Uncategorized

Beautifully modified Lamborghini Aventador

We didn’t think you could improve that much on the design of the Lamborghini Aventador, but looking at these photos we have now changed our minds!

Ever since the Lamborghini Aventador hit the road, we’ve become accustomed to seeing outrageously modified examples. The following example could take the cake as the most in-your-face we’ve seen to date. Created by Vancouver’s SR Auto Group, and featuring parts from PUR Wheels, the car is utterly insane and all the better for it.

blog_07232014_lamborghini_aventador_puraero_rs09_12-640x426 2

 

First off, this Lamborghini Aventador is finished in a bright shade of blue and is rolling on a set of the PUR RS09 wheels measuring 21×12.5 at all four corners. These wheels are unlike any others offered for the Aventador on the market and feature a brushed aluminium design with blue spokes and inners to match the paint job of the Italian supercar nicely.

Ferrari 250 GTO up for auction next month

If money was no object and you want to splash out on a classic luxury car, then bidding on the this Ferrari 250 GTO in August is a must!

An example of the most famous and sought-after classic cars in the world, the Ferrari 250 GTO, is being sold at auction on August 14. With the market buoyant, it might even beat last year’s record price when one was sold in the US for $52 million (£30.5 million).

The 1962 250 GTO is said to have been in one family’s care for 49 years, from 1965 until now. It is being sold at the Bonhams Quail Lodge auction, which is part of the Monterey Peninsula Car Week in California from August 11-17, which includes events such as the famed Pebble Beach concours d’élégance and events at the nearby Laguna Seca racing circuit. This year, in addition to collections of mouth watering cars and displays of car culture, there are special events for owners of significant cars from Porsche and Lamborghini.

Such is the lure of the event among classic car enthusiasts and collectors that major auction houses all hold huge, high-profile sales during Car Week.

The 250 GTO was designed to race and the O of its designation stands for “omologato” or homologation special. The competition rules stipulated that 100 examples had to be built, although Ferrari somehow got away with making only 39 of them.

The Maranello Rosso Collection car, chassis number 3851 GT, was the 19th 250 GTO Berlinetta in sequence and was completed on September 11, 1962. It was delivered to the French racer Jo Schlesser, to be co-driven by himself and French skiing champion Henri Oreiller in the 1962 Tour de France Automobile road race. The pair challenged for victory and finished second overall. The car was then crashed during a race at Montlhery and was returned to Maranello for repair, before being sold to Italian gentleman driver Paolo Colombo before the 1963 racing season.

Source http://www.telegraph.co.uk/motoring/classiccars/10983614/Ferrari-250-GTO-at-auction.html

Audi A6 transformed to look like a Bugatti Veyron

Dreaming of owning your favourite luxury car is one thing, but turning that dream into a reality but modifying your own car is a whole other ball game!

It’s not unheard of for folks to slap “M” badges on their BMWs in a lame attempt to fool people into thinking their rides are something they are not. But converting an Audi into a Bugatti? That creates the ultimate automotive transformer ride.

That’s what one Lithuanian did with his 1997 Audi A6, that he converted from a staid four-door sedan, into a Bugatti pretender with two doors (or maybe it’s three – more on that later). According to the posting at autoplius.it (“The most popular motor ad site in Lithuania”), the car looks like two million (presumably euros) while costing “only” 30,000 euros. Check out the photos and form your own opinion.

FakeBugattirear34<img class=”alignnone size-full wp-image-52529″ src=”http://news.boldride.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/FakeBugattirear34.jpg” alt=”FakeBugattirear34″ width=”720″ height=”479″ />

Underneath the facelift, though, it is all Audi A6. It has a 200-horsepower, 2.8-liter V6 mated to a manual transmission and comes with Audi’s Quattro all-wheel drive system.

As the pictures on the site demonstrate, this Bugatti/Audi looks every bit of its 17 years on the inside. All traces of the Audi name have been stripped away and a Bugatti badge affixed to the steering wheel. It’s a leather interior with heated seats for those cold Lithuanian mornings.

