https://www.change.org/petitions/director-of-communications-bentley-motors-liimited-stop-development-of-the-recently-previewed-bentley-sport-utility-vehicle

If you look at the sheer number of exotic car models out there, then estimate the sales of those models ranging from a few dozen per year produced by a company like Bugatti to ten thousand a year produced by sister company Bentley, you might be forgiven for assuming that the global economic downturn never existed.

McLaren, of Formula and McLaren F1 supercar fame, is back with a new car to be launched in early 2011. The new car is the McLaren MP4-12C. It was borne out of the dissolution of the longstanding relationship between Mercedes-Benz and McLaren. The cooperative produced such fabled cars at the Mercedes-Benz SLR and SLC. It will reach 124 mph in fewer than 10 seconds, but will be able to stop in less than half that amount. From the moment the first example is rolled off the production line, it will be an instant hit and a sure-footed supercar. Much cheaper than the original F1, the car should run about £175,000, with both cheaper and more expensive models to follow-up in subsequent years.

For more than a quarter of a million dollars, you might think that such a car would have a very limited following, yet McLaren has just announced that they already have 2700 interested buyers. That is more than two years worth of production. That figure is astounding when you consider the number of people out of work in the US and the EU – the likely primary markets for these cars.

Yet, the figure may not be an anomaly. Rolls-Royce, a unit of BMW Group, has announced record monthly sales since its relaunch in 2003. The company produced 300 hand-made vehicles from its Goodwood facility in June 2010. Sales were up 400 per cent, with strong growth in Asia-Pacific, particularly China. This may cause some to ponder whether the Chinese really are communist!

But that’s not all. Mercedes-Benz also has reported a record June sales month. 113,200 vehicles were moved with strong results from the high-end E-class and S-class models. Interestingly, on the low end of the totem pole, the über-cheap Smart ForTwo has seen a continued slump in sales, even in the new U.S. market. Smart hopes to turn around their sales decline by launching an updated Smart later this summer.

Sources:

http://www.autocar.co.uk/News/NewsArticle/AllCars/251307

http://www.leftlanenews.com/rolls-royce-bucks-economic-downturn-sells-out.html

http://www.autonews.com/article/20100705/ANE/307059932/1131

See: Extreme Bentley

Apparently, the car pioneers FlexFuel technology, running seamlessly on biofuel, gasoline or a mix of the two, thereby underpinning Bentley’s environmental commitment to the use of renewable and sustainable fuel in the future.
That is certainly good news considering the size and weight of the Bentley product line!

To read more about Bentley’s three-part environmental strategy, please visit www.BentleyFlexFuel.com

Arriving March 3, 2009 at the Geneva auto show!

Unless you have been living in a cave the last two years, you know that Porsche’s strong financial position has allowed them to make a gradual play for VW’s shares. In fact it is just the latest in what has been a long-time partnership between the two + Audi. You may recall that many years ago Audi+Porsche dealerships often shared the same building.

But what we really didn’t know until recently was how Porsche might use VW in their product portfolio. Remember that the VW Touareg , Audi Q7, and Porsche Cayenne share the same platform. The benefit being significantly cheaper development costs. Bear in mind that Porsche has had a benefit in this partnership of releasing their Cayenne before VW and Audi have released their products. Ironically, it is the smashing success of the Cayenne product line that has given Porsche the ability to launch a takeover of VW.

(more…)

 

Supercar profits used to be a pipe dream. It was only a year ago that we told you the story of how companies like Aston Martin and Ferrari were making money hand over fist. Today it was Lamborghini’s turn as they announced financial results for 2007. 2007 was indeed quite a year.

(more…)

Volkswagen of America, Inc. announced last year that it has changed its name to Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. The change will be fully effective January 1, 2008.

