Audi is examining existing and future plants as locations to build cars sold in the U.S By Cam Tait / Friday For a company that doesn’t know the meaning of 'light' Bentley sure knows how to put together a world-beating race car the British marque was unstoppable at Le Mans winning in 1924 (101 years ago!) with the gorgeous 3.0-litre before claiming three victories on the bounce in ’27 Bentley would triumph once again at La Sarthe this time with a fully-fledged prototype driven by Le Mans legends Tom Kristensen you’d expect Bentley’s big old brute to have been put through a crash diet stiffened beyond belief and adorned with some ginormous aero appendages was a very Bentley take on the track-inspired special the company did have a good go at lightening the Conti forged 21-inch alloy wheels and the removal of the rear seats all contributing to a 100kg reduction but when a standard Continental of the era was a little over 2.3 tonnes the weight-saving measures weren’t necessarily transformative Bentley’s rather good at disguising weight so for the GT3-R it stiffened the anti-roll bars springs and dampers to keep the body in check It also received torque-vectoring - the first application in a Bentley - which modulates the inside rear brake mid-corner to help bring the nose to the apex while the stability control was tweaked to be a little less intrusive Couple that with a 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 that had been dialled up to 580hp and 516lb ft of torque and you got the raciest Bentley road car in decades the team bunged on a boot spoiler and some front canards and devised a suitably sporty green-on-white colour scheme to bring the GT3-R in line with the race car the visual tweaks proved divisive and many felt the look wasn't on brand Nearly all of the 300 examples left Crewe in white yet somehow the original owner of this particular car managed to persuade Bentley (presumably with a whole load of money) to ditch colour scheme for something a touch more demure So here the standard white makes way for Anthracite Grey while the green has been replaced with copper hue and the GT3-R stickers removed altogether The interior’s been kitted out by Mulliner with orange-over-black leather If only the standard car could have looked like this The Pie & PistonChat about everything else… MotorsportsWin on Sunday, talk about it on Monday SupercarsNot all cars are created equal EventsMeet your hero Matt Bird in person The LoungeNeed to get something off your chest? View all forumsPistonHeads AuctionsSign up to our emailsGet the hottest news and promotions sent straight to your inbox PistonHeads® is a registered trademark of CarGurus Ireland Limited CarGurus UK Limited is an introducer appointed representative of CarFinance 247 Limited (FRN: 653019) CarFinance 247 Limited are authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority for credit broking and insurance intermediation CarFinance 247 Limited is a credit broker and not a lender we were seriously impressed with the cabin materials and the overall construction of the hulking luxury SUV Bentley allows buyers to choose pretty much all the materials used on the inside That quality and selection are at the core of their vehicles' big price tags Just like how the exquisite interior craftsmanship and materials should attract the most selective of luxury buyers the Bentley Bentayga's available powertrains will be a great match for buyers who want smooth driving characteristics but plenty of power for whenever they put their foot down There are multiple powertrains available for the Bentley SUV starting with a twin-turbocharged 4.0-liter V8 that puts out 542 horsepower and 568 lb-ft of torque the five-seater version of the SUV with the V8 has a curb weight of 5,326 pounds so having all that power certainly helps move the big SUV around in a hurry which offers more space than the already large standard model And for those buyers who want to sit in the back seat and be driven around by the hired help Or we could simply appreciate the Bentley Blower Jnr for what it is: a beautifully crafted hit of pure automotive serotonin that brightens up the day of anyone that comes into contact with it the company Bentley tasked with creating it used to be known as The Little Car Company As founder and CEO Ben Hedley explained to us the name change came about because under its old name seatbelts and genuine room (just) for two adults in tandem formation Just as the 1:64-scale supercars we used to zoom across our bedroom floors could give our infant brains a taste of what it might be like to drive them for real adults with £90,000 to spend on a simple indulgence – a flavour of rocketing down the Mulsanne Straight in a cacophony of four-cylinder thump and supercharger whine peering into the night through oil-spattered goggles when in reality they’re trundling to the pub on a sunny Sunday afternoon electrically-powered and in 85 per cent scale That’s the most famous of Bentley’s early Le Mans racers despite never winning the great 24-hour race when equipped with the distinctive externally-mounted supercharger that gave it its nickname Bentley Blower Jnr - rear None of the Le Mans Blowers were quite alike and the Jnr is specifically a recreation of Team Car No Raced at Le Mans in 1930 by Sir Tim Birkin and Jean Chassagne it was sniffing at a win until it dropped a valve with four hours to go It’s now part of Bentley’s heritage collection in full running order but resplendent with nearly a century of patina Bentley brought this car over on the ferry to Jersey the accuracy of the recreation is staggering Hedley’s managed to perfectly preserve the original’s thrusting proportions not necessarily a given if you simply take a car and photocopy it on 85 per cent The fuel tank has been repurposed as a boot big enough for a couple of shopping bags the external gear change as a fly-off handbrake The titular blower is now a different sort of charger – the port for juicing up the Jnr’s electric powertrain.  