Bentley sure is gunning for the E55.....wow!
08-11-2005, 03:44 PM
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2003 E55 & 2014 GL550
Bentley sure is gunning for the E55.....wow!
Revealed: BENTLEY's secret E-class
`Compact' Bentley saloon to rival Merc E55 AMG using VW chassis and Audi engine
HILTON HOLLOWAY
Bentley bosses are working on plans to extend the company's line-up, a move which could result in the British brand taking Mercedes on its traditional heartland and dramatically boosting production.
Early plans are being drawn up for a smaller executive car that would rival Mercedes' 469hp E55 AMG Super-saloon. It would be based on the VW Group's new top-end vehicle architecture, which has been born out of the VW Touareg/Porsche Cayenne collaboration, probably using the Audi's 4.2-litre V8 engine.
Mimicking BMW's mid-front-engine, rear-drive layout, (with 4x4 option) the chassis is also expected to be the basis of the forthcoming Porsche saloon and Lamborghini's proposed Espada four-seat coupe{AAC}.
Bentley's original plan when it developed the Continental GT and Flying Spur was to target Mercedes' AMG line-up.
According to well-placed sources at Bentley's parent company, the thinking is that the brand's current success could be more than a passing phase. Some product planners are convinced that the brand has much greater potential than the planned 10,000 annual sales, and could move into direct competition with mainstream executive manufacturers.
With Mercedes selling over 250,000 E-class models each year, Bentley could enter the high end of this lucrative segment, creaming off the most profitable top-end sales.
Although the numbers involved would probably not exceed 20,000 per year, the project should be highly profitable, with development costs shared between Lamborghini, Porsche and Bentley. However, the plan is still at a very early stage.
There will also be undoubted hostility to the plan from within Bentley. As Autocar has previously reported, the British are holding out against the idea of a luxury 4x4, despite reports that potential partner Lamborghini is pushing ahead with the scheme. However, Bentley has previously built the ``compact'' saloons _ such as the Mark 4 and R-type of the 1950s. AUTOCAR/BANGKOK POST SERVICE
`Compact' Bentley saloon to rival Merc E55 AMG using VW chassis and Audi engine
HILTON HOLLOWAY
Bentley bosses are working on plans to extend the company's line-up, a move which could result in the British brand taking Mercedes on its traditional heartland and dramatically boosting production.
Early plans are being drawn up for a smaller executive car that would rival Mercedes' 469hp E55 AMG Super-saloon. It would be based on the VW Group's new top-end vehicle architecture, which has been born out of the VW Touareg/Porsche Cayenne collaboration, probably using the Audi's 4.2-litre V8 engine.
Mimicking BMW's mid-front-engine, rear-drive layout, (with 4x4 option) the chassis is also expected to be the basis of the forthcoming Porsche saloon and Lamborghini's proposed Espada four-seat coupe{AAC}.
Bentley's original plan when it developed the Continental GT and Flying Spur was to target Mercedes' AMG line-up.
According to well-placed sources at Bentley's parent company, the thinking is that the brand's current success could be more than a passing phase. Some product planners are convinced that the brand has much greater potential than the planned 10,000 annual sales, and could move into direct competition with mainstream executive manufacturers.
With Mercedes selling over 250,000 E-class models each year, Bentley could enter the high end of this lucrative segment, creaming off the most profitable top-end sales.
Although the numbers involved would probably not exceed 20,000 per year, the project should be highly profitable, with development costs shared between Lamborghini, Porsche and Bentley. However, the plan is still at a very early stage.
There will also be undoubted hostility to the plan from within Bentley. As Autocar has previously reported, the British are holding out against the idea of a luxury 4x4, despite reports that potential partner Lamborghini is pushing ahead with the scheme. However, Bentley has previously built the ``compact'' saloons _ such as the Mark 4 and R-type of the 1950s. AUTOCAR/BANGKOK POST SERVICE
08-11-2005, 04:17 PM
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I know....the Audi 4.2 motor....bawww haaaa haaaaaaa
Don't get me wrong....it's 450 hp and smooth...but sure not the Torque Monster.....and of course Benz is moving the Queen and Rook into position for Checkmate in 07 with twin turbs.
Don't get me wrong....it's 450 hp and smooth...but sure not the Torque Monster.....and of course Benz is moving the Queen and Rook into position for Checkmate in 07 with twin turbs.
08-11-2005, 05:10 PM
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'10 MB E63, '08 ML550 ('05 E55, '05 SL55, '08 E63 GONE)
It will probably cost what... $50K+ more than the E55... so I can hardly see it stealing any sales... Maybe from the S class but certainly not the E.
~ Ian
~ Ian
08-11-2005, 05:24 PM
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stop saying twin-turbos, the E-Class will not be getting twin turbos. I am confident the E63 can absolutely crush all comers without any help. Plus, isn't Bentley competing with Mercedes a huge step down for the marque? Never liked them anyway, their image- I'd rather have an Aston Martin.
:p
08-12-2005, 02:02 AM
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No other car in the world apart from Aston Martin has the name and class of Bentley/Rolls Royce.
PS: 6.3lt without some form of forced induction is not going to be up to scratch to match it with it's rivals.
PS: 6.3lt without some form of forced induction is not going to be up to scratch to match it with it's rivals.
