2016 Bentley Continental Gt on 2040-cars

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VW Group shareholders demand Bentley return to profit

The Volkswagen Group's main shareholders are giving British ultraluxury division Bentley an ultimatum to turn around its finances and start earning a profit. The Piech and Porsche families did not say what would happen if the brand fails to return to the black, but they said it should happen within two years. "The important thing is for every (VW Group) brand to generate a reasonable contribution again," Wolfgang Porsche told the subscription-only Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, as relayed by Automotive News. "That is not currently the case at Bentley, and we are not satisfied." Volkswagen Group has not yet issued its report for full-year 2018, but Bentley had lost the equivalent of $157 million through the first nine months on an 11 percent decline in sales. In 2017, Bentley sold 10,566 vehicles globally, with revenue down 9.2 percent from 2016. VW Group apparently cites the slow rollout of the Continental GT and the British pound's lower value amid Brexit talks, which makes the many parts it sources from continental Europe more expensive, as among the reasons. A German study last summer claimed that Bentley lost a little more than $19,000 on each car. Adrian Hallmark started as CEO in February 2018 after heading global brand strategy for Jaguar. Bentley in 2018 released the all-new 2019 Continental GT after a nine-month delay, and it revealed the GTC convertible version in Los Angeles. Hallmark has said 2019 "is a conversion year to a better business model" after a year plagued by problems that also included European WLTP certification. He announced last year the luxury brand would no longer build new sports cars, though the brand says it's still committed to the idea of the two-door GT. Bentley has also said it wants electrified versions of all its models by 2025, which will be an expensive proposition and will likely including plug-in hybrid versions of current models.

2021 Bentley Bentayga Hybrid revealed with tech improvements, same powertrain

The 2021 Bentley Bentayga Hybrid is here, and it’s treated to the same round of updates as the rest of the refreshed Bentayga lineup. That means it gets the new exterior design, a thoroughly revised interior and plenty of new tech. Nothing on the powertrain side has changed for the plug-in hybrid Bentley. ItÂ’ll continue to make do with a 3.0-liter twin-turbo V6 aided by an electric motor. Output remains the same at 443 horsepower and 516 pound-feet of torque combined. EPA range is not yet available, but given the 31-mile NEDC-tested range hasnÂ’t changed, we donÂ’t expect the 18-mile EPA-rated electric range to budge either. The biggest upgrade draw inside is the new 10.9-inch infotainment system. ItÂ’s the latest and best Bentley has to offer, and it features wireless Apple CarPlay and wired Android Auto. A wireless phone charger, new USB-C ports and a larger rear seat touchscreen remote tablet round out the best of the interior changes. ThereÂ’s more space for passengers in the rear. And Bentley upped its luxury game with a redesigned dash, instrument cluster (digital), door trims and steering wheel. The seats are re-done for even more comfort, too. Bentley hasnÂ’t detailed any fine tuning changes it may have made to the way the Bentayga Hybrid drives, but given our disappointing first drive a couple of years ago, we hope there are some unsung, under the hood improvements. The telltale sign that itÂ’s the PHEV is via the tiny “Hybrid” script on the lower door trim. Bentley says the updated Hybrid is available to order now, but we donÂ’t yet have a full breakdown of pricing. Expect it to maintain its status as the cheapest Bentley in the brandÂ’s lineup. Related video:

2012 Pebble Beach Concept Car Lawn offers a tutorial in cars to come

The Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance is a showcase for some of the world's most exquisite vintage vehicles, but if newer metal is more your speed, the Concept Car Lawn is the place to be.
This year saw models from Bugatti, Lamborghini, Aston Martin, McLaren and Bentley as well as SRT, Hennessey, Infiniti and Lexus among others. The ultimate sampler platter of exotic and concept vehicles saw the Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport Vitesse mingle with the Lamborghini Urus Concept and the mighty Hennessey Venom GT, though we found ourselves particularly smitten with the BMW Zagato Roadster and the Aston Martin Vanquish.
Not that we could go wrong anywhere we looked. The 2013 Bentley Continental GT Speed seemed perfectly content parked on the manicured putting green, as did the McLaren MP4-12C Spider. Get cozy with the full gallery below to see the smattering of metal on the lawn.