Bentley Blower Jnr with Blower Team Car No 2 The only blemishes are the unsightly posts sprouting upwards that serve as seatbelt anchor points you couldn’t drive it on the road and experience what it’s like to cruise around in possibly the only £90,000 car that doesn’t make people hate you aluminium bonnet and the tiddly Brembo disc brakes hidden behind the Borrani wire wheels are welcome concessions to modernity And yes, unlike most of what Hedley’s built before, the Blower Jnr’s road-legal. It’s technically an L7e ‘heavy quadricycle’, placing it a category above stuff like the Citroen Ami and in the same class the channel island of Jersey was a cannily selected drive location because the fastest you can legally go is 40mph making it one of the few places on Earth where the 45mph Jnr can break the national speed limit Trying to assess its driving dynamics in the context of normal cars is utterly pointless The electric motor makes just 20bhp but a healthier 98lb ft of torque. With all that coming instantly and the whole package weighing a Caterham-esque 550kg plus driver it has the usual EV off-the-line spriteliness because 20mph when you’re so exposed to the elements feels like 60mph especially with a stiff breeze blowing in off the English Channel driving There’s a sizeable off-centre area where your movement of the big string-wrapped wheel doesn’t necessarily correspond with how much the car turns but the steering soon loads up and becomes as direct as you really need it to be when you’re only dealing with town-centre speeds and a 3.72-metre long vehicle The cornering is mostly pretty tame thanks to the speeds involved and there’s no sawing away at the wheel like Birkin and Chassagne would have needed to do so lots of little corrections are needed on straights The car only ever felt challenged by a particularly steep where the unloaded inner rear wheel spun up in a flurry of electric motor whine The brakes aren’t exactly confidence-inspiring the disarmingly squidgy pedal is never too much of a concern the Blower Jnr is a joyously effortless thing to punt around in and because it’s a very light car with a healthy slug of instant torque and very skinny tyres you can provoke friendly stabs of micro-oversteer on wet bends less scary version of what Birkin might have experienced coming off Mulsanne Corner the biggest sour point of the experience is the noise Regulations mean it has to make a generic EV hum and it’s as jarring as opening an episode of Downton Abbey with the Doctor Who theme tune you can just push the little foot-operated button by the left pedal that sounds the old-timey ‘awooga’ horn and the immediate giggle it elicits from bystanders nicely sum up what makes the Blower Jnr so endlessly appealing to everyone that sees it In a car industry that tends to take itself rather too seriously these days it’s so welcome to drive something so totally unserious Even with just 349 to shift – 99 Launch Editions, with their Team Car-aping British Racing Green paint scheme, and 150 configurable standard versions – £90,000 is a heck of a lot for something so hopelessly impractical. Consider, for instance, the £42k Morgan Super 3 which offers similar beautiful craftsmanship and flies-in-the-teeth fun but pairs it with actual car performance and the ability to go more than 60 miles before you need to refuel nothing’s going to match the Vintage Le Mans Simulator experience provided by the Blower Jnr and I commend anyone willing to drop M3 money on something as joyful as this reviews and unmissable promotions from the team direct to your inbox For more information see our Privacy Policy Next 2025 Xpeng G6 Review Mike Bartholomew The first full sentence spoken by an infant Mike was a review of the ride quality of a Volvo 850 It was “Daddy’s car goes bumpy-bump on a bumpy road,” so would probably need proofreading a bit © Crash Media Group Ltd 2025.The total or partial reproduction of text, photographs or illustrations is not permitted in any form. Press Release - 23042025 - Bentley at Auto China 2025.pdf (631.8 KB) 08/04/25 ProductNew High Performance Hybrid Continental GT, GTC and Flying Spur – the daily supercar family expandsALL BENTLEY NEWS Please rotate your screen. Press Release - 17042025 - Batur Convertible public debut.pdf (700 KB) View all Images Press Contacts Kanie Akram Marketing & Communications Manager – MEAI Region Back Black wings and Black Edition for Continental GT and Flying Spur families Press Release - 15042025 - Black Edition Range.pdf (627.1 KB) View all Images Press Contacts Jonathan Smedley Press release -25042025 - Heritage Leather.pdf (562.7 KB) Press Release - 22042025 - Sustainability Report.pdf (652.7 KB) View all Images Press Contacts Stefanie Lackner Press Release - 08042025 - The New Continental and Flying Spur range.pdf (642.4 KB) ALL BENTLEY NEWS Please rotate your screen. Press