 

Fake Bugattirearview<img class=”alignnone size-full wp-image-52530″ src=”http://news.boldride.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/Fake-Bugattirearview.png” alt=”Fake Bugattirearview” width=”720″ height=”480″ />

There are some intriguing details about this faux Bugatti such as 2/3 doors (maybe something got lost in translation), an exterior described as light alloy rims (the wheels perhaps?), and security of central locking. Apparently no one wants to steal this pretend Bugatti.

By the way, a 1997 Audi A6 in good condition (as this Bugatti wanabee seems to be) would run you about $2500. The additional stage makeup that turned it into a Bugatti adds another $37,500 to the bottom line when converted from Euros.

If you want to drive the real thing, get in touch to find out about our hire rates.

Source http://news.boldride.com/2014/07/for-sale-audi-a6-posing-as-a-wannabe-bugatti/52527/

John Terry spends £375,000 on two luxury cars

Having the salary of a top end football player means you can afford to splash out on a luxury car or two!

Chelsea captain John Terry has been pictured in two new gleaming luxury cars with an estimated combined price tag of £375,000.

He is still celebrating the new one-year deal he signed with the club at the end of last season, as he prepares his garage ahead of the new campaign.

Terry has been busy so far in pre-season, scoring in their 5-0 rout of Wycombe on Wednesday, before coming off the bench to score twice in their 3-2 victory over AFC Wimbledon on Saturday.

Chelsea Captain and former England footballer John Terry is seen fresh from pre-season training in his brand new 2014 Rolls-Royce Wraith

Chelsea Captain and former England footballer John Terry is seen fresh from pre-season training in his brand new 2014 Rolls-Royce Wraith

Terry clambers in to his £235,000 Rolls-Royce using the rear-hinge ‘suicide’ door

Terry parked his flash new car on yellow lines at the front of the pub for 45 minutes

Terry parked his flash new car on yellow lines at the front of the pub for 45 minutes

Despite persistent rumours that he was going to be moving on, Terry signed a one-year pay-as-you-play deal with the club at the back end of last season, meaning he’ll be captaining the club for the eleventh season in a row.

And, following the departure of Frank Lampard and Ashley Cole, he remains one of just three players – alongside Petr Cech and Jon Obi Mikel – to still be at Stamford Bridge from Jose Mourinho’s first stint in charge between 2004-07.

Terry and Chelsea head into this season hoping to avoid two consecutive campaigns without silverware for the first time in the Roman Abramovich era.

Source http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2698410/John-Terry-splashes-400-000-TWO-cars-ahead-new-Premier-League-season.html

traditional steering clamps are best way to beat modern thieves according to police

With the luxury car market booming, its time to brush up on your car security. Don’t become a victim and make sure you know the best ways to keep your car safe and secure.

Its security-conscious users may have been mocked as old-fashioned and out-of-date, but the simple steering lock is making a comeback as the best way to protect your car.

The gadget, which was popular in the late 1980s and early 90s, had been thought redundant in a world of on-board computers and vehicle security systems.

But police in London have said the simple technique of locking a bar to your steering wheel is one the best ways to outwit today’s sophisticated car thieves.

Scroll down for video

 

Police say old-fashioning steering locks are the best way to beat technologically-savvy car thieves 
Police say old-fashioning steering locks are the best way to beat technologically-savvy car thieves

Officers in the wealthy borough of Kensington and Chelsea have alerted drivers of expensive supercars and 4x4s that criminals have worked out how to bypass their in-built alarms.

To reduce the chance of these luxury cars being stolen, the Metropolitan Police sent letters to owners urging them to go back to basics.

The letter warns specific motorists their vehicle ‘may be at heightened risk of being stolen’.

It adds: ‘Expensive vehicles, including Range Rovers, Land Rovers and BMW X5 series and X6 series, in particular have been targeted.

HOW DO MODERN THIEVES USE IN-CAR COMPUTERS TO STEAL?

