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Bentley Achieves Best Sales Ever Thanks to Poor VW Phaeton Take-Up

One Brands Downfall is Anothers Rise to Glory

It seems one brands pain is anothers gain. In this case, the poor sales VW has experienced with its fabulously well-executed (but much criticized for even existing) Phaeton luxury car, have benefited sales of Volkswagen AG über-luxury division Bentleys stunning new Continental Flying Spur.

Last year, when it became apparent that Phaeton sales werent going to pick up anytime soon, the German manufacturer offered its state-of-the-art Dresden manufacturing plant, previously exclusive to its flagship model, to Bentley in order to help appease the

The poor sales VW has experienced with its fabulously well-executed Phaeton luxury car, have benefited sales of Volkswagen AG ?ber-luxury division Bentleys stunning new Continental Flying Spur. (Photo: Bentley Motor Cars)

long waiting lists it was experiencing for its new "entry-level" four-door sedan. Bentley, respectful of its legendary brand heritage and the importance its customers hold to its "Made in England" status, simply offered its clients a chance to jump the queue is theyd have their new Flying Spur made in Germany. Apparently the marques

The new Flying Spur has proven as popular as the two-door coupe version that preceded it, the stunningly beautiful Continental GT. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, Canadian Auto Press)

nouveau riche could hardly care, with the result being quicker deliveries for Bentleys Crewe loyalists as well.

The new model has proven as popular as the two-door coupe version that preceded it, the Continental GT. Both feature a 552-horsepower 6.0-liter, 48-valve, DOHC, twin-turbocharged W-configured 12-cylinder engine, that kicks out an equally impressive 479 lb-ft of torque to all four wheels via a 6-speed automatic with paddle shift actuated manual mode. Naught to 100 km/h takes a mere five seconds, and considering the car weighs in at more

Her Majesty the Queen of England gets driven around in a stretched version of the Arnage dubbed the State Limousine. (Photo: Bentley Motor Cars)

than 5,000 lbs this is a feat indeed. Top speed, an outrageous 190+ mph, puts the large sedan into a rarified category of super-sedans, so its no wonder the "haves" of the world simply had to own one.

The result of this new sedan being built on two continents, sales remaining strong for Bentleys stunningly beautiful Continental GT as well as the firms top-tier model, the Arnage, continuing to appeal to the upper reaches of the well-to-do crowd (Her Majesty the Queen of England gets driven around in a stretched version of this car dubbed the State Limousine, after all), the revered British marque has increased sales by more than 31 percent, to a phenomenal 8,627 units throughout 2005.

Bentley isnt about to reign in its newfound popularity

With 8,627 vehicles sold in 2005 and new models coming, it wont take too many more yearly unit sales to fill Bentleys refurbished Crewe plant when it comes on line next year.? (Photo: Bentley Motor Cars)

either, with a new Arnage-based Azure "drophead" coupe (British for convertible) arriving this spring and the long-anticipated Continental GTC, a Continental GT minus the fixed roof, arriving in the fall.

Just what VW will do with its glass-encased Dresden boutique assembly plant in the near future is anyones guess, however, as all Bentley production will once again take place in Crewe by 2007; once the British factorys full upgrade is finished, giving it a 9,000 unit per year capacity. Even if Bentley can sell more than 9,000 cars per year, it is unlikely that it will move beyond this mark, being that exclusivity is what makes the winged-B badge so appealing.

Maybe new 18.5 percent VW AG shareholder Porsche will want Dresden for its new Panamera four-door? Hmmm... now that seems like a worthy recipient. Being that the German brand is targeting 90,000 sales for 2006, itll need all the production space it can get.

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