Release - 10042025 - 25 Years of 3D Printing.pdf (624.4 KB) View all Images Press Contacts Matthew Reed 11 April 2025) Bentley Stockholm is set to strengthen its presence in the Swedish capital with the opening of a new facility in Järfälla the new showroom and workshop is designed to provide an exclusive sales and aftersales experience for Bentley customers and enthusiasts innovation and craftsmanship. The exclusive showroom is designed to provide an immersive brand experience and will feature a private configuration area allowing customers to tailor their Bentley with a vast selection of materials a dedicated aftersales area will ensure a seamless ownership experience and two lifts exclusively for Bentley vehicles. The new facility will be operated by Semler Premium Bentley’s trusted partner in Denmark for over 20 years marking its expansion into the Swedish market ensuring Bentley customers continue to receive the highest levels of service and expertise.Bentley’s latest models take centre stage at the event led by the next-generation Continental GT—the most powerful road-going Bentley ever built This grand tourer is equipped with an all-new Ultra Performance Hybrid powertrain delivering an impressive 782 PS and 1,000 Nm of torque while significantly reducing CO₂ emissions to just 29 g/km This improved efficiency not only enhances sustainability but also brings advantages in markets where emissions-based regulations play a key role. Its exceptional performance is matched by an advanced chassis system featuring new two-chamber air springs Bentley Dynamic Ride (48V active anti-roll control) an electronic limited-slip differential (eLSD) These innovations ensure outstanding body control and the smoothest most refined ride in Continental GT history further enhanced by a first-ever 49:51 rear-biased weight distribution.Accompanying the grand tourer is the Flying Spur Bentley’s ultimate expression of luxury sedans seamlessly blending dynamic performance with handcrafted elegance the Bentayga S Black Edition delivers the perfect combination of versatility commented:    "The opening of Bentley Stockholm with Semler Premium marks a significant milestone in strengthening our presence in the Swedish market We are delighted to introduce a state-of-the-art showroom and service facility in Stockholm is a true reflection of Bentley's commitment to innovation and we look forward to offering this exceptional model to our Swedish customers I wish Jonas and the team continued success as they embark on this exciting new chapter."Jonas Haglund added:"Sweden has a strong appreciation for craftsmanship From the latest models to our bespoke Mulliner personalisation services Bentley Stockholm will be a destination where our customers can immerse themselves in the brand Our team is dedicated to delivering exceptional service and offering our customers the best experience."The new showroom is located in: Bentley Stockholm Allmänningsvägen 73176 78  JärfällaPhone: +46 8 448 45 70 For more information on the models on offer in the Bentley range, please visit the Bentley Media site: https://www.bentleymedia.com- ENDS –  Press Release - 11042025 - Bentley Stockholm Opening.pdf (668.2 KB) View all Images Press Contacts Valentina Pichler Press Release - 2804205 - Bentley x Marnie Rays surfboard.pdf (732.6 KB) View all Images View all Videos Press Contacts Wayne Bruce Press Release - 11032025 - The Black Rose Batur.pdf (624.4 KB) Press Release - 04032025 - ILC breaking ground.pdf (423.8 KB) Press release - 11022025 - ECQL opening.pdf (418.8 KB) View all Images Other Language Downloads German Press Contacts Matthew Reed Press release - 19032025 - 2024 FY Financials.pdf (635 KB) The threat of tariffs from Donald Trump is hanging over the manufacturer The boss of Bentley has warned the carmaker would pass on the costs of threatened US tariffs to buyers as the British luxury car brand reported a drop in profits because of weaker demand from China on Wednesday reported an operating profit of €373m (£314m) in 2024 the fourth-highest in the company’s 105-year history that was down more than a third from €589m the year before Frank-Steffen Walliser, Bentley’s chief executive since July, said it had been a “positive year despite the headwinds”, but added that the threat of tariffs from Donald Trump was hanging over the manufacturer. The US president last month said that tariffs of up to 25% on cars will force manufacturers to shift production to America That is unlikely in the case of luxury brands like Bentley whose cachet depends in part on continuous production at its factory in Crewe That means that price increases can be easier to impose on customers without hurting sales “We are assessing different scenarios on how to handle it but it would eventually be passed on to consumers,” Walliser told reporters Volkswagen’s premium Audi brand said on Tuesday it was considering “the extent to which we will have to pass on at least some of the tariffs to our customers in the form of price increases” and seeking a “sweet spot” between price increases and adjusting production “The market challenges definitely remain,” Bentley’s Walliser said “We have a very volatile political situation.” but declined to share the number of cars sold Executives claimed the company is shifting focus to “value over volume” targeting higher revenues from every car sold About 70% of all buyers pay for lucrative bespoke content