Year End Full_Complete V2

Bentley Motors Europe COMPETITOR NEWS
April 2017

FERRARI 588

Meet the 2019 Ferrari 588, the car that will replace the 488 GTB.

The car is an all-new next generation model and will feature a new platform, as well as two engines – a 2.9-litre
V6 entry-level unit, which will produce some 620PS, or a 730PS bi-turbo V8 for the more focused Challenge/
Stradale versions.
Expect another 150PS to be added to these figures if Ferrari decide to add a hybrid electric pack to the powertrain.
The car will cost in the region of the current 488, so expect pricing to start around the €190.000 mark.

SALES INFORMATION 2017

COMPETITOR NEWS Bentley Motors Europe
April 2017

VLF FORCE ONE

This American supercar has some impressive spec – it has a top speed of
350km/h and can sprint to 100km/h in just three seconds.

The car, which has been designed by Henrik Fisker, is powered by an 8.4 litre V10 petrol engine that generates 761PS.
It will be limited to just 50 units and will cost $268.500.
The car combines performance and luxury, and to this end the interior features premium leather, a champagne holder
and an integrated Wifi hotspot.
Notable design features include laser blade-tail lamps and carbon fibre body panels.

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Bentley Motors Europe COMPETITOR NEWS
April 2017

BMW M550D XDRIVE

This M Performance-tuned 3.0-litre six-cylinder diesel has some impressive
figures – 395PS and 760Nm of torque.

This performance is possible thanks to the four turbochargers. Instead of one low-rpm turbocharger curtailing lag
from low revs, two mini turbos work in unison to provide even more pressure at low speeds. These two small turbos
and one of the larger, second-stage turbos are always on regardless of throttle input or engine rpm, while the second
of the larger units fires up over 2,500rpm.
Yet there is more to this car than the engine – the M550d xDrive has tech like rear-wheel steering, a performance
exhaust and performance brakes.
The styling reflects this sporty bias – the car comes with an M aerodynamics package, new 19-inch ‘Double Spoke’
alloy wheels and flashes of matte grey on the front grille housings and side sills.

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COMPETITOR NEWS Bentley Motors Europe
May 2017

MERCEDES-AMG E63 S

This is the most powerful series-production four-door model ever produced
by Mercedes’s performance car division.

The car has an official 0-100km/h time of 3.4 seconds in range-topping S 4Matic+ guise, courtesy of its twin-turbo
charged 4.0-litre V8 powerplant, which makes it the fastest-accelerating model the manufacturer has produced yet.
This is the first time AMG has fitted its 4.0-litre V8 with a pair of new twin-scroll turbochargers in one of its cars,
which improves induction boosting and further enhances throttle response.
The E 63 S features a specification that matches its impressive performance – 20-inch alloys, active dynamic engine
mounts, AMG performance seats and a leather steering wheel.
There is also an exclusive Edition 1 variant that gets a subtle design tweak – black 20-inch alloys, a new paint finish,
Titanium Grey detailing above the side skirts and carbon fibre trim inside.

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Bentley Motors Europe COMPETITOR NEWS
May 2017

ROLLS-ROYCE SWEPTAIL

This bespoke one-off may possibly be the rarest – and most expensive –
Rolls-Royce yet.

Commissioned in 2013 by a “valued” Rolls-Royce customer, the two-seater coupe has been christened the “Sweptail”
thanks to its modern interpretation of the sweeping rear of Rolls-Royce models from the 1920s.
Taking inspiration from the client’s love of racing yachts, the rear of the car gives it a unique character, drastically
re-imagining the classic Rolls-Royce coupe body shape with a strong contrast between the square front of the motor
and a tapered rear.
One of the most striking features of the vehicle is its entirely uninterrupted glass roof, which according to Rolls-Royce
is one of the largest and most complex sections of glass panelling ever seen on a car.
Inside, the car features handmade wooden luggage and hat shelves, and the cleanest Rolls-Royce dashboard to date,
which dictates that only one control appears at a time with all other dials discreetly relocated.
The clock – handmade of the thinnest Macassar veneer – blends seamlessly into the dash, too.
A final personal touch sees the car include a unique centre console containing a one-off, hand-built mechanism. At the
push of a button, the console opens to reveal a bottle of the client’s favourite vintage champagne from the year of his
birth, along with two crystal champagne flutes contained in a mini fridge.
The car’s registration number, “08”, is embossed on the front of the vehicle in polished aluminium.

SALES INFORMATION 2017

COMPETITOR NEWS Bentley Motors Europe
June 2017

BMW M5

BMW is trialling its new BMW M5 model as “the most exciting and
emotionally enthralling” version of its high performance sedan to date.

The sixth generation of the car – originally launched in 1984 – is the first in the BMW M range other than the
car-maker’s SUVs to feature all-wheel drive technology. The company says the new M5 boasts both high performance
driving dynamics, as well as everyday practicality. It is going up against its close competitor, the Mercedes-AMG E 63.
With fuel consumption of 10.5 litres/100 km and combined CO2 emissions of 241g/km, the new M5 can be driven in
several modes, including “classical rear drive”, 4WD, 4WD Sport and 2WD. Other configurations are made possible by
turning BMW’s Dynamic Stability Control system and M Dynamic Mode on or off.
The new drive system – dubbed M xDrive – features a “central intelligence unit” with software that delivers integrated
control of all longitudinal and lateral dynamics. BMW says it is the first time an M series car has featured a centralised
controller of this power. The M xDrive system only brings the front wheels into play when the rear wheels aren’t able
to transmit any more power to the road and additional tractive force is required.
The various configurations of the new M5 mean the drive system’s characteristics can be tailored to both the driver’s
personal preference and the nature of the journey, says BMW. The result, the company adds, is a car that combines
the classical qualities of standard rear-wheel drive with the benefits of a sportier BMW xDrive. The central intelligence
unit software ensures optimum performance in each configuration. Purists may opt for classical rear-wheel drive by
completely de-activating the all-wheel drive system.
Sneak previews of the new M5 model have revealed an updated design of air intake on the front bumper, as well as
a grille-mounted M5 logo. The car features an updated 4.4-litre V8 petrol engine that should deliver a 0-100km/h
time of less than 3.5 seconds. The BMW M5 is expected to retail at over €86.000 when the optional xDrive system
is selected.

SALES INFORMATION 2017

Bentley Motors Europe COMPETITOR NEWS
June 2017

911 TURBO S

The most powerful 911 Turbo S model yet, the Exclusive Series, marks the
opening of a new bespoke division called Porsche Exclusive Manufaktur.

The car will be produced in just 500 units worldwide and is the first from the company’s in-house workshop, which
will specialise in producing customised products.
As standard, the Exclusive Series gets black, centre-locking 20-inch wheels with Golden Yellow Metallic highlights. The
callipers of the carbon-ceramic brakes also come in black with gold Porsche logos.
The car sits on Porsche’s active sports chassis with Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM) and it gets the
Sport Chrono package as standard.
Buyers can choose from an extended palette of exterior colours, which includes a bespoke Golden Yellow Metallic and
carbon fibre trim finish. The car gets the Turbo S’s Turbo Aerokit as standard, adding a large spoiler at the back.
Inside, passengers sit on 18-way adjustable sports seats that are wrapped in perforated leather wearing two stripes in
Golden Yellow. Seams and Turbo S lettering are also stitched into the headrests, while an Alcantara roof lining gets a
Golden Yellow double stripe

SALES INFORMATION 2017

COMPETITOR NEWS Bentley Motors Europe
June 2017

FERRARI 812 SUPERFAST

The latest super-GT car from Ferrari comes from a long line of
front-engined V12s.

