Bentley gears up for Mulsanne launch
LUXURY car maker Bentley is mounting a major sales drive in the US, after showcasing its latest models at the international auto-show in Detroit.
The Crewe-based manufacturer wooed the US with its new flagship sedan model Mulsanne – which goes on sale this year with a £220,000 price tag ($285,000) and the Series 51 designer edition of its popular Continental GTC convertible.
Bentley says interest in the Mulsanne has been highly encouraging.
Christophe Georges, president and chief operating officer of Bentley’s US arm said: “The Detroit Motor Show remains an important stop for Bentley on the annual calendar of international motoring events.
“Detroit is also the motor show debut for our flagship Mulsanne and the Series 51 Continental in The Americas region – our single largest worldwide – so it is an important opportunity to reach key influencers.”
More than 1,000 private customer previews of Mulsanne have been held at the Crewe factory and there have also been a series of preview events held at dealerships across the UK, Continental Europe and the US.
Stuart McCullough, sales and marketing director said: “Even at this very early stage, the expression of interest we’ve received easily exceeds our 2010 production targets.
“Mulsanne’s credentials are a pure expression of Bentley design and craftsmanship, and that’s struck a chord with Bentley enthusiasts across the globe.”
Production will begin in the second quarter of this year, and the first models will be ready for delivery in the summer.
Bentley – which is owned by Germany’s Volkswagen Group – has been hit hard by the recession and has been forced to cut jobs and pay in the last year.
Last September Bentley posted a loss of £127m for 2008, but said it had doubled investment in new models and technology to £255m.