1. Pick out luxury car that uses an RF fob.

2. Get inside the car without triggering the alarm – or simply smash window.

3. Press start/stop button on dashboard.

4. Plug small computer device into the On-Board Diagnostic (OBD) port.

5. Program new key fob, using the settings to toggle car make, e.g. Audi, BMW, etc.

6. Add new chip to key fob, which after a few seconds is activated to respond to car.

7. Press start/stop button again and car engine will start.

‘Having gained access, any vehicle security systems have been bypassed and the vehicle in most cases driven away.

‘It is recommended therefore that you consider additional means of securing your vehicle such as through the use of a simple steering wheel or gear stick lock, which are effective in preventing theft of your vehicle.’

One motorist, who was sent the Met Police letter, has expressed shock that his expensive cars offer insufficient protection.

Simon Gregg, a property developer who owns two Range Rovers, said: ‘Cars without keys are particularly vulnerable and all new Range Rovers have keyless go.

‘One person I have spoken to says 26 Range Rovers have been stolen in recent months from central London.

Resdients in exclusive parts of London, such as Chelsea (pictured) are said to be most at risk from thieves

 

The BMW X5, which start at around £45,000, was one of the cars highlighted as at risk by the Met Police

The BMW X5, which start at around £45,000, was one of the cars highlighted as at risk by the Met Police

‘I know a BMW X5 was stolen on my road recently and a friend had their Land Rover Discovery stolen. Both were keyless. Manufacturers have a problem with this crime, but they are not bothering to tell people.

‘It has got to the point now that people are going to Halfords and buying a steering lock because it will act as a better deterrent.’

In recent years, car thieves have become more and more audacious, smashing non-alarmed car windows and then connecting a special device to the vehicle’s diagnostic system.

SIMPLE TECHNOLOGY – WHO INVENTED THE STEERING LOCK?

One of the first steering locks was called ‘The Club’ and was invented by American James E Winner in 1986.

It is believed Mr Winner got the idea from his time serving in the Korean War, when he and fellow soldiers were told to secure vehicles’ steering wheels with chains.

His traditional lock was made of two bars, each with a hook to attach to the steering wheel.

An early television advert for the device showed a would-be thief hammering at the bar for several minutes without managing to dislodge it.

The firm’s slogan was: ‘If you can’t steer it, you can’t steal it.’

They then reprogramme a blank key and it immediately works on the car – allowing them to drive away without any alarms going off.

It is estimated almost half the cars stolen in London use keyless technology.

Land Rover yesterday acknowledged that premium cars were being stolen but defended its security systems.

A statement from the manufacturer said: ‘The current Land Rover line-up continues to meet the insurance industry requirements as tested and agreed with relevant insurance bodies.

‘Nevertheless, the company has taken this issue very seriously and our engineering teams have been working in collaboration with insurance bodies and police forces to fully understand the risks.

‘It is however important to remember that this is an industry-wide issue.’

Source: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2699733/Unfashionable-effective-Police-tell-luxury-car-owners-traditional-steering-clamps-best-way-beat-modern-thieves.html#ixzz38BIYPzxk

Tyga continues with his addiction to luxury cars with this classic Rolls-Royce

 

Tyga is getting quite a name for himself in the luxury car world. Photos of him standing along side his recently purchased black Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren, also nick named the ‘batmobile’, circulated a few weeks back and now we are seeing him constantly posting on Instagram with his classic Rolls-Royce

Tyga is getting more and more attracted to the classic Rolls-Royce, considering he keeps posting images with a 1959 model on his Instagram. We all know how important the British luxury car is for all these rappers nowadays, who compete each other with the number of Wraiths and Ghosts they own, but in Tyga’s case it looks more like an obsession if you ask us.

Michael Ray Nguyen-Stevenson, known by his stage name Tyga, really wants it all, even though some things should remain for the connaisseurs. Since it’s owned by BMW AG, the Rolls-Royce models seem like they’ve turned into rappers’ favorite luxury coupe. We get that. But what we can’t agree with, is having the old school British ones also touched by this trend.