A replacement for the F12, the car produces 800PS and 718Nm of torque courtesy of its 6.5-litre engine, which are
enough to propel it to 100km/h in 2.9 seconds, and onwards to more than 355km/h.
It’s still front-mid-engined, but it boasts an all-new rear-wheel-steering system, torque-variable electric power steering,
a third-generation electronic differential, a new traction control set-up and a development of Ferrari’s Side Slip Control
pioneered on the 458 Speciale.
The styling reflects the car’s dynamism. It’s aggressive to look at, and there are a wealth of aerodynamic details that
catch the eye, including the vast open frontal grille, or “smile”, as Ferrari calls it. Other neat touches include full LED
headlamps, air vents on the bonnet, quad circular tail lamps and a body-coloured rear diffuser.
Inside there are two seats, a driver-centric instrument stack, a supplementary instrument binnacle for the passenger
and a hatch with a decent-sized but high-temperature boot.

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Bentley Motors Europe COMPETITOR NEWS
June 2017

ASTON MARTIN RAPIDE S

Aston Martin has revealed an all-electric concept version of its Rapide S.

The concept has been developed in conjunction with Williams Advanced Engineering and promises to produce as much
as 1020PS, with a top speed in excess of more than 320km/h.
Batteries are stored under the bonnet and down the spine of the car, while an inverter would sit in the boot and
electric motors would power the front and rear wheels, making this an all-wheel-drive Aston.
A battery-powered Rapide S is expected to enter production in 2019 and is anticipated to cost in the region of
€200.000.

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Bentley Motors Europe Bentley Motors Europe
June 2017 June 2017

COMPETITOR NEWS

PORSCHE GT2 RS

The Porsche GT2 RS has broken cover and made its public dynamic debut
up the famous hill during the Goodwood Festival of Speed.

The car is the joint fastest Porsche in production and has a claimed top speed of 340km/h thanks to a heavily
reworked version of the twin-turbocharged 3.8-litre flat six-cylinder engine used in the latest 911 Turbo, which
incorporates larger turbochargers with a water-to-water intercooler.
Other changes include a new rear wing, a titanium exhaust system that is 7kg lighter than the standard unit, while
the wide central indent within the bonnet and roof and a two-tone paint scheme provide visual links to earlier
competition-focused air-cooled 911 models from the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s.
Inside, the 911 GT2 RS uses a combination of black leather and red Alcantara upholstery, as well as carbon fibre
trim elements.
Porsche will be offering a €30.000 Weissach Package that takes an extra 30kg off the car’s overall weight through
various measures, and this mirrors the strategy the company first used with the 918 Spyder.
The 911 GT2 RS is the first new 911 GT2 since 2010 and the fourth to enter production since the model name’s
introduction to the Porsche line-up in 1995. It is available to order now, priced from €250.000.

SALES INFORMATION 2017

Bentley Motors Europe COMPETITOR NEWS
July 2017

AUDI A8

The new A8 follows an evolutionary design path and its exterior features
many design elements from the earlier Audi Prologue concept car.

The most obvious new features are the heavily reshaped grille, sleeker surfacing and a new tail-light treatment.
The new A8 will be built on the latest evolution of Audi’s MLB platform and will boast the same 48V electrical system
used in the SQ7. There will also be a new hybrid drivetrain that offers an electric-only range of up to 50km and there
is advanced road-scanning active suspension.
Audi claims the new A8 is the first series production road car to have been developed expressly for what it describes
as “highly automated driving”, and to this end the car has a Traffic Jam Pilot system. Part of a suite of 41 individual
driver assistant functions, the system takes charge of driving in slow moving traffic up to a speed of 48km/h on
motorways, where a physical barrier separates the two carriageways.
As well as relying on cameras, radar and ultrasonic sensors, Traffic Jam Pilot is the first automated driving system
on a production car that uses a laser scanner. The new system manages starting, accelerating, braking and steering
functions. But without a legal framework for its operation in many markets, Audi says it will adopt a step-by-step
approach to the introduction of its new autonomous driving tech.
The new A8 will continue to be sold with the choice of two wheelbases. Both are 6mm longer than those of the old
A8, at 2,998mm and 3,128mm.

SALES INFORMATION 2017

COMPETITOR NEWS Bentley Motors Europe
July 2017

XE SV PROJECT 8

The next creation from Jaguar Land Rover Special Vehicle Operations (SVO)
has made its public debut.

With a 5.0-litre, supercharged V8 developing 600PS, it’s claimed that the XE SV Project 8 is the most powerful
road-legal Jaguar thus far, and the production version made its dynamic debut at the Goodwood Festival of Speed.
Aimed at well-heeled collectors, only 300 of the super-saloons will be produced – all of them in left-hand drive and
hand-assembled at SVO’s Technical Centre in Coventry.
Project 8 features the most highly tuned version of Jaguar Land Rover’s 5.0-litre supercharged V8 petrol engine,
featuring an exotic-sounding titanium variable active exhaust. As well as the standard XE’s aluminium body panels,
SVO has added a carbon fibre front bumper with larger cooling ducts, a vented carbon fibre bonnet and flared wheel
arches over the 20-inch forged aluminium alloy wheels.
There is also an adjustable front splitter, a flat underbody, rear carbon fibre bumper incorporating a diffuser and
adjustable wing.

SALES INFORMATION 2017

Bentley Motors Europe COMPETITOR NEWS
July 2017

ROLLS-ROYCE DAWN BLACK BADGE

Rolls-Royce describes the Black Badge version of its Dawn convertible as its
“most glamorous, uncompromising expression of open-top luxury”.

The car has been designed to cater for those customers seeking a more brooding, more aggressive car and to this end
it gets more power. An extra 30PS has been liberated from the 6.6-litre, twin-turbo V12, bringing the total to 598PS.
Thanks to this, the sprint to 100km/h takes 4.9 seconds, while the top speed is limited to 250km/h.
Other fundamental changes have been made to the transmission, throttle and suspension to create a more spirited,
involving driving experience, and the brakes are new and an inch bigger in diameter than the regular Dawn’s.
The Black Badge lives up to its name and the car’s chrome is darker and moodier – even the iconic Spirit of Ecstasy
is finished in a high-gloss vamp. This theme continues inside with the black leather and a new aluminium-threaded
carbon composite trim.
Price is still to be confirmed, but orders are being taken now.

SALES INFORMATION 2017

COMPETITOR NEWS Bentley Motors Europe
July 2017

ROLLS-ROYCE PHANTOM VIII

After more than a decade, Goodwood car-maker Rolls-Royce Motor Cars has
released a brand-new version of the Rolls-Royce Phantom.

