Bentley leads trio of dramatic British car brand expansions

This year is shaping up to be an exciting one for the British car industry, and over the next few posts we'll do a round up of the latest developments.

Bentley, Lotus and MG have all revealed plans to expand their UK-based operations with a range of new models that are set to hit the road in the next few years.

We'll look at Lotus and MG in later posts. But to kick off let's take a look at Bentley - one of Britain's oldest car marques and one that trades on its history and tradition perhaps more than any other.

Yet news from the Crewe-based firm looks set to shock Bentley purists.

Under VW ownership, new models like the Continental GT, Flying Spur and Mulsanne have revived a luxury brand that was long confined to adapting and uprating Rolls Royce models.

But in a bid to drive sales to new highs, bosses are starting to look at taking the firm into new territory through several ground-breaking new projects, inspiration for several of which seems to have come from fellow VW Group stablemate Porsche.

New Continental GT

Bentley's new Continental GT may not look very different, but the company insists that the only part of the car that isn't new are the wing mirrors, being the same as fitted to the Mulsanne.

As the acclaimed car that revived the firm's fortunes after it split from Rolls Royce, the redesign of the Continental was never going to be a radical one. But as so often with Bentley, the difference is in the detail and it's up close that the changes become more evident.

Overall the new GT has been given a much cleaner and less rounded feel. At the front there's a larger, more upright grille flanked by one main and one smaller set of headlights to replace the twin similar-sized layout of the previous model. Underneath, wider and deeper lowe air intakes are finished in similar chrome mesh grille as the radiator.

Along the side, there's the same crease that starts at the lower front bumper, curves up over the wheel-arch and heads towards the back of the car. But now, rather than dropping away subtly downwards, instead heads arrow straight through the door handles until it meet the rear wheel-arches.

At the rear, the most distinctive changes are the smaller rear light clusters which, like the fronts, also feature LEDs and the much squarer, projecting bootlid, which mimics the 1950s Bentley R-Type.

The layout of the bespoke interior remains similar to the previous model, but features an updated instrument panel in front of the driver. A new main 'infotainment' display screen sits on the centre console, with revised seating and air conditioning switch-gear underneath.

The seats have also been redesigned, aimed at freeing up more leg-room for rear seat passengers.

But it's not just the car's looks that have changed. Under the skin, the new Continental is also being offered with an all-new V8 engine option, promising 40 percent lower emissions than the previously standard W12 unit. Performance has been sharpened up too, with a tweaked gearbox and the four-wheel-drive system shifted from a 50:50 to a 40:60 rear bias to improve on-road dynamics.

The car's W12 engine has also been slightly uprated which, combined with weight savings, has improved the car's acceleration and top speed.

A question mark also still hangs over the possibility of an estate, or 'Shooting Brake' version of the Continental, following the acclaim for a Superleggera designed concept that debuted at the Geneva Motor Show earlier this year. The company is reportedly consulting customers on the viability of a limited production run.

Diesel power

Fresh from launching the all-new Mulsanne and Continental GT, Bentley has hinted that its next move will be to develop its first diesel engine in its 92-year history.

The move has been confirmed by boss of the company's parent group, Dr Ferdinand Piech, but so far no details about the engine have been made available. Neither has it been revealed to which Bentley models the new motor may be fitted, but it's most likely that it will be an option in the firm's less sporty models, such as the Mulsanne and Flying Spur.

Despite the current lack of detail it's already safe to say that the result is likely to be the world's most refined and powerful diesel, particularly since it's not as if the firm is starting from scratch. Bentley's parent company, VW, has in recent years been at the forefront of oil-burner innovation, developing potent yet quiet diesels for its range-topping Porsche and Audi models.

It's not hard to see why Bentley wants to get in on the act. Firstly, introducing a diesel engine to the firm's range will help to increase the fuel efficiency of its models and cut emissions to meet stringent new European Union regulations. It's also the case that, with BMW, Land Rover, Mercedes and Jaguar now all offering oil-burners across their premium ranges, diesel models are starting to outsell petrol variants in many of the company's main markets.

Shock 4x4 model

Perhaps the most shocking news to purists will be recent reports of the firm's bosses feeding speculation that an all-new Bentley 4x4 is under serious consideration.

New chairman and CEO, Wolfgang Duerheimer, was recently quoted speaking enthusiastically about the opportunities for Bentley in the "super-luxury" SUV segment. He has noted both that no-one is delivering such a vehicle in the "Bentley style" and that many of Bentley's customers also own a premium 4x4 vehicle.

While traditionalists surely won't like it, from a sales view he may have a point. What's more, having recently joined the Crewe-based firm from Porsche, where he was instrumental in launching the Cayenne SUV, Duerheimer also has close experience of taking an established brand with passionate followers into new and unexpected market territory.

Turbo R revival

The company has also set tongues wagging that the much-loved 'Turbo R' badge may return on an all-new coupe version of the Mulsanne.

