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Bentley targets audiophiles with custom Continental at CES

Bentley brought a unique version of its Continental GT V8 S to CES this year, packing a unique sound system crafted by the audio trendsetters at Monster. And with it, Bentley's Mulliner customization department outfitted the luxury status symbol in singular style. The Monster by Mulliner features 16 speakers and 3,400 watts of aural stimulation for an in-car audio system not offered for production. In addition to the surround sound system, Mulliner decked the Conti out in Onyx black with red accents and gloss black wheels hiding red brake calipers. The interior features a custom 3D laser-etched dashboard panel and piano black trim as well as specific embroidery and tread plates. It even has a pair of 24-karat gold wireless headphones housed in a special compartment inside. The result is a decidedly different take on the ubiquitous luxury car than the stone veneer panels that Mulliner most recently announced. Bentley suggests in the statement below that the Monster by Mulliner will be offered as a limited edition, "designed to appeal to young professional athletes and musicians." It's certainly not for the timid, but we wouldn't be surprised to see them popping up in music videos and the parking lots outside stadiums in the near future. Related Video: BENTLEY AND MONSTER DEBUT "MONSTER BY MULLINER" CONTINENTAL GT V8 S FEATURING PURE MONSTER SOUND AT CES 2016 IN LAS VEGAS - Handcrafted by Bentley's Mulliner Division and inspired by Monster - Spectacular limited production vehicle designed to appeal to young professional athletes and musicians (Crewe / Las Vegas, NV, January 6 2016) Monster, the world leader in high-performance audio, has teamed up with Bentley Motors' bespoke coach-building division, Mulliner, to create a stunning and uniquely Monster-inspired "Monster by Mulliner," which makes its debut at CES 2016. The show-stopping Bentley Continental GT V8 S, which reflects Monster's attitude of "Always Lead, Never Follow," is designed to appeal to the target market of young professionals and movers and shakers in sports and music. The "Monster by Mulliner" Continental GT V8 S is a bespoke vehicle that will inspire those who want a ride with a bold look and incredible audio performance designed by Monster. Monster's latest innovations in audio technology bring the power of today's music into this Bentley's luxurious cabin.

Car-crazy 5-year-old boy writes automakers for treasures, gets big response

Part of the beauty of children is that they can find worth in something adults might deem unworthy or overlook entirely. Five-year-old Patch Hurty didn't see garbage or a broken piece of a car when he spotted a Ford badge lying on the side of a road. He saw an artifact, a souvenir, a start to a collection he could only dream of. Ezra Dyer of Popular Mechanics tells the story of Patch and his quest to turn that one lost badge into a museum of manufacturer logos. According to the article, Hurty is a car fanatic through and through, even using car names as a way of learning to read. After finding the Ford badge near his Connecticut home, he and his mom put together a plan to reach out to dozens of automakers, confessing his love of things on four wheels. In each letter, Patch assembled a picture of himself standing next to one of the cars, and a penny to pay for whatever he hoped was sent his way. The response was unexpectedly and overwhelmingly positive. Of the more than 50 letters he sent out, including to obscure or defunct companies such as Bugatti, Suzuki, and Saturn, a majority responded with warm notes and some type of souvenir. Two of the coolest responses came from Lincoln and Bentley. Lincoln sent a sketch of a Continental (all car lovers enjoy drawing cars, right?), and Bentley sent a wheel center cap. How awesome is that? The story reminds us of something that can easily be lost in all of the negativity involved with the auto industry: Everybody is in this because of a common infatuation with automobiles. For more details on the souvenirs Patch received and accompanying photos, read the rest of the story. Related Video: News Source: Popular Mechanics Read This Bentley Bugatti Ford Lincoln Saturn Suzuki

Volkswagen might cut 40 models across brands to save cash

Volkswagen once set out to pass Toyota and General Motors and become the largest automaker in the world. Following months of fallout from the diesel emissions scandal, the manufacturer is rumored to be dropping around 40 models from its company-wide lineup. According to German business and finance publication Handelsblatt, the Volkswagen Group is looking to slim down and remove a number of low-volume vehicles from various lineups. The company currently sells around 340 models across brands that include Audi, Lamborghini, and Bentley. Volkswagen is refusing to comment, but Handelsblatt claims to have sources within the company. Last week, Volkswagen Group CEO Matthias Muller announced a new strategy for the company that includes a major focus on electric vehicles and new technology services. During his announcement, Muller said the company would be cutting a number of models, but at the time no numbers, models, or brands were discussed. Despite comments to the contrary, rumors have persisted since late last year that Volkswagen was looking to sell commercial truck and bus manufacturer MAN. Volkswagen owns truck and bus manufacturer Scania, so even if it dropped MAN, the company would still have a foothold within the bus and truck market. There is also talk of the company selling Italian motorcycle manufacturer Ducati, which Volkswagen acquired via Audi in 2012. The company's image has taken a huge hit in the wake of the diesel scandal. Volkswagen has set aside cash in order to pay fines and may be looking to sell these several subsidiaries and cut low-volume models in order offset the costs. Despite the scandal, the company led worldwide sales in the first quarter of 2016. The same was true in 2015, but sales tanked at the end of the year following the diesel revelations. Related Video: Rumormill Audi Bentley Volkswagen Ducati