Unveiled to the public in an exclusive exhibition, the Phantom VIII allows customers to have bespoke artwork inset into
the dashboard for an extra luxurious touch.
Although the model carries all the traditional size of its predecessors, the signature front-facing Pantheon grille is now
integrated into the surrounding bodywork for an extra clean line.
Rolls-Royce claims the model is the most technologically advanced car it has ever produced – sensors close the doors
automatically and the headlamps boast the latest laserlight technology.
Underneath the bonnet an all-new 6.75-litre twin-turbo V12 engine sits on an all-aluminium spaceframe chassis to
give an extra jump in performance while keeping the brand’s smooth ride.

SALES INFORMATION 2017

Bentley Motors Europe COMPETITOR NEWS
August 2017

MASERATI GRANTURISMO

The GranTurismo gets a makeover to celebrate 10 years on sale.

Italian manufacturer Maserati is set to give its iconic model a subtle aesthetic and technological makeover to celebrate
a decade of being on sale.
The new GranTurismo, which will be launched in 2018, receives a new and more angular grille, which is more
aerodynamic and drag efficient and means the car will be more economical and environmentally friendly. Changes have
also been made around the rear of the car. The most noticeable changes are the new bumper and redesigned exhaust
outlets, which give the car a more focused aura.
The new car retains the current 4.7-litre Ferrari-built V8 engine, which produces 458PS at 4,750rpm and 519PS of
torque at 7,000rpm. The sprint from 0-100kmh is still a leisurely 4.8 seconds.
However, the most significant upgrades have been made to the car’s interior. To this end, Maserati has fitted the latest
FCA In-Connect infotainment system complete with an 8.4-inch capacitive touchscreen, which is controlled through a
new rotary controller mounted on the centre console.
Maserati has also added a new range of interior leather options to the palette already available.
The car will be available in either Sport or more aggressive MC specification, Maserati having dropped the entry-level
4.2-litre from the range.

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COMPETITOR NEWS Bentley Motors Europe
August 2017

ASTON MARTIN CONCEPT GT

The Aston Martin Vanquish Zagato Shooting Brake is a concept conceived
as “an individual and exceptionally practical GT”.

Unveiled at Pebble Beach, the car belies its estate-like appearance by actually being a two-seater. The most striking
design feature of the Shooting Brake is its extended roof, which boasts the signature Zagato ‘double-bubble’ surface
with glass inlays to allow light inside. It also has a powered tailgate, which opens onto a luxuriously trimmed rear area
complete with tailored luggage.
The car uses Aston’s venerable 6.0-litre V12 power plant and is rear-wheel-driven. Although the car only exists in
sketch form and rendered imagery at present, Aston’s design team insists that the bodywork detailing and interior will
be predominantly carbon fibre.
The Shooting Brake is expected to cost €800.000 when it enters production.

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Bentley Motors Europe COMPETITOR NEWS
August 2017

MERCEDES-MAYBACH 6 CABRIOLET

This soft-top version of the Mercedes-Maybach 6 was revealed during
Monterey Car Week in California.

The Vision Mercedes-Maybach 6 Cabriolet’s lack of a roof has a huge impact on the car’s overall aesthetics – it
now boasts a very lozenge form, which makes it look like a Riva speedboat on wheels. And the car is a mammoth
5.7m long and 2.1m wide, yet despite this large footprint it only has two seats.
One of the most prominent features of the car are its 24-inch wheels. These combine with the headlights, which are
no more than slits, and a large grille to add to the sense of drama that the car’s design generates.
The white fabric roof features interwoven rose gold threads, and lowering the roof exposes the cabin’s crystal white
nappa leather, illuminated buttons stitched into the seats and a full-width digital display. The dash is just as intriguing –
the turbine-inspired dials are analogue needles on a digital background, while two head-up displays keep you briefed on
the car’s vitals.
Other neat design cues include the centre tunnel – usually reserved for the transmission in a combustion-engined car
– which now floats and is transparent and used to visualise the car’s energy flow with blue fibre optic lights. And then
there’s the open-pore wooden floor.
The car’s four electric motors produce 750PS and the underfloor battery pack gives the car a range of over
310 miles (499km).
Mercedes has not said whether plans exist for the concept to enter production, but its vast array of unique interior
features is certainly a talking point.

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COMPETITOR NEWS Bentley Motors Europe
August 2017

BMW 8 SERIES

The car-maker’s 8 Series, making a comeback in 2018 after a 20-year break,
has been previewed by a bold Concept 8 Series design study

The reborn 8 Series will indirectly replace the existing third-generation 6 Series, which is due to cease production in
coupe and convertible form after being superseded by a new fourth-generation liftback model in the shape of the
upcoming 6 Series GT later this year.
BMW also has plans for a plush open-top version of its new range-topping two-door. Set for introduction in 2019,
it eschews the folding hardtop arrangement favoured by BMW for its convertible models in recent years for an
automatic multi-layer fabric hood.
Design wise, a number of characteristic BMW concept car flourishes, such as the oversized kidney grille, thin line
laser projector touring headlamps, exaggerated air breather elements behind the front wheel arches and within the
rear bumper and OLED imbued L-shaped tail lamps, have all been altered with a more conservative appearance for
the production version of the new 8 Series, which is due to begin rolling from BMW’s Dingolfing factory in Germany
during the second-quarter of 2018.

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Bentley Motors Europe COMPETITOR NEWS
September 2017

JAGUAR E-PACE

This is the manufacturer’s compact SUV, which will be built to take on rivals
such as the BMW X1 and Audi Q3.

The company expects the car to be its biggest-selling model and result in the fast-growing firm selling more SUVs than
saloon and sports cars combined.
Smaller and more keenly priced than the F-Pace, the E-Pace’s design, one of the most expressive in its class, is very
distinct from its larger sibling.
The five-door, five-seater will be built under licence by Magna Steyr in Austria, rather than alongside the other
transverse-engined cars in the Jaguar Land Rover range – the Discovery Sport and the Range Rover Evoque – as the
UK plant at Halewood that builds the Land Rover pair is at capacity, with no room to produce the expected six-figure
annual production run of the E-Pace.
The car will be offered with front-wheel drive only on the entry-level 150PS 2.0-litre diesel model with a six-speed
manual gearbox. The rest of the range will come with all-wheel drive and a nine-speed automatic gearbox.

SALES INFORMATION 2017

COMPETITOR NEWS Bentley Motors Europe
September 2017

IAA LAUNCHES

Introducing the key competitor launches from the IAA.

MERCEDES-AMG PROJECT ONE
The €2.7m Mercedes-AMG Project One, which utilises F1 technology, really does contain the main elements of Lewis
Hamilton’s single-seater powertrain. Its engine will be made in the same factory, side by side with his. Impressive.
AUDI R8 V10 RWS
The limited edition car is the model’s first rear-wheel-drive variant. This lightweight version will be limited to just 999
examples in both coupe and open-top Spyder bodystyles, and deliveries are expected to begin early in 2018. A series of
subtle styling tweaks help to set the R8 V10 RWS apart from the R8 V10 quattro, including a matt black grille insert
and air vents up front. The upper section of the car’s so-called sideblade is also finished in gloss black, with the lower
section in body colour – a treatment similar to that seen on the R8 LMS GT4. Buyers can also specify a visual package
consisting of red stripes across the bonnet, roof and rear in the coupe.
BMW M5
The all-new M5, the sixth-generation, adopts four-wheel-drive for the first time and is the quickest, most powerful M5
yet. The car will feature a heavily revised 592bhp version of its predecessor’s twin-turbocharged 4.4-litre V8 engine in
combination with a standard M xDrive four-wheel-drive system to deliver a claimed 0-100km/h time of 3.4 seconds
and a 306km/h top speed.
FERRARI PORTOFINO
The folding hard-top convertible is the manufacturer’s new entry-level car and is a direct replacement for the
California T. The car will feature Ferrari’s E-Diff 3 electronic rear differential and is the first GT car in Ferrari’s range
to come with electric power steering. The Portofino also has dual-coil suspension with magnetorheological damping to
improve both responsiveness and ride comfort.

