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Bentley installing 10,000 solar panels in HQ parking lot

Bentley has started construction on what it says will be the U.K.'s largest solar-powered car port at its factory headquarters in Crewe, England. When completed, the array will have a capacity of 2.7 megawatts, enough to cover 24 percent of the company's energy requirements on the site. Crews will install 10,000 solar panels in the employee car port in a project that's expected to take six months. They'll add to the 20,815-panel, 5mW rooftop solar power system that Bentley finished installing at the factory in 2013. The combined output will be enough to power the equivalent of 1,750 homes. The car port will cover 1,378 parking spaces and be installed and operated by British firm FlexiSolar, which is also designing and manufacturing the system. The new green energy system adds to plaudits in recent years for reducing its water usage at the Crewe HQ. Bentley has also been awarded the Carbon Trust Standards for carbon, water and waste. While Bentleys aren't exactly known for their fuel efficiency — the Mulsanne sedan gets a woeful 11 mpg in the city and 18 mpg on the highway — its vehicles no longer appear on the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy's "meanest" list of gas-guzzlers, as they once did. It also just showed its forthcoming and long-promised Bentayga plug-in hybrid in Geneva, promising 31 miles of all-electric range and a turbocharged 3.0-liter V6 paired with an electric motor. The brand is also promising a full-electric model in the near future. "We continue to focus on new initiatives that reinforce our commitment to the environment, whether this is introducing alternative powertrain technologies in future models, or our award-winning work to reduce the environmental impact of our factory," Peter Bosch, Bentley's member of the Board for Manufacturing, said in a statement. Related Video:

Former Lamborghini designer reportedly headed to Hyundai

Luc Donckerwolke (pictured above) only left his position as the Director of Design for Bentley in early June, but he might have already had a new gig lined up as he was walking out the door. Donckerwolke is reportedly teaming up with former Volkswagen Group styling bigwig Peter Schreyer at Hyundai Motor, in a position to eventually take over the look of all of the Korean brands' vehicles. At the moment, this major hire for Hyundai and Kia is still just a rumor, though, and the Korean automaker is playing it close to the vest. Company spokesperson Jim Trainor tells Autoblog, "We do not comment on speculation concerning potential appointments." However, insiders tell Automotive News that the deal is the reason for Donckerwolke walking away from his long career among VW's brands. In Korea, Donckerwolke would hold a position under Schreyer at first, and he would take over Hyundai and Kia's design duties when Schreyer retires, which is expected in about two years. Donckerwolke joined the German automotive giant in 1992 and eventually came to define the modern look of Lamborghini by penning both the Murcielago and Gallardo. In 2011, he became the Head of Advanced Design for VW Group and took over styling duties at Bentley in 2012. Schreyer left a fruitful career at VW Group, including penning the original Audi TT, to join Kia in 2006. He gained the overall design duties for the Hyundai and Kia brands in 2012. Ousted VW Chairman Ferdinand Piech once said that he was regretful of losing the talented stylist. Related Video:

2022 Bentley Flying Spur Mulliner ramps the opulence up even higher

It wouldn’t be a Monterey Car Week if Bentley didnÂ’t show us something extravagant and extremely expensive. So here it is: The Flying Spur Mulliner. This Flying Spur is just another version of the model, but any powertrain can be paired with the Mulliner spec. That means you can get the V8, W12 or the recently introduced V6 hybrid model done up in the full Mulliner guise. And it is only a Mulliner guise, too, as this special Bentley is all about appearance and nothing else. WeÂ’ll start on the exterior. Bentley starts with a unique “Double Diamond” front and lower chrome grille. Flanking this, we have special Mulliner-branded side wing vents. The mirror caps are painted in Satin Silver, and you get jewel fuel and oil caps. Capping all this off are Mulliner-exclusive 22-inch wheels that feature a polished gray finish and self-leveling wheel caps. Things get downright decadent when you move inside the Flying Spur Mulliner. YouÂ’re instantly greeted with illuminated Mulliner sill plates and extra deep-pile Mulliner overmats. The dash and seats are treated to unique Mulliner embroidery and colored accent piping. YouÂ’ll also have the choice between eight custom three-color interior combinations. The example shown in photos here is called Ascot, which is a combination of Imperial Blue, Camel (the tan leather) and white piping. ItÂ’s rather fitting for a show by the ocean. If you want something with bolder three-color combos, Bentely suggests either Flare or Sirius. And since this is a Mulliner, the typically optional Mulliner Driving Specification comes standard. This includes diamond quilting for the leather seats and BentleyÂ’s fancy 3-D leather trim on the doors. You also get special diamond-milled design finishes done to the front and center console. Plus, the Breitling clock is front and center. Mulliner-specific touches extend to the digital instrument cluster in front of you, as it features special Mulliner graphics. And backseat passengers will enjoy a treat in the form of electrically-operated picnic tables. Those veneered tables deploy with just the press of a button and feature multiple levels, with one hiding a leather surface and a pen. Owners of the Flying Spur Mulliner will also get unique leather-bound keys in a special presentation box that matches the interior color combination of the car. Both pricing and availability of the Mulliner were not made immediately available, but expect it to be extra-expensive and available to order soon.