2016 promises to be another exciting year for Bentley as the luxury carmaker rolls out its new SUV and boosts its profile across the world

Bentley Motors is looking towards a strong 2016 following an excellent 2015 which saw the British luxury carmaker notch up sales of more than 10,000 cars for the third year running while setting a new record in the Middle East.

The new Bentley Bentayga is also expected to propel the brand’s growth as the ultra-luxury, go-anywhere machine is rolled out in markets across the world this year. 

Bentley Motors notched up record sales in the Middle East in 2015 delivering 1,274 cars to the region, up by eleven cars from 2014. Worldwide, the luxury marque delivered 10,100 cars in 2015, following double-digit growth in Europe, strong performance in Bentley’s UK home market and North America retaining its position as the number one region. 

This helped Bentley achieve its third consecutive year of selling more than 10,000 cars. Record sales in South Korea, Japan and the Middle East – with the UAE establishing itself as the fifth most successful single country – further reinforces Bentley’s position as the most sought-after luxury car brand in the world. 

Bentley’s Chairman and CEO Wolfgang Dürheimer said: “The positive performance last year was supported by increases across key sales regions and was driven by our continued commitment to invest – in our products, in our people and in our network.     

“We have worked hard to build a sustainable platform to enable long-term growth and this will help deliver a strong 2016, with the all-new Bentayga playing an important role. We also have exciting plans ahead as we look to introduce future models, allowing more customers around the world to experience Bentley’s unique combination of luxury and performance.”     

Bentley increased its presence around the world to 58 markets, more than ever before, with 203 retail partners. These partners will invest over €100 million ($111 million) this year in modern, luxury showrooms.

The number one customer region throughout 2015 was North America, closing the year delivering 2,864 cars, slightly down from 3,186 in 2014. This accounted for 28 per cent of global deliveries. 

In Europe, sales were up by 10 per cent with 1,695 cars delivered against the previous figure of 1,539 cars. Bentley’s home market, the UK, continued to perform strongly establishing itself as the second highest selling country, delivering 1,457 cars, up from 1,387 in 2014, achieving an 85 per cent export figure.

Bentley’s Member of the Board for Sales, Marketing and Aftersales, Kevin Rose said: “This international success is a further indication of the strength of Bentley’s brand. Not only have we established four key sales regions – North America, Middle East, Europe, including the UK, and China – we are also seeing markets such as South Korea, Russia and Japan grow rapidly too. This will only help us grow further, without compromising our exclusivity, and providing even greater long-term stability for Bentley Motors.”

Bentley’s success in the Middle East was driven by the introduction of the Continental GT V8 S.      

Bentley’s sales slumped in China, however, as it delivered 1,615 cars, down from 2,560 in 2014. Excluding China, Bentley maintained its record-breaking performance in 2015 for the rest of the world.

The Asia Pacific region delivered 455 cars, against 457 in 2014. Japan saw growth of 15 per cent, delivering 353 cars against a total of 306 cars in 2014. 

Finally, South Korea, following the introduction of the Flying Spur V8, delivered 387 cars, up 20 per cent from the 2014 figure of 322.


BENTAYGA

Meanwhile, following its debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show last year, the Bentayga has been wowing aficionados from the desert climes of Dubai to the snowy peaks of the Alps in Europe.

Last November, the Bentayga dazzled the crowds at the Dubai International Motor Show. Billed as the world’s most powerful, most luxurious, most exclusive and fastest sports utility vehicle (SUV), the Bentayga will sprint from 0-100 kmph in 4 seconds flat and go on to a top speed of just over 300 kmph. 

There to introduce the new SUV was Dr Marcus Abbott, Head of Product Marketing – SUV, Bentley Motors.  “The Bentayga is truly the Bentley of SUVs. It combines unparalleled luxury with effortless performance and everyday usability. With a new twin-turbocharged 6.0-litre W12 powertrain, the Bentayga offers a true Bentley driving experience and showcases a range of innovative technology features,” he said. 

“It redefines luxury in the SUV sector and offers a genuine Bentley experience in any environment, thanks to a combination of unparalleled attention to detail, go-anywhere ability and cutting-edge technology. With this extraordinary car, we are looking forward to an exciting period of strong growth and sales success for Bentley.” 

The Bentayga aligns to a range of lifestyles and redefines personalisation and bespoke luxury with an array of paint hues, luxurious carpet, trim hide and handcrafted veneer options, and a new range of bespoke Bentayga alloy wheels. 

The SUV is set to fit seamlessly into the lives of regional customers with the widest range of lifestyle accessories ever offered by the Bentley brand. Fans of aquatic sports can indulge in their passion using the load-assist tray and wet gear stowage, while polo and racing enthusiasts can enjoy the game from the comfort of their event seats while dining from the exquisite integrated Mulliner hamper set, complete with cooler, bespoke fine Linley china cutlery, crockery and crystal glass, and storage area for dry goods.

Middle East owners will enjoy the widest range of on- and off-road drive settings of any vehicle via Bentley’s Drive Dynamics Mode and optional Responsive Off-Road Setting. This versatility is complemented by features such as Bentley Dynamic Ride (electrically activated 48V active roll control), Predictive ACC and Traffic Assist; Traffic Sign Recognition; Electronic Night Vision, which uses infra-red technology to identify potential obstacles ahead; and a Head-Up Display, which reduces driver distraction and increases safety. 

Rear seat passengers benefit from an entertainment tablet – a removable 10.2” Android device with 4G, wi-fi and Bluetooth for effortless, high-speed on-board connectivity.

The SUV also comes with an 8-inch touch screen infotainment system that boasts class-leading navigation technology, a 60 GB hard drive, and a choice of up to 30 languages. Customers can also choose between three different sound systems including Bentley Standard Audio, Bentley Signature Audio and Naim for Bentley Premium Audio. 

The Bentayga is due to arrive at Bentley dealers across the Middle East by the start of the second quarter of this year.

Meanwhile in January this year, Bentley presented the Bentayga for the first time in the Austrian Alps and kicked off the market entry of the vehicle in Europe.

The Bentayga’s first alpine public outing coincided with the famous ski-race in Kitzbühel, with the luxury SUV on display at the foot of the ‘Streif’ ski run.

Robert Engstler, Regional Director Bentley Europe, said: “We had a very strong 2015 with Bentley growing our sales by 10 per cent in Europe to a total of 1,695. We were able to commit significantly to the success of our company and engage our customers with Bentley vehicles. We are on course for further growth in 2016, without compromising our exclusivity. In doing so, we will enhance our current retail network across Europe and enlarge our market presence by opening new locations. The all-new Bentayga will play an important role in our growth strategy.”

Bentley Motors’ headquarters in Crewe is home to all of its operations including design, research and development, engineering and production of four model lines, Bentayga, Continental, Flying Spur and Mulsanne.