SALES INFORMATION 2017

Bentley Motors Europe COMPETITOR NEWS
September 2017

BMW 8 SERIES COUPE

The forthcoming coupe, spied here covered in camouflage, could be a
competitor to our very own Continental GT.

Expected to be larger than today’s two-door 6 Series (the 6 can also be had in four-door Gran Coupe form), the
8 Series will serve as BMW’s flagship coupe, just as its eponymous forebear did before it was discontinued in 1999.
The 8 Series will sit on a version of the latest 7 Series sedan’s lightweight, semi-carbon-fibre architecture. This will
place the 8 above the 6 Series in BMW’s hierarchy, even though the next-generation 6 is expected to use the smaller
version of this same 7-derived platform, which also will be shared with the 2017 5 Series sedan.
Any 7 Series powertrain can likely fit in the 8 Series’ engine bay, but it’s doubtful that BMW would include some of
the 7’s more pedestrian offerings such as the 740e plug-in hybrid four-cylinder/electric combo or Europe’s diesels and
four-cylinder 730i. In keeping with the two-door 8’s sportier vibe, the 740i’s powerful twin-turbocharged inline-six and
the 750i’s twin-turbocharged V8 are almost a given, while the 7’s available twin-turbocharged V12 would make for an
excellent range topper (and a nice foil to Benz’s S65 AMG coupe and cabriolet). BMW’s original 8 Series offered a V12
with a manual transmission, but the modern 8 will be automatic only, with every iteration using a ZF eight-speed.
Rear-wheel drive will be the standard configuration, and BMW’s xDrive all-wheel-drive set-up will be optional or
possibly standard on higher-output models.
The completeness of this 8 Series prototype suggests that the coupe is close to reaching showrooms — or at least an
official debut. It should go on sale as a 2018 model and likely will cost more than an equivalent 7 Series, with a starting
price around €67,000.

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COMPETITOR NEWS Bentley Motors Europe
October 2017

ASTON MARTIN DB11 VOLANTE

Aston Martin has announced it is adding a V8 convertible to its range
– the DB11 Volante.

The car, the company’s most extreme soft top to date, is powered by the AMG-sourced 4.0-litre engine, which
produces 510PS, and weighs 110kg more than the V8 coupe on which it is based.
The roof and its mechanism is all-new, and the folding soft top consists of eight layers of fabric, which can be lowered
in 14 seconds, and raised in 16 seconds. The operation will work up to speeds of 49.9kph, and the fabric hood can be
specified in red, black, silver or grey silver.
The car will cost €160.000 with initial deliveries taking place in the first quarter of 2018.

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Bentley Motors Europe COMPETITOR NEWS
November 2017

BMW’S NEW DESIGN APPROACH

BMW is reinventing its design philosophy and aiming for the luxury market.

The spelling out of the BMW name in full, the use of a black and silver roundel rather than the famous blue and white
propeller logo, a new design language and a model specific media campaign are all part of a concerted approach by
BMW to target the luxury market.
The move means there are now three elements to the company’s offering – mainstream BMWs, i-brand cars and the
newly designated luxury Bayerische Motoren Werke models.
In terms of car design, the company is moving towards models that appear sleeker, cleaner, with fewer lines and
elements. However, the new design language isn’t just about simplifying and refining shapes – it is also about
developing more individual identities within its range. What this means is that very soon each model will separate and
have its own unique look.
The company is also adopting a new approach to the interior design of its cars, including a more digital cockpit. This
will result in future cars featuring a head-up display, with drivers operating the vehicle through a mixture of touch,
voice control and hard keys.
And the company believes the introduction of autonomy will also impact on the shape of its cars to come. Using less
driver controls frees up space, as well as where and how people will sit in the car. This will allow it to focus on offering
a more luxurious cabin experience while creating room for exclusive materials.

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COMPETITOR NEWS Bentley Motors Europe
November 2017

HENNESSEY VENOM F5

Meet the Hennessey Venom F5 – the €1.4m hypercar with a top speed of
more than 480km/h.

Hennessey hopes this will become the fastest road car yet produced, and are confident the twin-turbocharged V8,
which produces 1.622PS, will break the 400km/h record in under 30 seconds. This means the company would have
to smash Bugatti’s time of just under 42 seconds, and Koenigsegg’s subsequent time of 36.44 seconds.
Is it possible? The car’s impressive statistics suggest it might. The car weighs just 1.338kg, which is little more than a
Ford Fiesta, and uses carbon fibre for the entirety of its body. It’s that slippery body which is the key – it has a drag
coefficient of just 0.33.
This will be the first car Hennessey has developed and built in-house from the ground up, including the engine, chassis
and body. It will have a paddle shift, single-clutch seven-speed gearbox and will be rear-wheel drive.
Just 24 Venom F5s will be built.

SALES INFORMATION 2017

Bentley Motors Europe COMPETITOR NEWS
November 2017

ALFA ROMEO’S NEW STELVIO SUV

Alfa Romeo has unveiled its first sports SUV – the 506PS, bi-turbo
V6-engined Stelvio Quadrifoglio.

The car appears to be very similar to the concept that was first shown to the public at the 2016 LA Motor Show,
and its engine is the same Ferrari-derived unit as found in the Giulia Quadrifoglio, which means it should produce
somewhere in the region of 600Nm of torque.
There’s no mistaking the car’s emphasis on performance – the carbon-detailed side skirts, more aggressive bumpers
and wider wheel arches hint at its potential. Then there is the rear spoiler, which sits at the top the boot lid and a set
of intercooler vents at the front, which are both specific to the Quadrifoglio model.
This sporty SUV will only be offered with four-wheel-drive, Alfa Romeo’s Q4 System, which sends 100 per cent of the
torque rearwards in normal conditions, but can divide between the front and rear up to 50/50, coupled with torque
vectoring for the first time.
It also has an eight-speed gearbox, which has been tuned to shift gears in 150 milliseconds in Race mode, and the
driver can also shift gears using steering column-mounted aluminium paddles. There are Four selectable drive modes:
Dynamic, Natural, running-cost-friendly Advanced Efficiency and performance-oriented Race.
There are also carbon-ceramic brakes with Alfa Romeo’s Integrated Brake System, which the brand claims reduces
stopping distances by combining a stability control system with the car’s brake servo. The suspension comprises a
double wishbone at the front with a four-and-a-half link system at the rear. Adjustable dampers also feature.
Although pricing hasn’t been confirmed, we do know that it will cost in the region of €80.000 and is due to go on sale
in summer 2018.