In the picture Tyga recently posted on social media, we can see a 1959 model, which means we’re talking about the Silver Cloud II. Even though it had little changes on the exterior, as opposed to his predecessor this model came with a 6.2-liter V8 engine, which pushed the weight to 2.11 tones. Performance was greatly improved and top speed was raised to 114 mph (183 km/h). The main improvements came with the acceleration and torque, while power steering became standard and electrically operated windows were now available as an option.

After all, this car makes you feel like the head of state, but that is only because kings and queens all over the world owned these sort of luxury limousines. We understand how rappers nowadays feel better when associated with gangsters, even though most of them are surrounded by bodyguards 24/7 and still play GTA on playstation. But seriously, nobody should joke around with the classics like these fellow wants to.

Source http://www.autoevolution.com/news/tyga-goes-royal-with-his-classic-rolls-royce-passion-84044.html

Judge describes luxury car theft scam as ‘bizarre’

If you want to set up a criminal scheme then you at least need to have a couple of brain cells to rub together!

The plan was to set up a luxury car and boat hire business – by first stealing them from unsuspecting owners using doctored $20 bank cheques.

Mohamed Hamoud and a co-offender used the fake bank cheques to buy a $23,500 Harley-Davidson motorcycle, a $98,500 Mercedes C63, an $84,000 Mercedes 200S, and a $16,500 jet-ski.

They then advertised their new business on the internet featuring photographs of the stolen items.

Hamoud, who runs a successful earthworks business, pleaded guilty in the County Court to four counts of obtaining property by deception between August and November, in a case judge Michael McInerney described as ‘‘bizarre’’.

The co-offender was placed on a 12-month good behaviour bond and fined $1000 after earlier pleading guilty in the Melbourne Magistrates Court to one count of theft.

‘‘I must say that, given the seriousness of these crimes, I have been somewhat flummoxed … to try and comprehend how, Mr Hamoud, you committed these crimes and what you thought you were going to achieve,’’ Judge McInerney said.

‘‘Sometimes in court, despite one’s experience, one simply cannot provide an answer as to how a person would commit criminality of such a serious nature, and in such an inept manner.

‘‘It is very difficult to understand what was involved and going through Mr Hamoud’s head at this time.’’

The judge said Hamoud had been in the process of buying a house, was engaged to be married, had had a good upbringing, had never been in trouble with the law and was 26 at the time.

‘‘The motive allegedly was financial, both parties, Hamoud and [the co-offender], had decided to start a business,” he said.

‘‘The business was to provide car hire, Mercedes car hire and/or alternatively hire of a boat … The whole scheme was doomed to failure.’’

The first bank cheque the pair used was made out to the co-offender but was purchased by Hamoud ,who gave his name and mobile phone number to the bank teller.

Police told the court the doctored bank cheques were of a very high standard.

‘‘That is the only aspect, it seemed to me, about each of these crimes that did not fit the description of being spectacularly inept,’’ the judge said.

‘‘As soon as detection was made by the bank, which apparently must not have been too difficult, even though this was a very good representation, these deceptions were identified.’’

Hamoud was placed on a four-year community corrections order and fined $5000.

The two Mercedes, the Harley-Davidson and the jet-ski were returned to their owners.

If you want to hire out luxury cars from a trusted, reputable business then check out our website

Source: http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/spectacularly-inept-luxury-car-theft-scam-flummoxes-judge-20140717-ztwhj.html#ixzz37iNs1xIc

Who wins in the Jaguar F-Type Coupe vs Aston Martin V8 Vantage head to head?

We have spent a lot of time over the recent months talking about the growth in the luxury car market. We think its now time to get back to what we all love to hear and read………luxury cars in a head to head to be top dog!

Having a car that is a celebrated automotive icon in your heritage isn’t always a good thing. Just ask Jaguar. For decades, the brand has barely been able to mention the word coupe without inevitable comparisons to its legendary E-Type.