including one buyer in 2024 who requested 3D-printed rose gold details inside a car However, Walliser did say the main reason for falling profits in 2024 was weakness in demand for cars in China. A slowdown in consumption in the world’s second-largest economy has weighed on sales of luxury goods Bentley finance boss Jan-Henrik Lafrentz said he hoped Chinese demand “will hopefully level out this year” Bentley in November said it will delay the end of sale of petrol cars to 2035, five years later than initially planned. Walliser said previous plans for electric cars were potentially “a little bit too bullish”. However, Lafrentz said Bentley expected its electric cars to be as profitable as its petrol and new hybrid models. “That’s a clear target,” he said. Press Release - 25022025 - Bentayga Atelier Edition.pdf (641.5 KB) Press Contacts Jonathan Smedley Press Release - 13022025 - Inspired by China collections.pdf (821 KB) Press Release - 31032025 - European Retailer Awards.pdf (618.5 KB) Press release - 07112024 - Beyond100+.pdf (627.5 KB) View all Images View all Videos Other Language Downloads German Press Release - 25032025 - Mulliner LE Duo.pdf (658.4 KB) Press release - 13032025 - UK retailer awards.pdf (620.3 KB) Press release - 10022025 - Apprentice recruitment 2025.pdf (429.8 KB) Press Release - 14042025 - AI Hide Inspection.pdf (624,2 KB) Voir Toutes Les Images Contacts Presse Matthew Reed Responsable de la Communication D’Entreprise TOUTES LES ACTUALITÉS BENTLEY Veuillez faire pivoter votre écran. Press Release - 22012025 - Bentley Cyprus 5 Year Anniversary.pdf (676 KB) Press release - 24022025 - Board Member apppointment.pdf (627.4 KB) one easily capable of 60mph without the V8 barking into life This part-electrified Conti is a mere appetiser for what we’re about to see as we become the first people outside Bentley to set foot inside its brand- new three-billion-plus-Euro electrified car factory engineers are busily installing equipment enabling prototype production of Bentley’s first BEV (battery-electric vehicle) which will start just eight weeks from now the BEV will be a little shorter than today’s models wear an imposing body immediately recognisable as a Bentley and be luxuriously trimmed by the company’s artisans But their work will incorporate new hi-tech materials and cutting-edge ways of working including AI and Autonomous Guided Vehicles to transport the car bodies This is the perfect distillation of Bentley’s vision for its ‘Dream Factory’ a place where heritage and modernity intersect And where a cutting-edge electric-vehicle line lurks within the site’s oldest building constructed in 1938 to build Merlin aero engines with World War II looming Andreas Lehe, Bentley’s towering board member for manufacturing, meets us at the end of today’s Continental and Flying Spur assembly line to share the company’s vision “It might have been easier to knock down all the old buildings and build them new,” he says “But it was important for us to secure these old buildings and integrate new technology and cars into this heritage.” we’ve rushed through the existing wood shop but along the way we’ve picked up some key insights into how the process is changing Bentleys are famed for their wood veneer trims six paper-thin layers currently mounted and baked onto aluminium substrates Three new injection-moulding machines stand to the side ready to create different-sized substrates for the new BEV to save a little weigh and boost sustainability; they should come from recycled sources and be reused at the end of life Bentley could backlight the trim according to customer tastes Instantly it paints a picture of a BEV cockpit with a deep-rooted Apprentices are already being trained to master the injection-moulding process in pre-production phases We discover the trim shop harbours similar modernisation when we walk the shop floor some already choose sustainable microfibre ‘Dinamica’ and Bentley is experimenting with upholstery made with squashed and pressed bamboo for the Urban SUV I also spy a black box casting infra-red light as it moves over a leather hide which uses AI to spot imperfections and can outperform the human eye – just like software trained to diagnose skin cancers I’m not sure whether to be awe-struck or fearful for the job implications a trend far from restricted to the car industry I’m partially reassured by a new sewing line in construction at the building’s end with a good old-fashioned café area proving the workers will be humans not robots Production director Andy Hobbs then sweeps us along the straight GT line, where 96 stations all running to a strict 10-minute schedule finish the painted bodies-in-white. The bigger Bentayga SUV– on a separate line – has fewer stages but with more than twice the time taken at each The electric future will be far less rigid Block A1 covers a vast 30,000 square metres and when Bentley’s electric transformation is complete after 2035 should be home to five model lines under one roof It’s an assembly line where Autonomous Guided Vehicles (AGVs) will tow bodyshells from one assembly station to the next That allows Lehe and his team to plan assembly in ‘S’ configurations leaving plenty of space for preparation areas and storage racks you get more or less stable production over the whole time another is increasing,” says the manufacturing chief “Our general plan is to integrate all the cars in this new line If you have three lines running in parallel what’s the impact?’ It’s much better to balance this in one assembly [line] in future.”  This is the four-dimensional chess played by Lehe and his predecessor Peter Bosch I’m told there’s a big floor mat of the site covered in Velcro pieces representing each of the buildings to scale seeing at a glance the impact on site production flow “[Site planning] is definitely like a jigsaw puzzle,” agrees Lehe The AGVs can be programmed to follow any route and they’ll lift Urban SUV bodies up and down by responding to digital signals identifying an assembly stage or even individual workers Such pinpoint ergonomics should help prevent injuries Digitalisation will also put an end to each car’s identifying spec being printed on low-tech paper taped to it: each car will have digital identifiers allowing the tooling to be automatically set to the correct torque levels or assembly patterns the drivetrain is not the most important part for the customer,” responds Lehe An EV’s huge torque and superior refinement will be trademark Bentley but the manufacturing boss believes the key thing will be to offer sufficient range and convenience I think 350 to 400 miles and charging stations available to charge fast “Interior is one of the areas which is important for us as Bentley I think we offer one of the best luxury-car interiors And we want to secure this real craftsmanship into the future.” The Urban SUV is based on the Volkswagen Group’s PPE (Premium Platform Electric) architecture, which also underpins the Porsche Macan Electric and Audi Q6 e-tron It will get their air suspension and rear-wheel steering boosting manoeuvrability for its urban habitat Know-how is also shared across the group brands: Lehe’s manufacturing team meet their Audi counterparts monthly to ensure the electronic architecture is running smoothly Software can make or break a new car: the Macan and Q6 were more than a year late because of issues at VW’s programming arm We head out to see the new buildings in a redevelopment that began five years ago when Pyms Lane Our guide is head of site planning Andrew Robertson who joined in 1999 to install the first Continental GT line He drives us in an electric vehicle – sadly not the Urban SUV we trundle down Sunnybank Road between the two paint shops the hi-tech shop will allow a broader array of colours and finishes (including two-tone and pinstriping) and slash energy consumption with a low-bake process at half the 160˚C norm.A catalyser in the chimney will stop any solvents escaping into the atmosphere thanks to 46,000 solar panels mounted on roofs that generate 10 megawatts on a sunny day and also by buying green energy and gas near 50-year-old paint shop stands on the opposite side of the road This will be decommissioned once the new facility is perfectly painting the BEV becoming a storage area for bodies-in-white shipped in from Volkswagen factories in mainland Europe Next stop is the Integrated Logistics Centre where construction workers suspended in the air busily enclose a side It looks colossal but is actually less than half the size of the BEV building it neighbours for speedy supply.Taking inspiration from Amazon warehouses ‘autopickers’ will whizz along rails in the ceiling before descending into columns to grab crates of parts the whole thing will be fully digital and supersede the existing store Good old-fashioned forklift trucks will be needed to shift the Urban SUV’s battery packs though they weigh 570kg and harbour 95kWh of usable energy in the Macan; it remains to be seen if Bentley will expand on this Maybe we’ll find out in another inconspicuous, white building on the north-eastern corner of the site: the Engineering Technical Centre. “The new BEV is in there,” confirms Wayne Bruce, our PR minder. “And that’s why we’re not going in.” Sigh. Auto Express has already spied crude prototypes wearing a butchered Porsche Cayenne shell; the real body will venture out testing towards the year’s end electrical and trim engineers – “most disciplines” reckons Robertson – are working their magic We borrow group technology but make it ours,” says Bruce our tour culminates at the BEV assembly line The surroundings feel similar to the other lines – no surprise given Bentley’s determination to preserve the original walls and roof marked with heavy plant tracks in the construction dust “There’s a reason for that: the AGVs,” explains Robertson “Carrying the cars will generate fairly high point loads So this fibre-reinforced concrete is the flattest and strongest I’ve laid in my career.” I peer down the 300-metre-long hall in the hope of finding out more but can’t make out what equipment they’re fitting though: the sound of drilling shrieks in our ears How does this differ from the Continental GT line Robertson helped to fit 25 years ago “The AGVs and the control systems,” he replies Equipment will be wirelessly connected to the internet enabling automated tool settings and pinpoint diagnostics and analytics Andreas Lehe reckons the transformation is the most ground-breaking development since Volkswagen bought Bentley in 1998 “And the most important part is to secure the future of Bentley So it was clear to make this investment into Crewe It's a commitment from our side to the region and to our heritage: for the next 100 years Icon could be reborn with a little help from Volkswagen New Renault 4 2025 review: as good as the Renault 5 with the bonus of