive look on the nose, vents in the bonnet and new headlamps.The tail end has a new spoiler, slimmer lamps and a revised exhaust.

... with its first showing in Australasia of the new Continental GT. Celebrating its eighth year of production, the GT has been restyled with bolder haunches, a flatter stance and more kick from its W12 engine. Bentley Australia spokesman Ian Churchill says this is the first time the coupe has been shown in the Asia-Pacific region. He says the GT has been given a stronger look thanks to a fresh design and new manufacturing techniques that allow sharper lines. The car’s matrix grille is restyled to be more imposing, the headlights have a jewelled effect and the tail lights are now wraparound LED units. From the back – where most traffic will be – you’ll find a new double horseshoe motif borrowed from Bentley’s flagship Mulsanne and flared elliptical exhaust pipes. A touchscreen and blood-orange dash illumination have been added to the leather and timber veneer cabin, while power rises to 423kW/700Nm and drives through a six-speed sequential automatic and an all-wheel-drive system. Bentley’s stand will also have the Continental Flying Spur – the most powerful saloon it has ever made with 412kW/650Nm – and the brand’s flagship Mulsanne. The Mulsanne, costing $657,000, retains Bentley’s awesome 377kW/1020Nm 6.75-litre V8, but thanks to engine adjustments and the addition of an eight-speed automatic transmission claims a 15 per cent drop in fuel consumption.

Bespoke British manufacturer Bentley has announced that it will be present at the 2011 Australian International Motor Show in Melbourne. The company will use the occasion to publicly display, for the first time in Australasia, the exquisite new Continental GT. In addition, Bentley will show the flagship Mulsanne – a car that truly represents the Bentley brand. Each Mulsanne takes nine weeks to build in a new manufacturing facility in Crewe, England, where traditional coachbuilding skills developed over six decades are fused with the latest in technology. Making its Australasian debut, the GT is somewhat of a coup for the Australian International Motor Show. The new vehicle features the latest evolution of Bentley’s acclaimed six-litre 12-cylinder engine. With its ‘W’ configuration it is the most compact 12-cylinder engine in the world. Continuing the technological theme of the show, the latest version of the power unit is an impressive piece of engineering. Maximum power has increased to 423kW and torque up to 700Nm – seeing the GT effortlessly reach 100km/h in just 4.6 seconds and topping out at 318km/h. However, that is just part of the story. Bentley’s advanced new FlexFuel technology allows the all-wheel drive coupé to run seamlessly on petrol, bioethanol (E85) or a combination of the two. The drivetrain has been enhanced further by the introduction of the new six-speed Quickshift transmission which has reduced gear change times by 50 per cent. The stunning Mulsanne sedan will ensure that the GT doesn’t get all the attention on the Bentley stand. The Mulsanne is Bentley’s flagship and the numbers are almost as impressive as its inherent presence: an all-new 6.75-litre V8, 377kW of power, a mammoth 1020Nm of torque, eight-speed automatic transmission, 2.5 tonnes of luxury (yet a 0–100km/h time of just 5.1s), top speed of 296km/h, and a $662,000 (excl on road costs) retail price. Russ Tyrie, Australian International Motor Show event director, is understandably excited to welcome Bentley back to the show. “Bentley vehicles definitely have a ‘wow’ factor to them,” said Mr Tyrie. “The undeniable class, the design and style, the heritage – people just know that there is something special about a Bentley. “To have the Australasian public debut of a car like the new GT is very special for us – and I’m sure the Mulsanne will also be a crowd-pleaser.” The Australian International Motor Show opens at 6pm on Friday 1 July and runs through until Sunday 10 July at the Melbourne Convention & Exhibition Centre.

Bentley, which uses up to 12-cylinder engines in its 2-tonne-plus top-end saloons, says the fuel slashes its CO2 footprint by up to 70 per cent. The luxury carmaker in 2008 started making its cars compatible with E85 (85 per cent ethanol and 15 per cent petrol - or any variation in between) as a means of reducing emissions and meeting proposed European exhaust gas regulations. Bentley engineering director Dr Ulrich Eichhorn says even though E85 wasn't available in all markets, customers showed immense interest in towing a green line. "In markets where ethanol is available, we see high interest by customers,'' he says. "We estimate that from well to wheel - the lifecycle of the energy process - a Bentley running on sustainable E85 will have a whole of life CO2 reduction of more than 70 per cent. "It makes a rational reason why a buyer would buy a Bentley. It promotes an environmental message. "We know of one customer who traded in an almost-new Flying Spur model and bought the latest Flying Spur with the E85-compatible engine. "He did it for three reasons - environment, the fact that in Britain it saves him about $30 because of a lower tax; and his neighbour has a Prius and he is delighted that he can smuggly match its CO2 footprint. They may not be reasons chosen by most owners, but they make sense for him and there's a clear benefit to the environment.'' Bentley is facing a choice of going it alone with the proposed - and not yet legislated - 120g/km CO2 threshold of European delivery cars. It takes effect in January 2012 with a graduated introduction trough to 2015. "We can either join with Volkswagen and take advantage of the lower emission level of the group's fleet, or go it alone. It's being discussed. Personally, I think it makes more sense to stay within the Volkswagen Group's fleet.'' Bentley last month proved the worth of its E85 commitment by settling a world ice speed record on the frozen Baltic Sea off the coast of Finland. Former rally champion Juha Kankkunen sent a Bentley Continental GT at 330.69km/h over a 14km graded section of the 700mm-thick ice. The fuel used, says Eichhorn, was derived from waste straw.

