Bentley

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Bentley, Lamborghini & Bugatti future models

21 November 2016

Following the reviews of Volkswagen, Audi, Škoda and SEAT, the fifth of a six-part series concerning the Volkswagen Group's brands examines Bentley, Lamborghini and Bugatti. Porsche will be the final chapter.

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THE WEEK THAT WAS: Air bag recall still confusing

5 June 2015

Big News this week was the incredible confirmation - from NHTSA - of a 5.1m recall of Honda/Acura cars with airbags with Takata inflators. It had been flagged up earlier by the automaker but then came the report that neither supplier or US regulator are quite sure of the safety of up to 3m replacement parts.

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THE WEEK THAT WAS: London on the international show circuit again?

29 May 2015

As those - all three of you - who honour me with your occasional presence on my self-curated 'just-auto' Facebook page may have guessed, when I'm not helping to cover the current cutting edge state of the autobiz, I like to wallow in a rose-tinted backview of the 1960s when British, Australian and Canadian cars dominated my import-restricted former colony, V8s were an attainable aspiration (one could put one in one's Cortina if one so wished), petrol was cheap (diesel for trucks only) and the Holy Grail for a Kiwi Kar Nut was the annual Earls Court show in London.

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ANALYSIS: UK automotive supplier industry perks up

19 March 2015

There are signs of a revival in the UK automotive supplier industry, but a sense of perspective is needed, says Dave Leggett.

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INTERVIEW: Audi's 'Mr RHD' retires

31 July 2014

David Ingrams, who retired from Audi UK's press office today (31 July) played a key role in helping the German automaker's engineers achieve "uncompromised" right hand drive configurations and also oversaw a collection of about 50 classic cars, many of which he helped to launch when new. The man who praised Audi for taking the long-term view has himself served 36 years with the automaker and the connection may not yet be completely severed.

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INTERVIEW: Volkswagen Group Rus general director Marcus Osegowitsch

20 March 2014

Marcus Osegowitsch is general director, Volkswagen Group Rus and Simon Warburton caught up with him on the sidelines of this year's Russian Automotive Forum organised by Adam Smith Conferences in Moscow.

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Q&A with Prodrive's Brand&: Maximising brand potential

23 October 2013

Prodrive's Brand& helps develop some of the potential in a vehicle manufacturer’s brand and distribution by creating carefully-positioned non-automotive ranges (mainly clothing and lifestyle accessories) and the retailing support that make them successful. To find out more, Matthew Beecham talked with Carl Ball, managing director of Brand& about its expertise and how social media is changing the ways in which dealers and OEMs should engage with their customers and potential customers, making cross-channel communications more cost-effective as long as it is cunningly implemented.

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INTERVIEW: New SMMT chief executive, Mike Hawes

23 September 2013

Mike Hawes became SMMT chief executive on 2 September, 2013 and has more than 20 years experience in policy and public affairs, the majority of which have been spent in the motor industry. Simon Warburton spoke to him at the SMMT's recent Open Forum day bringing together suppliers, Automotive Council members and the UK government.

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2017 Frankfurt IAA motor show - all the world debuts

13 September 2017

All the world premieres from the 2017 Frankfurt IAA are listed below. The most important production models making their motor show debuts were the Volkswagen Polo and Volkswagen T-Roc, Porsche Cayenne, Opel Grandland X, Škoda Karoq and SEAT Arona.

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VW H1 operating profit rises

27 July 2017

The Volkswagen Group boosted first half operating profit to EUR8.9bn (up from EUR7.5bn in H1 2016) while operating return on sales grew to 7.7% (7%) as sales rose 7.3% to EUR115.9bn.

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VW completes 80 successful years

30 May 2017

80 years ago marked the beginning of one of the most successful automobile producers in the world. On 28 May 1937, the predecessor to today's Volkswagen Group, "Gesellschaft zur Vorbereitung des Deutschen Volkswagens mbH" ("Corporation to...

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UK gov consulting auto companies on Brexit

17 May 2017

The British government department responsible for the UK's departure from the EU has been conducting a round of fact-finding interviews and dialogues with UK automotive manufacturers ahead of negotiations to take the UK out of the EU.

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Solvay joins Bentley/Penso in FLAVA automotive project

18 April 2017

Solvay is proud to be part of a consortium partnership with Bentley and Penso, that has been awarded a multi-million pound grant by the UK government Advanced Propulsion Centre (APC) for the Flexible Lightweight Architecture for Volume Applications (FLAVA)...

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2017 Geneva motor show - world debuts list

8 March 2017

All the world premieres from the 2017 Geneva motor show are listed below. The most important models this year were the Range Rover Velar, Kia Picanto, Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross, Opel Crossland X & Insignia, Porsche Panamera Sport Turismo, SEAT Ibiza, Subaru XV, Volkswagen Arteon and Volvo XC60.

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Bentley 2016 global sales rise 9%

16 January 2017

Bentley Motors delivered 11,023 cars in 2016, a record high and the company’s fourth consecutive year above 10,000 cars. This represents a 9% growth on the performance of 2015 (10,100 cars). The Americas remained Bentley’s number one region,...

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China adds extra 10% tax on super luxury cars

5 December 2016

The Chinese government introduced an additional tax on top end luxury cars at the beginning of December as it continues to target the excesses of the country’s super-rich.