extra space New 2025 Kia PV5 van starts from a tempting £22,645 Our marketing claims explained. Average savings are calculated daily based on the best dealer prices on Auto Express vs manufacturer RRP Please contact the dealer for a personalised quote Illustrations are based on personal contract hire Auto Express "Find A Car" is managed by Carwow Ltd Auto Express "Find A Car" is a trading style of Carwow Studio Limited which is an Introducer Appointed Representative of Carwow Ltd which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority for credit broking and insurance distribution activities (firm reference number 767155) Carwow Ltd may introduce you to Carwow Leasey Limited (trading as Carwow Leasey) Carwow Leasey Limited is an appointed representative of ITC Compliance Limited which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority for credit broking (firm reference number: 313486) Carwow Ltd and Carwow Leasey Limited are each credit brokers and not lenders Carwow Ltd and Carwow Leasey Limited may receive a fee from retailers advertising finance and may receive a commission from partners (including dealers) for introducing customers All finance offers and monthly payments shown are subject to application and status If you’re unhappy with Auto Express or Carwow’s service you may be able to contact the Financial Ombudsman (please see www.financial-ombudsman.org.uk for more information) 13601174) and Carwow Studio Ltd (company no 13018565) are limited companies registered in England with their registered offices at Verde Building Carwow Studio Limited and Carwow Leasey Limited are wholly owned subsidiaries of Carwow Ltd Carwow Studio Limited is part of the Carwow Group 2025undefined minsShareBentley's first car LondonBentley Motor's third annual Sustainability Report showcases its major advancements in EVs Bentley launched its "Beyond100" manifesto outlining its commitment to becoming a sustainable luxury automotive brand.  Bentley Motors has published its third annual Sustainability Report on Earth Day reassuring its vision of delivering responsible luxury underpinned by sustainability The 2025 report outlines measurable progress across Bentley’s Beyond100+ strategy, from full electrification to advanced manufacturing and community impact Bentley's report highlights its pivotal move towards decarbonisation all Bentley models are now available as plug-in hybrid EVs (PHEVs) underscoring the brand’s ambition to transition to a fully electric product portfolio by 2035.  Bentley is committed to introducing a new battery EV (BEV) or PHEV every year The final production of Bentley’s iconic W12 engine in 2024 marks a symbolic and strategic shift as the brand paves the way for its first fully electric vehicle – a luxury urban SUV to be unveiled in 2026.  “We are proud to launch our third Sustainability Report on Earth Day reinforcing our ambition to transition to net zero,” says Frank-Steffen Walliser “While we acknowledge the challenges ahead our dedication to responsible luxury remains steadfast we continue to redefine what it means to be a sustainable luxury brand.” The company’s wider electrification strategy is reinforced by supply chain and lifecycle emissions initiatives targeting net zero across operations and vehicle use phases At the company’s headquarters in the UK, Bentley continues to set the standard in sustainable manufacturing.  The site has run on 100% renewable electricity since 2017 and achieved carbon neutrality in 2019 — a status it maintained for the fifth consecutive year in 2024.  Investments in facilities have further strengthened this green transition.  Bentley’s Dream Factory also saw enhancements across three major centres: Bentley’s pursuit of sustainable luxury includes the use of advanced technologies to enhance traditional materials.  A key example is the introduction of AI-powered hide inspection which reduces leather waste and optimises interior production – demonstrating how digital innovation and craftsmanship can coexist The report also highlights Bentley’s focus on workforce development.  With its status as a UK Top Employer for 14 consecutive years Bentley is investing in skills to prepare its employees for the transition to electric mobility.  A five-year training programme is already underway with the goal of delivering 10,000 learning outcomes by 2027 These efforts support a culture of inclusion ensuring Bentley’s people are equipped for the future of sustainable mobility launched in 2024 with an initial £3m (almost US$4m) investment This year the company marked its first anniversary with the addition of three new partners:  This brings the Foundation’s partner network to ten organisations a significant milestone in Bentley’s mission to drive environmental regeneration and sustainable innovation “Bentley launched the Foundation 12 months ago with a £3 million donation for environmental projects worldwide,” comments Wayne Bruce Chief Communications and DEI Officer at Bentley Motors we have witnessed a series of major partnership successes that have already acted as a springboard to even greater achievements.  “As Bentley aims to be a leader in sustainable luxury mobility the Foundation will simultaneously strive to target next generation solutions to global environmental challenges.  