The continued weakness of Sterling against the Euro, has forced Bentley Motors to increase the price of all its models within the UK by 5% from the start of April 2009. The price increase will apply to all new orders received after 31st March.

“We are reacting to the continued very low value of Sterling against the Euro”, said Stuart McCullough, Board Member For Sales & Marketing. “As a UK business with much of our component costs based in Euros, we have to address the fact that our costs have increased significantly given Sterling’s dramatic decline.”

“A 5% price increase at a time of reduced demand and therefore reduced production may seem counter-intuitive”, said McCullough, “but Sterling has depreciated by over 18% against the Euro over the last 12 months. It has therefore proved increasingly difficult to absorb the negative effect of these increased costs on our business.”

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Dates in 2009: 16-19 February, 19-22 February, 24-27 February, 27 February-2 March, 4-7 March and 7-10 March

Stylish and powerful, the new Bentley Azure T is the world’s most elegant convertible and destined to become a future classic. With unique Bentley ‘T’ styling cues reinforcing its sporting stance, the 500bhp Azure T delivers driver-focused performance with the ability to transport four adults in first-class, open-top luxury.

The new Azure T, specified with the high performance version of Crewe’s iconic 6¾ litre V8 engine, is the latest in a line of Bentley models to bear the ‘T’ legend. The 1996 Continental coupe was the first modern Bentley ‘T’, followed in 2002 by the Arnage T, both flagship models with a distinctive sporting character and thunderous performance.

The Azure’s already striking form is now enhanced by 20-inch 5-spoke wheels and tyres, ‘Le Mans’ front wing vents, dark tint matrix grille and a sculpted, retractable Flying ‘B’ mascot.
For the performance-oriented Azure T, the twin-turbocharged V8 engine produces 500bhp and 1000 Nm of torque – an 11 per cent increase in power and a 14 per cent increase in torque over its 450bhp/875 Nm Azure stable mate.

The famous Bentley wave of torque is even more prodigious than before and performance is significantly raised with a top speed of 179 mph (288 km/h) and a 0-60 mph time of just 5.2 seconds (0-100 km/h in 5.5 sec).

Member of the Board, Sales and Marketing, Stuart McCullough comments:
“The new Azure T reflects our passion for creating the world’s most exhilarating and prestigious convertibles that, true to the Bentley T tradition, blend sophistication with a powerful presence.”

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The first Bentley Brooklands coupe destined for the U.S. market has been purchased for $450,000 at a charity auction held during the 2008 Naples Winter Wine Festival. The $14 million from the auction sale will directly benefit the Naples Children and Education Foundation, which supports charitable and educational programs to improve the physical, emotional and educational lives of underprivileged or at-risk children.

Monte and Usha Ahuja placed the winning bid of the first Brooklands coupe destined for the U.S. market, with delivery estimated to take place in the second quarter this year. The $450,000 auction price ranks as one of the highest ever paid for a lot in the wine festival’s eight-year history.

“We are truly heartened by Mr and Mrs Monte Ahuja’s generous bid for the first Bentley Brooklands destined for the U.S. market,” said Christophe Georges, Chief Operating Officer for Bentley Motors, Inc. “We are delighted to be associated with the Naples Winter Wine Festival recognising its contribution to the Naples Children and Education Foundation which benefits so many deserving children in the south Florida community.”

The 2009 Bentley Brooklands is a stunning new model that marks Bentley’s return to the luxury coupe market and reaffirms the company’s reputation as creator of the world’s most exclusive coupes. It is the ultimate Bentley: a stylish, four-seat, grand touring coupe with classic British proportions and muscular performance.

Introduced at the 77th Geneva International Motor Show last year, Bentley Brooklands has rapidly captured the praise of international press and the hearts of luxury aficionados worldwide.

Brooklands is destined to be a collectors’ classic due to its limited production run coupled with Bentley’s world class attention to detail. Each Brooklands coupe will be hand-assembled, employing traditional coach-building techniques and the craftsmanship skills in wood veneer and leather hide for which Bentley is renowned.

Strong growth in both emerging and traditional markets takes Bentley above 10,000 units for the first time. New sales record set in the UK market.

With retail sales of 10,014 units worldwide, Bentley has completed the best year in its history. Overall volume grew by 7%, with increases in almost all major markets: +7% in the UK, +4% in North America, +7% in Europe, +18% in the Asia Pacific region, and +93% in China alone.

In the UK, a record 2079 units were sold in all. In North America, a figure of 4196 units was achieved, despite the prevailing economic climate, and a new record was set in continental Europe with 2166 units. In China, the final sales number was 338 units. In Korea, 100 cars were sold in the first year in that market.

continue reading "Bentley sets new global sales record in 2007"