Another week has flown by and after the chaotic nature of Paris Auto Week, it’s a slightly calmer review of the motoring industry this week. However, not to be missed are two announcements from Bentley Motor Cars, a new specification of a popular Audi Model and how you can add a personalised touch to your Caterham experience. Oh, and one of the most successful months for a German manufacturer is announced and then supported further by a pretty impressive motorsport achievement this weekend. Luckily for you we’ve condensed the stories below, so you can catch up on what’s new for week 41 of 2016.
Bentley make two announcements for week 41
Bentley open new Westfield personalisation studio
Bentley Studio London is located in The Village, Westfield’s home to leading fashion designers and luxury brands, and offers Bentley customers and fans alike a glimpse behind the walls of the British luxury car brand’s iconic factory in Crewe, Cheshire.
Traditional materials such as wood and leather sit alongside cutting-edge facial recoginition technology to help customers specify their perfect car, illustrating the breadth of customisation options available.
Bentley’s innovative Inspirator app is installed within the studio to allow fans the opportunity to engage with the brand. Using the latest in emotional recognition technology, users are guided through an immersive film that is shaped, directed and inspired by your facial and emotional reactions. Based on your measures of engagement – captured by your device’s camera – a bespoke Bentayga or Mulsanne is recommended for you from the vast selection of exterior paint colours, wheels, leather hides and wood veneer.
Bentley announce trial with Filld
Bentley take a step forward with innovative technology after announcing a collaborative trial with Filld– a mobile app-based fuel-delivery service. This new collaboration is part of the luxury British brand’s on-going Connected Car strategy.
The convenient app-based ‘Filld for Bentley’ service will initially be available to customers in California, affording owners the ultimate time-saving luxury of never having to search for or stop at a fuel station again.
In a first for Bentley customers, all owners need do is simply open the innovative Filld for Bentley app, choose a delivery time, and their fuel will be delivered wherever and whenever they require. This first-ever Connected Car integration means that customers don’t even need to unlock the fuel cap themselves, or identify the car’s exact location as this is done for them securely through the Filld for Bentley service.
The ground-breaking Filld fuel-delivery service provides Bentley drivers with an unparalleled level of convenience, and the two companies foresee additional benefits in the future, including predictive fuel ordering where the car places an order for itself based on fuel level, location and customer preferences.
Audi reveal plans for new Q3 Black Edition
The dark and brooding good looks of the Black Edition models that have been mainstays of the Audi A4, A5, A6 and A7 Sportback ranges have inspired a new Q3 Black Edition that spearheads a wholesale update of the perenially popular compact SUV line-up. The new top flight Q3 and the sharper, even better equipped versions that sit below it will become available later this month priced from £26,600 OTR, and will reach their first customers towards the end of the year.
Replacing the S line plus model, it builds on that version’s already extensive specification with features such as standard metallic paint, privacy glass from the B pillar rearwards and a Bose sound system upgrade, but its key point of differentiation is of course the distinctive black treatment for many of its parts. These start in the cabin with piano black inlays, and continue outside to take in everything from the 19-inch alloy wheels, wheel arch cappings and Single Frame grille surround to the roof rails, rear spoiler and tailpipes, all of which are finished in gloss black.
Caterham launch Caterham Signature
Launched with a special edition Seven designed by world-famous department store, Harrods, Caterham have announced their first personalisation programme.
The special edition Harrods Seven – a 420S under the skin – is painted in Harrods green, with a custom white stripe and gold pinstripe while, beneath the bodywork, the chassis has been powder-coated in gold. Inside the cockpit, the butterscotch leather upholstery also reflects Harrods’ colour scheme, while the store name is embroidered on the seat backs and the Harrods ‘H’ adorns the gear knob. The car’s styling was created in conjunction with Harrods and its design team and buyers can pick one up in store along with their fashion and luxury items.
The Harrods special edition car is now on sale exclusively in store and includes a host of special features which demonstrate the breadth of options new Caterham buyers can add to their vehicles. These include paint colours and designs, dashboard and interior styling, embroidery and even the colour of the chassis.
The £59,999 Harrods special edition is on display in the famous London store throughout October for Harrods Man month, starting from Friday October 7. The Harrods Seven is on sale exclusively in the Knightsbridge store, while the Caterham Signature programme is available now to new customers looking to place their orders.
Mercedes-Benz achieve hat-trick of results in September and follow it with a hat-trick of Formula One World Constructors Championships
2016 is proving to be an ever-so successful year for German manufacturer Mercedes both on the road and on track.
In September, in the third quarter and also in the first nine months of the year, the Stuttgart based company with the three-pointed star achieved three new records and is doing better than ever before. Last month, sales reached the all-time high of 211,286 vehicles (+12.1%), passing the mark of 200,000 units in one month for the first time. In the period of July to September, the bestselling quarter so far was achieved with sales of 531,302 units (+11.2%). Since the beginning of the year, sales by Mercedes-Benz have risen at a double-digit rate to a record number of more than 1.5 million vehicles (1,537,921 units, +11.7%). Last month, Mercedes-Benz was the market leader among the premium manufacturers in Germany, France, Spain, Portugal, Switzerland, Japan, Taiwan, USA, Canada and Mexico.
“In September, we scored a hat-trick – the best month with more than 200,000 units sold, the best quarter and the best first nine months of a year for Mercedes-Benz,” stated Ola Källenius, Member of the Board of Management of Daimler AG responsible for Mercedes-Benz Cars Marketing & Sales. “We continued our product offensive in September with the E-Class Estate, the long-wheelbase version of the E-Class Saloon, the C-Class Cabrio and the GLC Coupé.”
Just days after revealing their accomplishments, their ever-successful Formula One team secured their third consecutive World Constructors Championships in the pinnacle of Motorsport, highlighting that Mercedes is one of, if not the one, manufacturer to consider associating yourself with.