The original 'Turbo R' gained a strong following for its impressive combination of power, performance and luxury, turning a heavyweight limo into a car that was both shockingly quick and eminently driveable - the R standing for 'road-holding'.

The new 'grand' two-door is likely to feature an uprated version of the Mulsanne's 6.75 litre V8 engine and replace the firm's current Brooklands model.

All-new Bentley 'Eight'?

Finally, rumours abound that the company is planning to join the burgeoning four-door coupe sector, by considering a model to rival the Aston Martin Rapide, Maserati Quattroporte and Porsche Panamera. Such a car would also offer a more luxurious alternative to the Mercedes CLS or acclaimed new Jaguar XJ.

So far, company bosses talk vaguely of a "third generation model" but to differentiate the new car from the Flying Spur the format is likely to be based around sister company Audi's A7 Sportback.

Taking its cues from the new Continental GT at the front, the rear is likely to feature a dramatically sloping roofline and prominent, squared off boot-lid in the company's latest style harking back to Bentleys of old.

The new car will also be priced as an entry-level model and Bentley hopes as a result it will sell in numbers to ensure the company's stability in the current difficult economic climate, particularly in the increasingly important Chinese market.

Talk of the car being fitted with the firm's all-new 4.0 litre V8 engine, mated to an eight-speed automatic gearbox, means I'm going to stick my neck out and predict now that this new Bentley will revive another traditional model name - the 'Eight'.

Not only was this Bentley's entry model during the mid 80s/early 90s, but it would also bode well for sales in the increasingly important Chinese market, where eight is seen as a lucky number thanks to the Chinese word for 'eight' sounding similar to that for 'prosper' or 'wealth'.

So remember folks; when the new Bentley 'Eight' makes its debut, you heard it here first!

New horizons

While suspicions will always arise when a bespoke firm comes under the ownership of a mass manufacturer, there's no reason to doubt VW's commitment to Bentley's fine history and traditional values.

However, in today's competitive environment, Bentley must also look to the future and the demands of a global marketplace. Preserving the values of a marque as emotive as Bentley is of course important, but perhaps more so is seeking levels of sales that will safeguard the company's future and, with it, the hopes and aspirations of its 3,500 employees. Not to mention the thousands more in the firm's suppliers and dealerships.

Ultimately, as long as the end product is up to the firm's high standards and represents its traditional values, Bentley followers are likely to find that their much-loved marque is capable of being more elastic than they may first imagine.

MG cars reborn in surprise six model line-up

One of the most exciting pieces of automotive news in 2010 has been the looming spectacular relaunch of the historic MG car brand.

To date the company's only offering since its takeover by Chinese motor group SAIC has been the TF roadster, production of which has been distinctly intermittent.

While the mid-engined sportcar was respected for its handling, its 1990s heritage has left it severely lagging rivals.

But the company's new bosses have confirmed that MG is about to burst back onto the motoring scene with a range of surprising new models.

Showing the company is preparing to mix it in the most competitive sectors of the car market, the first new generation MG to hit the road will be the MG6 family model in both saloon and hatchback guise.

The Ford Mondeo and VW Jetta rival will be the first all-new MG to emerge from the company's historic Longbridge, West Midlands, home for 15 years when UK production starts by the end of 2010 and cars go on sale in early 2011.

Designed and engineered in Britain for sale internationally, the car is set to be powered by a 1.8 litre petrol engine with a 1.9 litre turbodiesel to follow.

Dubbed a 'fastback', early pictures of the production-ready MG6 show a coupe-like profile and, in keeping with the brand's history, the car is expected to have a distinctly sporting personality.

Featuring dramatic front lights, the car's angular face has a VW Golf style thin front grill dominated by a large MG badge with a deep black mesh grill below.

But while it's hard to judge from promotional photos alone, first impressions of the styling suggest that the MG6 may suffer from the clashing hints of Asian, European and American design tastes that come with attempting to build a 'world car'.

Designing an appealing car for all markets is a quest with which even the world's largest car makers have struggled, as the typically ungainly results have tended to underwhelm all markets.

MG, even with the resources of its new Chinese backers, would be very brave to attempt such a feat with its new range.

The '6' will be followed by a smaller Ford Fiesta and VW Polo sized model set to be called the MG3, which will go on sale in China before production moves to the UK by 2012.

Technical details are sketchy but the car is likely to be powered by 1.3 and 1.5 litre four-cylinder engines, with the possibility of a 1.5 litre turbo sports model.

Altogether, the new MG family is likely to comprise six models when production at Longbridge is up to full speed.

Other additions to the line-up over the coming five years are rumoured to be a mid-range 'MG4' to rival the Ford Focus and Vauxhall Astra, a large four-door model in the mould of the former MG ZT, plus a small electric city car.

A replacement for the dated TF roadster is also in the pipeline for a 2013 launch, with a number of development options being considered from a re-design of the current mid-engined format to an all-new front-engined sportscar. Powertrain options will include a hybrid as well as a potentially exciting V6 unit.