SALES INFORMATION 2017

COMPETITOR NEWS Bentley Motors Europe
December 2017

795PS MCLAREN SENNA

Five years on from its rule-breaking P1 hyper car, McLaren has unveiled a
second member of its range-topping Ultimate Series.

The 795PS McLaren Senna, which is billed as the “ultimate road-legal track car”, has been given the name of the
Grand Prix team’s greatest champion, Ayrton Senna.
Revealed at an exclusive launch in London, the new €750.000 car features a styling influenced by McLaren’s
involvement in F1 – the bodywork features a lot of extreme active aerodynamics, a huge rear wing and front splitter.
Then there are the straight flanks, exotically shaped wheel arches, air-gulping scoops and inlets, and more subtle air
dams and strakes. It’s certainly an eye-catching statement.
The car has a dry weight of 1.198kg and promises to deliver excellent performance: 0-100km/h will take just
2.5 seconds, while the top speed will be way in excess of 325km/h.
This is a car aimed squarely at chasing lap times, and to this end there is little in the way of everyday practicality – a
new roll-cage structure behind the driver leaves room for two helmets, two driving suits and a packet of sandwiches.
The Senna also has ultralight seats and many ancillary controls are now grouped in a roof console between the
occupants. The interior is designed entirely to suit the driver (who can be fitted precisely to a new car at the factory).
For a while, McLaren even considered leaving out the passenger’s seat as a weight-saving measure, but decided many
owners would prefer to drive to the track with a passenger.
This hardest-edged road McLaren yet will make its public debut at the Geneva Motor Show in March and enter
production next summer. The first cars from the hand-built batch of 500 will reach their owners before the end
of 2018.

SALES INFORMATION 2017

Bentley Motors Europe COMPETITOR NEWS
December 2017

378 KM/H LUCID AIR

US Electric Vehicle manufacturer Lucid Motors unveils its luxurious
electric saloon, Lucid Air.

The new 378 km/h Lucid Air, designed by a former Lotus and Tesla engineer, is due in 2019 and promises to mix
sports car handling with the comfort of a luxury saloon.
The car is claimed to have a 644km range, and is being developed by former Lotus, Jaguar and Tesla engineering boss
Peter Rawlinson, who is now Lucid’s chief technical officer.
The Lucid Air will use a twin-motor, four-wheel-drive powertrain with more than 1.010PS – a much more powerful
proposition than that offered by its rivals. And the company claims that the low-set placement of its batteries should
ensure it handles well enough to be classified as a real driver’s car.
Lucid Motors has teamed up with Samsung SDI to speed up development of the batteries, as well as autonomous
vehicle technology specialist Mobileye.
Testing is already at an advanced stage, and the car reached 378 km/h in July, while the company claims it can
accelerate from 0-100km/h in 2.5 seconds in top-spec configuration.
Lucid Motors is currently putting the finishing touches to its factory in Arizona, and will begin producing Airs for
customers in 2019. It plans to build 10,000 cars in the first year before eventually ramping up production to 60,000
units annually.

SALES INFORMATION 2017



MISCELLANEOUS

SALES INFORMATION 2017

MISCELLANEOUS Bentley Motors Europe
January 2017

A LUXURY EXPERIENCE

We are proud to announce the launch of two new assets to help you
maximise the impact of your Retail environment – Luxury Experience and
Boutique Launch Packs.

The Luxury Experience has been designed exclusively for 5 and 6 Star Retailers to complement their new showroom
and sales environment. There are four different ways for your customers to enjoy the Luxury Experience:
Luxury Pack 1 includes the Naim for Bentley Mu-so and two reed diffusers.
Luxury Pack 2 includes the Naim for Bentley Mu-so QB and two reed diffusers.
Hospitality Pack includes a Bottle Stopper, Corkscrew and two Coasters.
Business Pack includes a Desk Set and a Tibaldi for Bentley GT Ballpoint Pen.
All packs offer you the chance to make savings on buying the items individually and offer further ways to entice
customers and prospects into the brand.
The Boutique Launch Pack has been designed to make new Retail spaces more alluring and attractive, broadening
the appeal of your showroom to customers and prospects alike. There are five options available:
Cabinet 1 – Home and Iconic Classics
Cabinet 2 – Heritage Accessories
Cabinet 3 – Colour Clothing
Cabinet 4 – Colour Accessories
Cabinet 5 – Motorsport
As well as creating conversation pieces, all these cabinets offer you an additional revenue stream, providing you with
even more ways to achieve your targets.

SALES INFORMATION 2017

Bentley Motors Europe MISCELLANEOUS
January 2017

BENTLEY BERLIN – QR CODES

Bentley Berlin is blazing a trail of innovation through the easy advertising
of car specs through the use of QR codes.

The Retailer has put the codes on its display of new and Pre-Owned showroom cars, allowing visitors to quickly
and easily scan the code to reveal the full car specification.
The advantages are manifold – customers can simply scan the code and will then have all information at hand at
any time. This does away with the cumbersome printing out and handing out of specs, while also modernising the
perception of the brand.
The initiative was launched in autumn 2016 and has earned many positive plaudits from customers, praising this
contemporary approach and general ease of use. It can even be used in advertisements, ie. on mobile.de where the
QR code is linked to the Bentley Berlin website, showing in real time the complete range of stock available, and it is
the perfect tool for advertising campaigns such as Performance Leasing etc.
Karsten Meyer, General Manager of Bentley Berlin, said: “The QR code demonstrates that we are using popular,
cutting edge technology. As well as being cheap and easy to implement, it also has the benefit of showing the brand
in a more modern light while demonstrating our commitment to sustainability – by avoiding paper printouts we are
using much less paper while reducing our carbon footprint.”
This is an excellent example of best practice – well done to Bentley Berlin on a fantastic initiative and thank you for
sharing your activity with us!

SALES INFORMATION 2017

MISCELLANEOUS Bentley Motors Europe
February 2017

VICTORY AT THE GERMAN
DESIGN AWARDS

Following Gold at last year’s German Design Council awards for the
EXP10 Speed 6 in the Transportation category, Bentley scooped another
prestigious accolade.

The German Design Award is the German Design Council’s most prestigious international prize and honours
innovative products and projects, their manufacturers and designers. An international jury made special mention
of the design and aesthetics excellence of the Mulsanne Speed, Mulsanne EWB and Bentayga.
Stefan Sielaff and Goesta Henning were on hand to receive the well-deserved accolade.

SALES INFORMATION 2017

Bentley Motors Europe MISCELLANEOUS
March 2017

RETAILER COUNCIL

Our Retailer Councils have proved fruitful in improving communication and
process between Retailer and manufacturers. As such we are delighted to
announce a new structure ahead of the next meeting.