The luxury automaker is planning to roll out 100 special-edition models to commemorate Juha Kankkunen's recent record-breaking ice-speed run. With only a roll-cage, Pirelli winter tires, a rear parachute, and a few minor aerodynamic changes added to the Bentley, world rally champion Kankkunen got behind the wheel and sped his way through the slippery terrain to achieve a world ice speed record. Bentley will show the new Supersports 'Ice Speed Record' convertible as well as Juha's record-breaking car on the Bentley stand at the Geneva Show.

While most people associate James Bond with Aston Martins, the original Ian Fleming books had the British master spy driving a Bentley.  In a new book commissioned by Ian Fleming Publications, author Jeffrey Deaver has returned 007 to his rightful place in a Bentley in the pages of Carte Blanche.Deaver, author of the Bone Collector, selected the Bentley Continental GT in his book to be published on May 26, a few days before the anniversary of Fleming's birthday.The book is partly set in Dubai, where Deaver recently drove a Continental GT.  "It is an inspirational and awe-inspiring city and makes a perfect Bond location, especially for a novel that pushes our hero to new extremes," he says.Despite Bond driving a Bentley in Fleming's books, his first car in a movie was a Sunbeam Alpine in the 1962 film, Dr No.  He didn't drive a Bentley until the second Bond flick, From Russia With Love, in 1963 in which the licensed-to-kill agent drove a Bentley Mark IV.It wasn't until the third Bond movie, Goldfinger, in 1964, that Bond drove the famous Aston Martin DB5, the quintessential Bond car.  There were also Bentleys in On Her Majesty's Secret Service (1969) and Moonraker (1979).Other car companies have used Bond films to promote and even launch new models.  Highlights are the amphibious Lotus Esprit in The Spy Who Loved Me and the launch of the BMW Z3 Roadster in GoldenEye.Agent 007 carsVehicles starring in James Bond films:1962, Dr No: Sunbeam Alpine, Chevrolet Bel Air convertible1963, From Russia With Love: Bentley Mark IV1964, Goldfinger: Aston Martin DB5, Rolls-Royce, Mercedes 190 coupe, Lincoln Continental, Ford Mustang convertible, Rolls-Royce Phantom III1965, Thunderball: Aston Martin DB5, Ford Mustang convertible, BSA Lightning 650cc motorcycle, gyrocopter1967, You Only Live Twice: Toyota 2000 GT, BMW 2000 CS1969, On Her Majesty's Secret Service: Aston Martin DBS, Mercury Cougar, Bentley Mark II Continental, Rolls-Royce Corniche1971, Diamonds are Forever: 1971 Ford Mustang Mach 1, Triumph Stag, moonbuggy1973, Live And Let Die: Glastron speedboat, double-decker London bus, Chevrolet Impala convertible, Mini Moke1974, The Man With The Golden Gun: AMC Hornet and Matador, Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow1977, The Spy Who Loved Me: Lotus Esprit, Wetbike concept, Ford Cortina 2.3 Ghia, Mini Moke1979, Moonraker: Bentley Mark IV, Rolls-Royce Silver Wraith II1981, For Your Eyes Only: Citroen 2CV, Lotus Esprit Turbo, Rolls-Royce Silver Wraith II1983, Octopussy: Mercedes-Benz 250 SE, BMW 5 Series, Alfa Romeo GTV1985, A View To A Kill: Renault taxi, Ford LTD, Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud II, Chevrolet Corvette C4, Jeep Cherokee (XJ)1987, The Living Daylights: Aston Martin DBS and V8 Vantage, Audi 200 Quattro1989, Licence To Kill: Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow, Kenworth petrol tanker1995, GoldenEye: BMW Z3 roadster, Aston Martin DB5, Russian tank, Ferrari 3551997, Tomorrow Never Dies: Aston Martin DB5, BMW 750iL, BMW R1200C motorcycle1999, The World is not Enough: BMW Z8, Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow2002, Die Another Day: Aston Martin Vanquish, Jaguar XKR, pink Ford Thunderbird convertible2006: Casino Royale: Aston Martin DBS and DB5, Jaguar E Type Roadster, Fiat Panda 4x4, Ford Transit, Ford Mondeo2008: Quantum of Solace: Aston Martin DBS V12, Alfa Romeo 159 and 156, Audi A6, Ford Ka & Edge, Jaguar XJ8, Volvo S40T5, Volkswagen Type 1.