Motoring: Bentley’s Russian drive & more

LUXURY manufacturer Bentley Motors has reinforced its commitment to the company’s key Russian market, by announcing the opening of its third dealership in Moscow.
           
Keen to boost its overseas trade – but at odds with the economic sanctions imposed on the country – Bentley has opened the doors on its new dealership, which occupies a prime site on Volgogradskiy Prospekt.

The dealership, Bentley Moscow-Volgogradskiy, is a partnership with automotive retail specialist, Avilon.

It offers customers the full Bentley model range as well as aftersales service and the company’s branded luxury goods. It adds to Bentley’s existing presence in Tretyakovsky Proezd and at the Barvikha Luxury Village, with Bentley’s long-standing partner, Bentley Moscow, operated by Mercury.

Kevin Rose, Bentley’s board member for sales, marketing and aftersales, said: “The opening in Moscow-Volgogradskiy is another key step in our growth plans for Russia. We are making strong progress, with high levels of interest in Bentley across the country, and we look forward to our new dealership contributing to this continued success.”

7-Up for Aston Martin

SPORTS car manufacturer Aston Martin has produced seven bespoke editions of one of its leading models as part of a very special commission.

The Warwickshire company was put to task by sports car enthusiast and businessman Markus Storck, founder and head of German hi-tech bicycle manufacturer, Storck Bikes.

The commission was for the experts at the Q by Aston Martin bespoke personalisation service to develop seven special editions of the Vanquish sports car – one for himself and six for fellow sports car aficionados.Aston Martin One of Seven Vanquish

The project is the fulfilment of a longstanding ambition Storck.

Dr Matthew Bennett, General Manager of VIP sales and Q by Aston Martin personalisation service, delivered the first of the seven unique Vanquish coupes to the German collector at an event held at the luxury marque’s headquarters in Gaydon.

The ‘One of Seven’ Vanquish models boast a broad array of bespoke features including an exclusive exterior finish that sees multiple layers of carbon fibre cleverly interwoven to a perfectly smooth finish – a result that required Aston Martin to develop an entirely new addition to its manufacturing process. It will ensure the seven Vanquish models will become collectors’ items in years to come.

Bennett said: “The process of creating these sports cars has been typical of what Q by Aston Martin can deliver.

“From a blank canvas we have made the client’s vision for the cars a reality.”

Aside from the multi-layered carbon fibre body, with its elements of exposed carbon and satin Jet Black paint finish, the bespoke Vanquish sports cars also include an array of luxurious and custom-made additions such as diamond quilting on the seats, machined carbon Aston Martin wings badges, ‘One of Seven’ logos perforated into the head restraints and a variety of gloss black styling additions.

Storck said: “I’m absolutely thrilled to see my vision for a series of bespoke Aston Martin Vanquish come to life like this.

“The attention to detail, service and dedication I have seen from the Q team has been exceptional – and the result is outstanding.”

Bennett concluded: “Developing the capacity of our Q by Aston Martin service to deliver these truly bespoke luxury sports cars has been a great achievement.

“Our Design, Manufacturing and Commercial teams have worked seamlessly together to produce these cars, and we are all very much looking forward to taking on more complex and challenging projects in the future.”   

Big Cat purrs at Mille Miglia

JAGUAR Heritage has released a very special film of its historic cars in action at this year’s  Mille Miglia.

The Italian race is one of the showpiece motoring events in the world, nestling alongside the Le Mans 24-hour and the Monaco Grand Prix.

The new film has been released to give motoring enthusiasts an in-depth look at an event once described as ‘The most beautiful race in the world’.

In the year that Jaguar celebrates its 80th anniversary, the official Jaguar Heritage team headed to the start in Brescia with three C-types, three D-types, two XK120s and an XK140; each driven by a famous face from the world of motorsport, TV and music.

Following the Jaguar Heritage cavalcade were a group of media guests driving various examples of new Jaguar XE and latest generation of F-Type sports cars.

Supported by an expert crew of Jaguar Heritage technicians, the nine Jaguar entries ran smoothly throughout the gruelling four-day event. Driven by the likes of supermodel David Gandy, model and TV presenter Jodie Kidd, and musician Elliot Gleave – better known as Example – the Jaguar Heritage team finished strongly in the Mille Miglia’s regularity trial rankings, too.

Ian Callum, Jaguar design director, who was driving an Ecurie Ecosse D-type said: “It’s a huge privilege to be part of that car’s history – because it’s made even more history now, being part of the Mille Miglia. This year’s drive was pure enjoyment for me, pure exhilaration. This event is amazing – it gives you a unique feeling for what the car is about. It underlines exactly what the Jaguar brand is all about.”

TV chef and renowned car collector James Martin – who drove a Jaguar Heritage D-type with adventurer Charley Boorman – said of the event:  “You feel elated at the end. It’s just the most amazing feeling. I’ve been through the turmoil and the heartache of not finishing the Mille Miglia so to be able to cross that line…I’m a tough Yorkshire farmer, but I had tears in my eyes.”

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