The Retailer Council. Clockwise L to R: Albrecht Bracht, Frankfurt, Guido Graf von Spee, Düsseldorf, Karsten
Meyer, Berlin, Marcus Kahler, Hannover, Sanjin Arkus, Vienna, Peteris Spredzis, Riga, Ronald Ludwig Hamburg and
Konstantin Zorya, Moscow. Following our discussions at the last Retailer Council, we are pleased to announce our
new structure for selecting future members. This is as follows:
There will again be 12 Retailer Council seats:

7 seats for the leading Bentley Retailers in Germany, Central I &II & West region (= best results in the balanced
score card 1-12 2016)
1 seat for the leading Retailer from the East region
4 seats for Bentley Motors (Sales, Marketing, Aftersales and Regional Director, Europe).
On the basis of the above, we are pleased to share the new members of the Bentley Retailer Council Europe:
Top Retailer G/C/W: Bentley Hannover, Bentley Berlin, Bentley Düsseldorf, Bentley Hamburg, Bentley Frankfurt,
Bentley Riga, Bentley Wien
Top Retailer East: Bentley Moscow
Bentley Motors: Head of Marketing Europe, Head of Aftersales Europe, Sales Operations Director Europe,
Regional Director, Europe
The new, restructured Retailer Council will meet for the first time on the 23/24 May 2017 in Sylt, Germany, and the
delegates will elect their new Chairman amongst the Retailer members.

SALES INFORMATION 2017

MISCELLANEOUS Bentley Motors Europe
April 2017

SALES CONFERENCE AT
SCHLOSSHOTEL STEINBURG

The great and good travelled from all corners of our network to participate
in the Sales Conference in Würzburg, the perfect platform for us to share
our ideas and plans for our network’s continued growth in 2017, as well as
recounting your sales successes and initiatives over the past 12 months.

The conference kicked off with a presentation by Robert Engstler, who shared his in-depth knowledge of the Retailer’s
sales process by outlining his tips for success in ‘The Process of Selling in the Automotive Luxury Segment’.
Philipp Noack then took to the stage, showcasing our region’s impressive sales performance, and announcing the
launch of our 2017 Sales Championship. His message that “only the brave overcome resistance” was particularly
well received.
This was followed by the marketing presentation of Philip Schoch, who gave a concise and informative description
of this year’s key marketing messages, as well as the importance of the Sales Information Newsletter to the
Retailers, making full and proper use of all the marketing materials and toolkits available to you on Retailer
Marketing News – it’s all there to engage and stimulate your customers and prospects, while reminding them of
our phenomenal product range.

SALES INFORMATION 2017

Bentley Motors Europe MISCELLANEOUS
April 2017

Philip Schoch also took the chance to talk about the new global brand campaign, which is using groundbreaking
technology to view the FS W12 S in extraordinary detail and which sent social media into a spin upon its release.
Now it is over to you to activate this Bentley Brand Campaign in your local areas.
A major part of our plans for 2017 was the detailed launch plans for our new car.
The day culminated in a video workshop and presentations, the ideal proving ground for Retailers to show their
creativity in a relaxed, incredible atmosphere. It is fair to say that the message to the Retailers to professionalise
themselves and use C@B throughout the Sales funnel processes was repeatedly and successfully brought home to
the audience.
Day 2 began with Graeme Pringle presenting the new online platform for the 2017 Sales Championship, the rules
and the outstanding rewards, before covering the Q2 2017 Sales Campaigns available to support the business and
product lifecycles.
Next up on stage were Christian Wiehenbrauk (COO) and Henning Farack (Manager, Exclusive Brands) from Porsche
Financial Services, who gave an insight into the Porsche and Bentley Financial Services, including Comfort (Bridge-)
Leasing, which has been tailored to sell out the current Continental range while giving the possibility for customers
to change to the new car with no cost of change at the time it arrives in the market.
Robert Engstler then gave a final address, reminding Retailers of the initiatives that make our region so successful,
and that success lies in their own hands; before imploring them to fully exploit all the assets at your disposal to
reap the rewards.

SALES INFORMATION 2017

MISCELLANEOUS Bentley Motors Europe
May 2017

BY ROYAL APPOINTMENT

Bentley Copenhagen has a very special relationship with the Danish Royal
Family. Chresten Hansen, Sales Manager, tells us more.

Is the MY2017 Mulsanne for the Danish Royals the first Bentley they have received,
or have they had a previous history with Bentley?
This is in fact the third car our company has delivered to Her Majesty The Queen.
HM had a Rolls-Royce Silver Spur until 2004, when we delivered a new Arnage LWB.

This car was replaced in 2011 with the first new Mulsanne. We took it in trade
(like all previous cars) for the new facelifted MY2017, which was delivered a couple
of weeks ago.

A typical lifespan of HM´s cars is six years and a recorded mileage of approximately 200.000km.

Would this mean that Bentley is the official purveyor to the Danish courts – similar to the UK – and does
HM The Queen own any other Bentleys?
Yes, it is like that. King Frederick IX, her father, always drove Bentleys and HM wants to carry on with this tradition.
The Mulsanne is the only Bentley of the Royal Court. HM has decided that she is the only royal person to be driven
in a Bentley.

Could you share some more details about the Mulsanne – I presume this is a specific spec for HM The Queen?
HM always prefers dark blue colors. This time, she has chosen Dark Sapphire with Twine interior. The previous
two cars were Black Sapphire. She is very satisfied with the “fold down” mirrors for obvious reasons. The only
one-off option for the car is a special head rest in the back for HM because of her special hairdo and because
sometimes she wears hats.

Bentley Motors kindly put a new MY2017 at our disposal when I visited the Queen for the configuration. She went
into all the details concerning the car’s appearance, when this was discussed last year at the summer palace in
Fredensborg. The “technical” options are always discussed with her chauffeurs.

Describe the handover ceremony for the Mulsanne and where it took place?
The handover was done at the Amalienborg Palace in the centre of Copenhagen. The short but friendly ceremony
took place in the back court of the castle where the garages are situated.

From Bentley Copenhagen Mr Klaus Frøkjær, our COO, and myself handed over the car. Besides HM, her chauffeur
staff was present. She sat in the rear of the car and we had a brief talk about the changes she had chosen for this
new car. After this, HM was busy receiving new appointed ambassadors from all over the world. And we drove
home in the ‘old’ Mulsanne.

Could you share your thoughts about this unique event?
Bentley Copenhagen is proud to deliver the third new Bentley to the Queen of Denmark. We are the only company
in Denmark that has this special privilege. It was an extraordinary experience entering the courtyard in front of the
palace with the new Mulsanne bearing the dedicated number plate “Crown 121”. We were tagged by hundreds of
tourist, who all thought it was their lucky moment to see two royal figures arriving at the palace.

SALES INFORMATION 2017

Bentley Motors Europe MISCELLANEOUS
May 2017

SHAREHOLDER MEETING

The annual Volkswagen shareholders meeting was held in Hannover with a
Bentayga W12 among the cars on display.

The event saw 2.000 shareholders visit the exhibition area in the city’s Mittelfeld district of Hanover – the largest
exhibition ground in the world.
Each VW brand was allowed one exhibit and the Bentayga W12 on the Bentley stand was resplendent in a duo-tone
paint. The car was displayed next to a Porsche Panamera 4c Hybrid and Bugatti Chiron, and its blend of luxury and
off-road performance drew a lot of praise from attendees.

SALES INFORMATION 2017

MISCELLANEOUS Bentley Motors Europe
May 2017

RETAILER COUNCIL

This year’s Retailer Council meeting has taken place in one of Germany’s
best known summer hotspots of the rich and famous – the island of Sylt.

