2004 Bentley Continental Gt Coupe 2-door 6.0l on 2040-cars

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Lamborghini and Bentley may hold off on SUVs so VW can conserve cash

After surveying the European economic scene, Volkswagen may have decided now is not the time to launch utility vehicles with Bentley and Lamborghini badges. Bentley officials say they will continue to push for support for the EXP 9 F and Lamborghini CEO Stephan Winkelman has said planning for the Urus will continue until VW tells it to stop.
That decision could come on November 23, when VW's board will vote on the company's budget for equipment, factories and vehicles. With VW's sales slowing and the Euro economy slumping further, some industry watchers say the company is more likely to build its cash reserves than to introduce super-expensive luxury SUVs or crossovers.
"Such vehicles are anything but obligatory during a crisis," says Frankfurt-based Equinet AG analyst Tim Schuldt in a new Automotive News Europe story. "Delaying their launch would be no drama but help save costs."

Driving the 2020 Bentley Continental GT V8 'home' to Brooklands

BROOKLANDS, England – ‘Continental GTÂ’ embodies an idealized dream of carefree, trans-continental drives to the French Riviera or glamorous Swiss ski resorts. In reality and spirit, a long, long way from a gray January day in what is now a grocery store parking lot in a nondescript London suburb. But this place, or specifically the moss-covered concrete banking surrounding it, is as important to BentleyÂ’s identity as 1930s playboys racing express trains across France, amateur heroes triumphing at Le Mans or the image of luxurious sedans crunching the gravel driveways of stately English homes. In the modern age of Bentley, the racing history at Brooklands, and its expression through hardware supplied by its Volkswagen owners, is what underpins the brand. IÂ’ve got 1,000 miles at the wheel of the latest V8 Continental GT to find out if that Brooklands tradition has been carried forth; to see if this Bentley is still a Bentley. ItÂ’s an interesting moment to be driving a Continental GT, too. For all the British heritage this car embodies, it's dependent on the centralized resources and manufacturing muscle of parent Volkswagen. The same goes for the Group's other brands defined by tradition and local price: Lamborghini, Porsche and even Audi. Yet, IÂ’m enjoying this car just days before Britain formally quits the European Union. The implications are still to be fully understood but it puts Bentley in an especially perilous position, given it depends on overseas production and the free movement of parts from the continent to keep its factory running. Sure, Bentleys are meant to be expensive. But if that margin is suddenly consumed by tariffs on bodies from Volkswagen, engines from Porsche and gearboxes from ZF, the business case looks even shakier than it has been  in the recent past. Nobody knows how itÂ’ll shake out but one answer for VW would be to relocate the whole business to Germany rather than keep building them here. YouÂ’d still have cars branded as Bentleys if that happened. But would they still be Bentleys? We talk about intellectual property. Arguably here weÂ’re talking about emotional property. And the Englishness that makes the cars what they are.   Because more than anything, a Bentley is a feelgood car, even when your reality is grimy winter roads and a coating of salt on your fancy paint.

2023 Bentley Bentayga EWB Azure First Edition on sale for one year

The 2023 Bentley Bentayga EWB has added a third flavor. Above the standard spec, the Azure trim adds distinguishing features like elongated quilting and perforation on the numerous leather surfaces, jeweled caps for the fuel and oil fillers, fancier wheels, and Azure badging. For the first model year of production the craftspeople at Crewe will build an Azure First Edition trim. The First Edition makes normally optional frills like Bentley Diamond Illumination and the Naim for Bentley stereo standard equipment. That stereo pumps 1,720 watts of playlist through 20 speakers. There are also a heated steering wheel, folding picnic tables, and additional driver assistance systems  The cabin is sewn up with exclusive contrast stitching and embroidery, and of course there's First Edition badging outside, on the C-pillar, and inside on the seats. Should the customer decide that isn't enough advertising, buyers can request handcrafted metal overlays. This version of the SUV shows off brighter grilles in the lower bumper and sits on 22-inch, 10-spoke, directional wheels, an inch larger than the hoops on the standard Bentayga.  The Bentayga EWB marks the return of the Azure name for the first time since 2010, and the Bentayga's second First Edition after the 2017 Bentayga W12 which was limited to 608 units. The W12, by the way, is said to be forbidden to the EWB. Pricing hasn't been announced, but since the EWB starts at around $230,000 and Bentley's already said it expects "that people will option them beyond $300,000," the Azure First Edition can be expected to push that well higher. Related video: 2019 Bentley Bentayga Exterior Walkaround, Drive Modes, V8 Engine, Front Seats and Rear Seats