In the meantime the long-lived current TF will be finally phased out at the end of 2010.

Pricing of the MG3 in China shows SAIC's strategy for the marque may be to undercut major rivals while providing distinctive design and high levels of equipment as standard.

A premium sporting brand at a value price is an exciting prospect.

Under Chinese ownership, many false dawns and slipped re-launch timetables have surrounded the iconic British sporting brand. According to SAIC, the launch of the MG6 represents "the start of one of the most exciting periods in the 85-year history of the MG brand".

The latest news certainly shows that the company's new Chinese owners are serious about the marque's future.

Jaguar's stunning X-Type replacement breaks cover

The revival clearly continues apace at Jaguar - one of Britain's most historic and industrially important car manufacturers.

Far from resting on their laurels following the recent launch of the new flagship XJ, Jaguar has given the go-ahead to production of a stunning new BMW 3-series rival.

In an exclusive report, British car magazine Auto Express reveals this week that Jag bosses have confirmed that an X-Type replacement is already under development and due to appear in 2012.

According to the magazine's images, the all-new smallest car in the Jaguar range looks set to follow eye-catching design cues set down by the ground-breaking new XF and XJ models.

At the front end will be a subtly re-worked version of the company's new rectangular mesh grille and XF-style swept-back twin headlights.

At the back, trademark curved rear haunches will lead to the marque's new-style smooth rear, complemented by sleek rear lights.

The effect will create a significantly more modern, sporty and muscular stance than that of the existing X-Type.

But it's what will be under the skin that may spell the biggest trouble for BMW, as Jaguar appears to be targeting the German company's reputation for handling prowess.

The magazine reveals that Jaguar is working on an all-new aluminium rear-drive chassis for its new baby model, with the aim of making it the lightest and best handling car in its class.

Under the bonnet, the company may continue to offer a 3.0 litre V6 diesel engine to power the next X-Type. But with ever greater focus on cutting emissions, the mainstays of the engine range will be a pair of four-cylinder petrol and diesel units.

While the old X-Type had a strong band of followers - attracted by the Jaguar brand image and the car's competent, Mondeo-based handling - the model was never a sales success.

Yet for Jaguar to continue the fight back against its key German competitors it must make greater headway in the higher volume market for smaller executive cars.

If the production version comes anywhere close to the images revealed this week, this important new model for the British car industry will look fantastic and ensure the likes of BMW, Audi and Mercedes will soon have a real fight on their hands!

'Bail out' turns washout

Unelected Secretary of State for Business, Peter Mandelson, has this afternoon made a statement on government plans to help the car industry.

Having been much hyped since December as a 'bail out' of the industry, following growing announcements of job losses and temporary shut downs, very little of substance has emerged.

One of the most-trailed measures was potential help for car company finance arms, to enable people who still want to buy a new car to get a loan in these times when banks are less keen to lend.

Such a plan would at least target the main problem - that demand for new cars has dropped off a cliff and car makers have stockpiles of unsold cars.

However it would not be specific help for British industry, as EU single market rules would prevent it being tied to the purchase of only British-made cars.

Yet despite the hype, all that today's statement offered was that the government was "looking at steps" on this front - a feeble response when the industry's troubles have been evident for months and action is desperately needed.

The Treasury is thought to be opposed to the idea, fearing it would set a precedent and open the floodgates to demands from other industries for the same treatment. Particularly from those within the also much-troubled electronics and furniture retail sectors.

Loan guarantees

The headline-grabbing measure, which no doubt most of the mainstream media will robotically retail, was the announcement of guarantees to 'unlock' loans of up to £1.3 billion from the European Investment Bank.

Plus a further £1 billion in loans was offered to fund non-EIB eligible investment that would be of particular benefit to Britain or to the advancement of green technology.

Responding later in the House of Commons, Mandelson's 'shadow' for the Conservatives, Ken Clarke, claimed that these loans had been announced previously and were nothing new.

Mandelson said that proposals for assistance would be considered on a "case by case" basis, and evidently seeking to slay any ghosts of the 70s he said that there would be "no operating subsidies".

Details as to the criteria by which such proposals will be judged were not given, but may emerge after a 'car summit' between government and major players in the industry, due tomorrow.

Long term fantasy

Speaking in the House of Lords, where there is no elected opposition to question him, Mandelson said that the government's proposals were designed to 'lay the foundations for a low carbon future'.

It's another example of an affliction of politicians that is becoming increasingly obvious in these troubled times. Calling it futuritis, author of the EUreferendum blog, Richard North, describes it as: "Unable to deal with the problems of the present ... they fix their eyes on some point in the future, when everything will come right. They thus ignore completely the disasters of today and tomorrow, painting their vision of distant sunlit uplands".

When it comes to the car industry, such 'low carbon future' long-termism is completely misplaced when, unless critical short term problems are relieved, there may be no car industry left.

Those problems were largely ignored by today's statement.