The exclusive resort, saw the delegates spend two days together discussing the most important and relevant topics
affecting the European market.
This included sales operations and new product launches, and electing the new head of the council – Karsten Meyer
from Bentley Berlin, who retains his role.
Guests also savoured the opportunity to visit the new Porsche brand showroom concept – Porsche auf Sylt – a
concept that is more a touchpoint to the Porsche Brand with Porsche Design and the Porsche Drivers Collection than
solely a sales point. Think of it as an ‘Apple’ store for Porsche and you get the idea.
The concept left a lasting impression on the council members, all of whom were particularly impressed with the
configuration centre and the exhibition of Porsche cars.
Other highlights included dinner at the internationally renowned and critically acclaimed restaurant – the Sansibar.
Located in the sand dunes of Rantum, close to the beach of the Northern Sea, this hideaway is the place to be for
the high society of Sylt, with the 40-year-old chalet exuding a warm, relaxing ambience – perfect for continuing
discussions late into the night.
Philip Schoch, Product Manager Europe, was one of the council members present. He said: “This was a very
constructive and open meeting with fruitful discussions and decisions to head into the near future of the Bentley
business in Europe. Thank you everyone for their participation and working together.”

SALES INFORMATION 2017

Bentley Motors Europe MISCELLANEOUS
August 2017

BENTLEY TAKES UP RESIDENCE
AT HARRODS

New Bentley Studio Harrods opens for limited period in iconic London
location.

We are proud to announce Bentley has opened a new, luxury Studio at renowned London department store, Harrods.
The exclusive Bentley Studio Harrods will be open for a limited time throughout August and brings Bentley’s ancestral
home in Crewe to the heart of London.
The first partnership between the two luxury British brands, the Bentley Studio Harrods is a must see destination
in the capital for the discerning Bentley aficionado as it offers the same exceptional purchasing experience that they
would receive in their home countries.
A special feature of the collaboration is the live displays which sees our master craftsmen demonstrating their skills
and attention to detail in fine stitching, trimming and wood marquetry.
Guy Cheston, Director of Media at Harrods, said: “This is the first-time Harrods will play host to the Bentley brand in
our London store. The luxury studio in-store allows Bentley the opportunity to provide the highest level of bespoke
craftsmanship to oversees clients visiting the store in August. We look forward to a very successful partnership
between two iconic British brands which are synonymous with luxury, excellence and service”.
The Bentley Studio Harrods is located on the fourth floor of the store, adjacent to the Georgian Lounge.

SALES INFORMATION 2017

MISCELLANEOUS Bentley Motors Europe
August 2017

500 UP FOR BENTLEY

The Continental GT3 racecar wrote another chapter in Bentey’s illustrious
racing history – the car not only celebrated its 500th race start, but also
delivered a podium, finishing second in the largest GT3 race in the world.

The #8 Continental GT3 and drivers Maxime Soulet, Andy Soucek. and Vince Abril, perfectly executed a carefully
pre-determined race strategy that saw their car run out-of-sync with many of the leading GT3 competitors
for most of the race, with the long-term gains eventually coming to fruition in the final stages of the 24-hour
endurance event. In the final hour of the race, Soulet emerged from the pits just 10 seconds behind the #25 Audi
that soon became race leader. Despite pushing hard to the end, the #8 car crossed the line in second place after
546 laps and more than 3,800 km of flat-out racing.
The points collected from strong positions at the six, 12 and 24 hour marks mean Bentley Team M-Sport retains
the Blancpain GT Series Endurance Cup lead with only one other competitor able to challenge for the title at the
final round in Barcelona at the end of the season. The team has also closed the gap to the overall Blancpain GT
Series Teams title to just six points, with three rounds remaining including Barcelona. The second place finish also
secures Soucek, Soulet and Abril’s position at the top of the Endurance Cup Drivers championship and projects
Abril to overall Blancpain GT Series Drivers championship leader.
Bentley’s Director of Motorsport Brian Gush said: “Taking a podium place in such a challenging event is the reward
for a dedicated effort by the entire team. Many people questioned our strategy early on in the race but we knew the
race would come to us in the later stages. These races are no longer traditional endurance events – they’re sprints
that last 24 hours – and in its 500th race start we have shown the pace and reliability of the Continental GT3 once
again. We leave Spa leading three separate Blancpain championship titles, and our attention now turns to delivering
the same focused preparation for the last three rounds of the championship.”

SALES INFORMATION 2017

Bentley Motors Europe MISCELLANEOUS
September 2017

CONTINENTAL: THE EVOLUTION

The R-Type Continental, the inspiration for the Continental GT

The inspiration for the modern-day Continental came from the Bentley R-Type
Continental, a car deemed the fastest four-seater in the world in its heyday of
1952.
The car started life as an unofficial project by engineer Ivan Evernden to re-
establish Bentley as a maker of performance cars. Created by coachbuilder HJ
Mulliner, it was built using aluminium to a target weight of 1750kg, because no
tyre in the 1950s could sustain a heavier weight at speeds above 115mph. The
Bentley’s fastest recorded speed was just under 120mph.
It was originally offered with a 153bhp six-cylinder in-line 4.6-litre engine. Later versions used a 4.9-litre unit.
A total of 208 were made in the UK from 1952 to 1955. In 1952, an R-Type Continental cost £6928, almost 15
times the UK average annual income of the period.
The Continental evolved again in 1965, following several years‘ of intensive development and a dramatically re-
designed production line at Crewe, the Continental T Series launched. It featured all-round independent suspension,
four-wheel disc brakes, automatic levelling, full-power braking and air-conditioning. It was the first Bentley with a
monocoque chassis and body shell construction.
The next edition of the legendary Continental came in 1991 with the launch of the Continental R at the Geneva
Motorshow. The “Continental” designation recalls the Bentley Continental of the post-war period. The “R” was
meant to ecall the R-Type Bentleys from the 1950s as well as the Turbo R of the 1980s.
12 years later, in 2003 The Bentley Continental GT is launched. A two-door “two plus two” grand touring coupé,
replacing the previous Continental R and T, and revolutionizing Bentley’s appeal globally. Subsequent years would
see the expansion of the range with the GT V8 and GT Speed joining the ranks of the world’s most stylish grand
tourer.

SALES INFORMATION 2017

MISCELLANEOUS Bentley Motors Europe
October 2017

FIVE MINUTES WITH A
RACING LEGEND

Five-time Le Mans winner Derek Bell MBE is the
greatest British sports car racer of all time, winning the
24-hour race five times between 1975 and 1987, and
taking three 24-hour race wins at Daytona. We caught
up with him at Zoute to discuss his passion for the
brand and driving very, very fast.

Q: How did you get involved with Bentley?
DB: I became a consultant on the first-generation Continental GT after retiring from racing and my F1 commentary
duties. I then quickly became involved in Bentley’s return to Le Mans in 2003. I know everything there is about Le
Mans, I’m a five-time winner, and my only regret is that I didn’t race the Speed 8. I test drove it extensively it, but I
never raced it. To finish my career driving a Bentley at Le Mans would have been phenomenal.

Q: And what are you up to now?
DB: Since then I’ve worked with every Bentley product in one way or another, including doing general bits of test
work which I’ve enjoyed, because a racing driver has great ability to tell you in a natural way how a car can be
improved.

“I’ve been fortunate with Bentley in that the products I’ve driven have always been great. I helped developed the GT
and Bentyaga, and then I drove the GT3 last week on track, in the wet, and it’s phenomenal – a real racecar for the
road, and so agile.