we invite anybody to donate and join us in being a part of something truly extraordinary.” Each of the new partnerships reflects a unique area of focus: Other achievements in the Foundation’s first year include: a regeneration project of the Valley Brook River in Crewe is also underway The Foundation has also influenced internal innovation with alumni pitching bio-inspired ideas to Bentley’s design team.  As Bentley accelerates towards its vision of all-electric luxury the 2025 Sustainability Report illustrates the brand’s evolving role as a pioneer in environmentally and socially conscious automotive leadership Explore the latest edition of Sustainability Magazine and be part of the conversation at our global conference series, Sustainability LIVE.  Discover all our upcoming events and secure your tickets today Sustainability Magazine is a BizClik brand US President Donald Trump has signed an executive order looking to increase deep sea mining, drawing concerns for undiscovered species living there… This week's top stories include Earth Day, Harvard's ongoing DEI dispute, Microsoft's recycling achievements, China's NDCs & Sustainability LIVE Dubai… Press release - 16012025 - Top Employer 2025.pdf (88.5 KB) That’s right, for less than £45k you can have yourself a refined, uber-luxurious, drop-top Bentley Continental GTC that’s powered by a burbling 500bhp 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 engine and lined with gorgeous quilted leather but the design is as elegant and imperious as ever and there’s only 33,000 miles on the clock so far – presumably all from effortlessly crossing continents Four-wheel drive is also provided for maximum stability and security on the road If you have just missed this particular Bentley Continental GTC by the time you get here you can find more examples by clicking the button below.. Used Bentley Continental GTC deals The F90-generation BMW M5 was arguably the best and most timeless-looking car to come out of Munich in the past decade but of course that’s not the only reason to buy this formidable super-saloon Its 4.4-litre twin-turbo V8 engine delivers a phenomenal 616bhp and 750Nm of torque while the eight-speed automatic gearbox and four-wheel drive allow this executive express to dispatch 0-60mph in 3.3 seconds but is also very comfortable on pockmarked British roads If you missed the opportunity to snap up this particular BMW M5 there are several more available through our Find a Car service.. Used BMW M5 deals The Ford Mustang GT offers the quintessential muscle car formula: a big V8 engine under the bonnet, rear-wheel drive and a six-speed manual transmission in the middle. This iteration of Ford’s ‘Coyote’ V8 pumps out 415bhp and 530Nm of torque but the engine absolutely roars as you approach its 7,000rpm red line You can also do burnouts with ease in this car thanks to the ‘line lock’ feature that holds the front brakes while you light up the rear tyres as was fully independent suspension all-round allowing this version of Mustang to handle far better than its ancestors you can find plenty more by clicking the link below.. Used Ford Mustang deals Searching for a used car? Our Find a Car service is here to help... Ellis is responsible for covering everything new and exciting in the motoring world He was previously the content editor for DrivingElectric and won the Newspress Automotive Journalist Rising Star award in 2022 Our marketing claims explained. Average savings are calculated daily based on the best dealer prices on Auto Express vs manufacturer RRP. Please contact the dealer for a personalised quote, including terms and conditions. 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Press Release - 06032025 - Bespoke Exterior Accents by Mulliner.pdf (743.5 KB) By Nic Cackett / Thursday It seems a long time ago that the Flying Spur was introduced as a slightly ungainly offshoot of the Continental GT - and that’s because it was The original version was first shown 20 years ago last month and didn’t change a great deal for the next 14 years the L-series-powered saloon that was as opulent as Blenheim Palace and very nearly as sprawling But in 2020 Bentley discontinued the latter confident that the new Flying Spur it had launched the year before would fulfil the requirements of any customer not already persuaded by the all-conquering Bentayga.  This made sense. The Flying Spur that shared its platform (and much else besides) with the Porsche Panamera was very pleasant - and got even better when Bentley finally got around to installing the lighter 4.0-litre V8. In fact, when we drove one back in 2021 we called it ‘arguably the best luxury saloon in the world’ The intervening years have not diminished that opinion; on the contrary it loomed large in the memory when we came to the business of trying out the new one.  Bentley didn’t exactly burn the midnight oil when it came to overhauling the exterior and interior styling of the new GT and it has apparently devoted even less time and effort to freshening up the saloon - but little matter the previous Flying Spur could always part murmuring British crowds like a Royal Carriage the Mulliner spec car we drove featured Damson over White Sand duo-tone paintwork and ten-spoke 22-inch wheels (not pictured but no variant of the Spur ought to seem underdressed when it exits the Crewe gates.  