The new name better reflects the fact that the Volkswagen Group of America includes five distinct brands: Audi, Bentley, Bugatti, Lamborghini, and Volkswagen, as well as the related financial services functions of Audi Financial Services, Bentley Financial Services and Volkswagen Credit.
“Our company, like the entire Volkswagen Group, has grown dramatically since our formation in the United States in 1955. Our new corporate name allows our individual brands to flourish, while recognizing that we have a common support structure that gives us great strength as we face our competitors,” said Stefan Jacoby, President and Chief Executive Officer. “The new name Volkswagen Group of America reflects the much wider array of goods and services we now offer, and prepares us for even more activities in the future.”

(more…)

Bugatti issued this press release in the last week:

Paefgen new President of Bugatti

Wolfsburg, March 13, 2007 – With immediate effect, Dr.-Ing. Franz-Josef Paefgen (60) has been appointed the new President of Bugatti Automobiles S.A.S. (Molsheim) and Bugatti International S.A. (Luxemburg). He succeeds Dr. Thomas Bscher, who leaves the company by mutual agreement at the end of the month.
Paefgen will continue to perform his duties as Chairman and Chief Executive of Bentley Motors Ltd. and General Representative of Volkswagen AG for Group Research and Motorsport in addition to his new responsibilities. >From 1980, he held various senior posts at Audi AG, the most recent being Chairman of the Board of Management from 1998 to 2002. Since 2002, Paefgen has, inter alia, been Chairman of Bentley Motors Ltd.
From 2003 to 2005, he was responsible for the development of the Veyron 16.4 as Chief Executive Officer of Bugatti Engineering.

Our analysis of this important appointment in twofold. First, it shows strength in that Paefgen has a background managing car firms that produce high-quality, ultra-expensive cars. Second, Paefgen’s success at Bentley proves that he can expand the product line for a small niche manufacturer. Bentley has very successfully done this in the past five years.

Why is this important? VW and Bugatti lose money on each Veyron sold, despite a US $1.3 million price tag. Still, Bugatti is critical to VW for two reasons. Firstly, it establishes them as a serious manufacturer of supercars and brings buyers to the VW group as a sort of flagship. Secondly, Bugatti serves as a critical test bed for VW group research and development. Serious R&D accomplishment that shows up in the Bugatti will eventually make its way into future Bentleys, Lamborghinis, Audis, and even VW-brand vehicles.

We should therefore expect to see further product development out of Bugatti in the form of a lower-priced more “mass-market” car (something with a production level of over 75 a year – the current production level for the Veyron). We should also expect some Veyron technologies in this and Lamborghini/Bentley models in the following years. This will serve, in part, to reduce the loss, a “sunk cost” technically, which has been observed at VW.

Yes, it’s that time of the year, the picks for the best cars as of Winter 2007.

Which European cars are by matter of fact, “the best”? Find out below:

Best Supercar over $500,000: Bugatti Veyron 16.4

Best Supercar under $500,000: Lamborghini Gallardo Spyder

Best Ultra Luxury Convertible: Rolls-Royce Phantom Drophead Coupé

Best Ultra Luxury Sedan: Rolls-Royce Phantom

Best Ultra Luxury Coupé: Bentley GT

Best Hot Hatchback: VW GTI

Best Hot Sedan: Audi S8

Best sound: (tie) Ferrari 599 GTB/Ferrari F430

Best sports car under $100,000: Porsche 911 Carrera S

Best sports car over $100,000: Aston Martin DB9 Volante

Best new sports car: Aston Martin V8 Vantage

Best Small Car: Mini Cooper S (John Cooper Works Edition)

Best Old Car Experience: Caterham Lotus 7 SV

Most economical and fun sports car: Lotus Elise

Mid-sized Sedan: BMW M5

Best Car for Old People Who Don’t Give a Damn: Mercedes-Benz S65 AMG

Best SUV: Mercedes-Benz G55 AMG

Best minivan/mpv (yes, I’m ACTUALLY including this category): Mercedes-Benz R63 AMG