Q: What’s the best Bentley you have ever driven?
DB: The first-generation Continental GT. When that car first came out it changed everything. What a beautiful car.
And so poised. You can drive it on the limit and still be perfectly happy in it. And if I can do that, just imagine how
happy a ‘normal’ customer would be with that level of performance. And the next generation cars have just got
better and better. They’re extraordinary.

Q: And how do you find the new Continental GT?
DB: It’s just unbelievable. It’s so, so agile. It handles brilliantly, and its capability is truly staggering. It’s beautifully
appointed and has the looks its performance deserves.

Q: And how did you find the Zoute Grand Prix?
DB: The best classic car events are Ennstal and the Zoute Grand Prix. Here in Belgium you have excellent cars and
very wealthy collectors who prefer to keep a low profile. While Pebble Beach tops everything in terms of the cars
on display – here in Zoute the event is much nicer as it has a family feel.

SALES INFORMATION 2017

Bentley Motors Europe MISCELLANEOUS
October 2017

SALES INFORMATION 2017

MISCELLANEOUS Bentley Motors Europe
October 2017

AN EXCLUSIVE COMMUNITY

The app continues to go from strength to strength. Global sign ups have
reached 4.700. The Europe contribution to this total is 205.

Ensure your customers and prospects are profiting from all the unique information and benefits of the app
– for example exclusive new Continental GT film.
BENTLEY ON DEMAND
The Network App offers members access to exclusive content and services. One of these features is Bentley on
Demand.
Created for owners who wish to drive a Bentley while travelling, or those desiring a different Bentley for special
occasions, Bentley on Demand provides a bespoke, connected, door-to-door service of the highest quality.
Available to existing Bentley owners as a concierge service, it couldn’t be easier to use. Owners simply download
the app from the App store, validate their account, and choose a suitable Bentley from the extensive luxury fleet
available.
Following confirmation, a reminder of the reservation will be sent an hour before delivery, and the member receives
another message to inform them of the concierge’s arrival with the car. When the reservation has ended, the same
Bentley concierge will meet the customer at their preferred location to collect the car.

SALES INFORMATION 2017

Bentley Motors Europe MISCELLANEOUS
October 2017

CAPTURE OUR CARS
PROFESSIONALLY

A new imagery app will help Retailers to provide the very best professional
photographs and videos to customers.

While our cars are looking resplendent in showrooms, it’s important to accurately and faithfully capture this beauty in
photographs and videos. To this end, a new imagery app called AutoCAPTURE™ for Bentley will soon appear on all
Retailer iPads.
Designed to allow you to easily record and upload high quality video and images of the cars direct to the Pre-Owned
Stock Locator – or to the customers themselves – the app is a useful tool for securing Pre-Owned sales as it allows
you to engage with customers by offering images and videos that are specific to the customers’ particular needs.
AutoCAPTURE™ for Bentley helps you to capture the car from the best angles, ensuring that professional photos and
videos are taken every time. For example, one of the features provides a ‘ghost’ image of the car being photographed,
so the Retailer can align the vehicle and features at the right angles.
The app also positions the car onto a pre-determined background – meaning that all images and videos will look
consistent for customers – and automatically uploads assets to the Pre-Owned Stock Locator. In the AutoCONTROL
administration part of the website, you can easily manage the photos and videos you have taken and add comments
about the cars.
Although the AutoCAPTURE™ app is easy to use, there is a training guide that gives plenty of hints and tips for
first-time users. Please set aside time and complete the E-Learning module, which explains every aspect of the tool.
There is also a help desk, which provides round-the clock-support: support@autosonshow.tv

SALES INFORMATION 2017

MISCELLANEOUS Bentley Motors Europe
October 2017

ZOUTE GRAND PRIX

More than 100.000 enthusiasts flocked to Belgium’s coast for the event.

The three-day event, now in its ninth year, brings together some of the world’s most desirable, exotic, rare and
valuable cars from racing’s halcyon days with their modern counterparts, and Bentley Brussels was on hand to
ensure Bentley played a starring role in this celebration of speed. A partner of this festival since the very beginning,
Bentley Brussels used the occasion to give two cars their Belgian debut – Bentayga V8 Diesel and the new
Continental GT.
Bentley also had a strong presence in the racing, and Bentley ambassador, Derek Bell, the former Formula 1 pilot
and five-time Le Mans winner, gave a demonstration of driving excellence in the Oldtimer Rally, skilfully guiding
the 1931 Bentley Blower 1931 around the course. He was joined by other renowned participants including former
French prime-minister, François Fillon, F1 Grand Prix winner Jochen Mass, and Belgian Olympic gold medallist,
Nafissatou Thiam. But that was not all, and current Bentley Boy Maxime Soulet drove the Continental GT in the
Zoute GT Tour, while the Bentley Blower 1931 attracted a lot of interest and attention in the Concours D’Elegance.
Of course, the staff from Bentley Brussels were on hand to engage and interact with customers and prospects,
provide information and offer test drives.
A big part of the Retailer’s success was that it worked very closely with the organisation of the Zoute Grand Prix,
and it sued this collaboration to its advantage by creating a specific communiqués about its presence via their
specific magazine and their mail campaign. It also created and distributed an additional pré-event communiqué
announcing the presence of the New GT. This approach, together with a specific telephone pre-event campaign, a
digital signage network in Knokke with a 6-sec. film of the new GT and a concerted social media campaign, meant
the Retailer maximised the benefits of its sponsorship of the event.
Luc Holderbeke from Bentley Brussels said: “This event was perfect for raising awareness and visibility, but also
just as importantly for increasing our potential leads, not only for Bentayga but also for the new Continental GT.
Browse the photos to get an impression of Bentley Brussels successful participation in the Zoute Grand Prix 2017.
We can’t wait for next year!”

SALES INFORMATION 2017

Bentley Motors Europe MISCELLANEOUS
December 2017

SALES CHAMPIONSHIP WINNERS

Munich was the venue for a celebratory dinner recognising the extraordinary
individual efforts of the Sales Championship 2017 Winners.

The dinner was hosted by Robert Engstler, Philipp Noack, Jakob Graf & Inessa Schell, and took place in the
understated luxury of the Kaeferschaenke restaurant, followed by a stay at the exclusive Charles Hotel. The
journey of the champions began back in the summer, with more than 100 sales representatives from more than 20
countries taking part. The rivalry was fierce in each of the four categories – Start-Up, Advanced, Professional and
Excellence – there could only be four winners:
• Frank Meyer (Excellence),
• Michael Jurny (Professional),
• Peteris Spredzis (Advanced) and
• Sascha Flatau (Start-Up)
Each delivered an exceptional sales performance throughout the year, and their commitment, dedication, passion,
enthusiasm and drive to succeed are truly inspiring. They are all worthy winners.
Robert Engstler, Regional Director Europe, said: “I am delighted to honour those who have shown exceptional
commitment to our brand in 2017. I am proud that we have such a strong retailer network in Europe, a network
of partners that are fully behind our brand, who are able to win new customers and make the Bentley brand even
stronger.”
The winners will be spending part of their 2018 cruising the Amalfi Coast and visiting the island of Capri on-board
a luxury Princess superyacht.

SALES INFORMATION 2017