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For the Future Technology Bentley Now Going Green

Bentley sales in the US have been affected by the credit crunch – though not as badly as less prestigious brands, said the luxury automaker’s engineering director Ulrich Eichhorn. But growing sales in new markets such as China and India have gone a long way to replacing lost sales in America, he says.
In any case, Eichhorn does not believe Bentley sales will be decimated by the credit crunch. “Most of our customers don’t live in sub-prime houses. Their buying power is not directly affected – it’s more a general mood and atmosphere.”

Meanwhile unit profitability has been improved this year thanks to more up-market versions being sold, in particular the Speed models, which Eichhorn said have been “an incredible success”. He continued: “The GT Speed model is selling at more than twice the rate that we expected. It’s the best of the range – and our customers want the best!”

For the future technology, Bentley is going green. “Over the past five years we have reduced CO2 emissions by 60g/km – a 15% reduction. And we will reduce this by a further 15% up to 2012,” he said.

Later, a more radical development is planned. “We will introduce a powertrain that is 40% more efficient than those we use today – without any sacrifice in performance or refinement. We’re not talking about it yet, but it will be in the market by 2012,” says Eichhorn.

“The third leg of our low-CO2 strategy is that all our cars must by 2012 be compatible with renewable fuels – and that has to mean renewable biofuels of the second generation,” he adds.

About Bentley Motors Limited
Bentley Motors Limited is an English manufacturer of luxury automobiles and Grand Tourers. Bentley Motors was founded in England on 18 January 1919 by Walter Owen Bentley, known as W.O. Bentley or just "W.O." He was previously known for his successful range of rotary aero-engines in World War I, the most famous being the Bentley BR1 as used in later versions of the Sopwith Camel. Since 1998 the company has been owned by the Volkswagen Group (Volkswagen AG) (VWAG) of Germany.

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