Nor will it fail to indulge your taste for the finer things At some point in the not-too-distant future Bentley will doubtless feel obliged to properly modernise its button-heavy cabin - but thank heavens that time is not yet upon us there are moments when glancing down at the centre console can seem like sneaking a peek at the control panel of an A380 but rummaging around for a specific bit of switchgear these days is almost a pleasure; the chore comes when you need to resort to using Bentley’s ageing infotainment system.  Bentley’s genius is not just to make the interior seem lavishly well-appointed but also in possession of a unique and carefully stage-managed ambience And nor are there many larger - Bentley’s saloon may still share its MSB platform with other VW Group derivatives yet in scale it feels more like a QE2 stateroom than a close relative of the Panamera.  This impression of grand scale is amplified by the fact that the new Flying Spur - now equipped with the same ‘Ultra Performance’ hybridised V8 as the Continental GT we drove last year - wafts about noiselessly much of the time and doesn’t overly concern itself with concealing the additional 300 or so kilograms that have turned up with the 25.9kWh battery and 190hp electric motor and yet with 782hp and 738lb ft of torque to ultimately call upon the sense of irresistible force meeting immovable object is palpable Imagine driving a neutron star or something else similarly energy-dense Who wouldn’t want the reverential hush or the space or the end result of so much painstaking craftsmanship It makes high-end German luxury cars seem gloomy and soulless which is some trick when you consider that its EV mode is virtually indistinguishable from any number of rivals Bentley has astutely tuned the Spur’s throttle for softness and easy modulation - no tedious neck-snapping here - but it does also help to mask the fact that with only 332lb ft of torque available the car is not especially quick if the V8 remains entirely dormant.  While you can technically make this happen (for up to 47 miles at any rate) it is unlikely that Bentley intended its saloon to be driven so modestly come-hither growl that signals the V8’s arrival and its enlivening effect on proceedings the electric motor does all the initial heavy lifting in the Spur’s Hybrid setting but it’s always the V8’s delivery that surges into the furrow the acceleration suddenly unchecked by the mass of the thing Only when you need to slow it down will you remember - the Spur has sufficient goods train-like momentum to cause a worried grimace to cross your face if the traffic stops unexpectedly.  they surface in the moments when you nudge the Spur beyond its ocean-wide comfort zone Many of them resemble the GT’s shortcomings: this too is a hugely sophisticated yet its sophistication and engineering are not cost-free the saloon muscles its way through the weight penalty and the fundamental need to transition from one power source to another - but neither is as seamless or as satisfying as the way the old V8 And while it’s true that in Sport mode (as distinct from the default ‘Bentley’ running order) the newer Spur will make 7.4 seconds to 100mph seem astonishingly credible there is never quite the same inclination to hustle it along regardless of the possibilities the active anti-roll and all-wheel steer afford Or not to quite the same carefree extent.  And while there wasn’t an opportunity to charge the car this time around (it’ll reportedly get you 515 miles before tank and battery are both exhausted) there was no indication that this would ever be required if you felt terminally disinclined to fuss about with the supplied cables - another tick there is much to be said for the Spur’s charge setting: not only does it swiftly top up the battery in the course of normal driving it keeps the engine almost permanently front and centre without the associated ballyhoo of sport mode it’s easier to commune with the very fine V8-powered saloon underneath them 25.9kWh batteryTransmission: 8-speed dual-clutch all-wheel drive Power (hp): 782 combined (600@6,000rpm)Torque (lb ft): 738 combined (590@2,000-4,500rpm) 0-62mph: 3.5secTop speed: TBCWeight: 2,646kgMPG: 202 (WLTP)CO2: 33g/kmPrice: from £244,100 Press Release - 07032025 - Extraordinary Women.pdf (818.8 KB) Press Release - 28022025 - Crewe Youth Zone Patrol.pdf (651.2 KB) Press Release - 13112024 - Continental GT Newsweek Winner.pdf (629.6 KB) View all Images Press Contacts Wayne Bruce Press Release - 27022025 - A trio of awards for the GT.pdf (628.3 KB) Press Contacts Valentina Pichler 06/03/25 Bentley MullinerExterior accent colours extend the palette beyond 46 billion possibilities13/11/24 New Continental GTBentley Continental GT Speed recognized as Newsweek’s Most Anticipated New Vehicle for 2025ALL BENTLEY NEWS Please rotate your screen. Press Release - 21112024 - Jun Watanabe.pdf (341.9 KB) View all Images Press Contacts Erin Bronner Fresh Bentley Home Accessories RangesFor 2025, Bentley Home has expanded its accessories collection – a curated selection of items that fit its highly tailored aesthetic.      Press Release - 09042025 - Bentley Home Milan 2025 Interior Collections.pdf (807.4 KB) Press Release - 04042025 - Bentayga Victoris.pdf (628.4 KB) Press Release - 08012025 - Brussels Motor Show.pdf (485.5 KB) Press Release - 02092024 - New Flying Spur launch confirmed.pdf (336.3 KB) 18/11/24 New Flying SpurFlying Spur Speed Arizona03/10/24 Bentley MullinerFlying Spur Mulliner makes European debut at 2024 Zoute Grand PrixALL BENTLEY NEWS Please rotate your screen. Press Release - The New Flying Spur.pdf (2 MB) Press Contacts Mike Sayer