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Volkswagen Group operating profit up this year

28 October 2016

Despite the impact of 'dieselgate' Volkswagen Group generated an operating profit before special items of EUR11.3 (10.2)bn in the first nine months of the year, representing an increase of 10.5%.

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Bentley Studio London opened in Westfield

5 October 2016

Bentley, on 5 October, 2016, announces the opening of a new luxury personalisation studio in Westfield London, one of the capital’s premier shopping destinations. Bentley Studio London is located in The Village, Westfield’s home to leading...

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2016 Paris motor show - premieres list

30 September 2016

The Audi Q5, Citroën C3, Hyundai i30, Kia Rio, Land Rover Discovery, Nissan Micra, Peugeots 3008 & 5008, Porsche Panamera, Renault Alaskan and Škoda Kodiaq were the most important production models at the 2016 Paris motor show. As for design studies and prototypes, the BMW Concept X2, Generation EQ SUV from Daimler, Lexus UX, Renault Trezor and Volkswagen I.D. were the main show stoppers. Surprisingly, the BMW 5 Series, Infiniti QX50 and a mid-life facelift for the VW Golf did not appear.

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Bentley Russia appoints new head

16 September 2016

Bentley Motors has appointed Marco Van Aalten as its new head of Bentley Russia, starting with immediate effect. Van Aalten joins from the Bentley Motors European team where he was area sales manager for Central Europe. In his new role, he will oversee all...

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Bentley names its new sales and marketing board member

30 August 2016

Bentley Motors on 26 August, 2016 announced the appointment of Dr. Andreas Offermann as its new member of the board for sales, marketing and aftersales, starting from 1 November 2016. Offermann joins Bentley from SEAT. where he held the role of executive vice...

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Bentley names its new head of exterior design

24 August 2016

Bentley Motors on 24 August, 2016 announces the appointment of John Paul Gregory as its new head of exterior design, starting with immediate effect. Having spent more than 8 years with Bentley, Gregory has been promoted from his previous role as advanced...

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Three Bentley models make US debut at the Monterey Auto Week

18 August 2016

The most luxurious Bentley model ever, the Mulsanne Extended Wheelbase, makes its US debut at the Monterey Auto Week. The pinnacle luxury limousine is designed for those who prefer to be driven, and provides a first class air-travel experience for the road....

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Koreans to rule on VW Group certification revocation

11 July 2016

South Korea's environment ministry said on Monday it would decide later this month whether to revoke the certification of 32 Volkswagen Group vehicle models after prosecutors accused the carmaker of fabricating documents on emissions and noise level tests.

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Bentley starts Bentayga SUV deliveries

22 March 2016

VW-owned Bentley Motors has handed over the first Bentayga models to customers at an exclusive event at the brand's headquarters in Crewe, UK.

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VW Group's Bentley eyes new markets, sectors, body styles

8 December 2015

Volkswagen Group-owned Bentley will make more than 10,000 cars for the third year running this year and is now in a position where it can fully fund its own product development.

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UK: Supplier doubles staff in a year

16 September 2015

A small UK automotive supplier of insulation materials to Bentley, Jaguar Land Rover, Honda and VW Group has doubled its staff since moving into new premises last year as part of a GBP6m expansion programme. Automotive Insulations (AI), part of the British owned Autins Group, has taken on around 80 staff over the past 12 months, both on the shop floor and in administrative positions to help meet growing demand from vehicle manufacturers.

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MEXICO: Key Safety Systems starts carbon fibre production

1 September 2015

Key Safety Systems (KSS), says it has started production in a new carbon fibre trim factory at Valle Hermoso, Mexico.

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UK: Bentley announces new design head

4 June 2015

Bentley Motors has announced Stefan Sielaff as its new Director of Design. He succeeds Luc Donckerwolke who has been with Bentley since 2012 and is leaving VW Group.

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RUSSIA: Bentley opens third Moscow dealership

2 June 2015

Bentley has announced the opening of its third dealership in Moscow and reports continuing strong interest in the brand in Russia, despite the country's current economic difficulties.

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UK: Automakers build a half million by April

28 May 2015

UK automakers passed the 500,000 milestone for car production in April with 530,505 new cars built to date.

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UK: Bentley might introduce entry-level crossover - reports

27 May 2015

Bentley might launch an entry-level crossover in future, Rolf French, board member for engineering, has said.

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UK/US: Spat breaks out between Ford and Bentley over Lincoln design

1 April 2015

A spat being played out in the media has broken out between Bentley and Ford, with Bentley's designer accusing Lincoln's of copying a Bentley design for its latest concept.

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UK: China exports increase seven-fold

19 February 2015

The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) said UK exports of cars to China increased five-fold in 2014 compared with 2009, driven by premium brands.

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DETROIT SHOW: Bentley names its upcoming SUV

13 January 2015

Bentley’s long-awaited luxury SUV will be called the Bentayga and will go on sale in 2016 after the wraps finally come off the production model later this year.

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UK: Bentley expects sales boom with new SUV

9 January 2015

Bentley believes it will double sales by 2020 with the arrival next year of its new luxury SUV.

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UK: Bentley books record sales in 2014

7 January 2015

Volkswagen group's Bentley reported 2014 sales grew 9% to a record 11,020 cars.

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UK: Engines and emerging markets attract auto execs' interest

6 January 2015

Global automotive executives are prioritising near term market issues, such as optimising engines and entering emerging markets, over investing in self driving cars and other innovations, according to KPMG’s global automotive executive survey 2015.