Although some car makers would buckle under the pressure to recreate a modern version of their most famous car, Jaguar has taken its time and gone its own way. The F-Type Convertible was launched last year, and has proven much more than a tribute act. Now, the Coupe version adds strength to the line-up.

We’ve already tested the entry-level Coupe, where it finished a whisker behind the Porsche Cayman S. However, the flagship £85,000 V8 R is a serious supercar challenger.

Here it will need to prove its ability against one of the best in the business – the Aston Martin V8 Vantage. To make life tougher, Aston has created a special welcome gift in the form of the N430 limited edition. With 430bhp on tap, plus 20kg less weight and a raft of extras, the exclusive Aston is priced at £91,080 – just £6,080 more than its rival.

Has Jaguar created a car that can eclipse models in the supercar sector, or will the Aston Martin’s heritage and power prove that it takes more than a famous ancestor to be a performance car legend?

Head-to-head

Engines

Despite their differences in power delivery, the Jaguar and Aston are powered by what is essentially the same AJ-V8 engine. The Vantage’s hand-built 4.7-litre features a dry-sump oil system that allows it to be mounted lower in the car to reduce the centre of gravity. The F-Type’s newer 5.0-litre version features a twin vortex supercharger that boosts power and gives a more immediate throttle response.

Brakes

Both these models feature well engineered braking systems. The Jag also comes with the option of carbon-ceramic discs for £7,400. However, during our tests, the carbon-ceramic set-up offered little difference in performance. This isn’t needed unless you plan on some serious track time.

Transmissions

Manual or auto? It’s a choice that’s divided performance car fans for decades. Those who prefer the control offered by the former will love the Aston’s old-school transmission. But if you’re happy to let technology do the heavy lifting, the Jaguar’s eight-speed auto is one of the best.

Bespoke coupes

The Jaguar F-Type Coupe has plenty of standard kit, but you can still add lots of extras to personalise the car to your tastes. Standard metallic paint is £700, although our test model’s Firesand Orange paint is a £1,250 extra, while the 20-inch Storm wheels come with the £7,400 carbon ceramic brake package. The V8 R gets a 20-inch six-spoke alloys as standard, while optional wheels range from £500-£1,500. You can also add panoramic glass for £1,250.

Inside, there are seven leather options, or you can specify ‘Suedecloth’ trim (£1,500). The red interior pack (£2,155) adds red trim to the doors, seats, dash and centre console. The N430 is a limited edition, but it’s available in coupe and roadster bodystyles. There are five colour schemes to choose from, each with different detailing. As well as black with silver trim, you can go for green and yellow, blue and red, silver and white or white and red.

Aston also offers carbon fibre add-ons inside and out, plus four brake caliper colours, and contrast stitching in the same colours. You can also opt for Alcantara on the seats and steering wheel, and there’s even a tailor-made N430 luggage set.

Verdict

1st: Jaguar F-Type Coupe

Just when we thought the F-Type couldn’t get any better, the flagship Coupe version comes along to prove us wrong. Where previous fast Jags have always flattered to deceive, the F-Type has the handling and performance to match its gorgeous design. The drivetrain is flawless, while the chassis combines typical Jaguar comfort and refinement with scalpel-sharp responses. A fantastic effort from a true British institution.

2nd: Aston Martin V8 Vantage

It seems harsh to describe a car which is so timelessly handsome as the Vantage as being in its twilight years, but that’s exactly what it is. However, while it finishes second here, it has lost none of its charm. Aston is now actively marketing the Vantage as an ‘analogue-era’ supercar, and for many, the challenge of having to work hard to extract its performance will be the main reason for choosing it.

Figures

Jaguar F-Type V8 R Aston Martin V8 Vantage N430
On the road price/total as tested £85,000/£104,360 £91,080/£96,245
Residual value (after 3yrs/36,000) £38,199/44.9% N/A
Depreciation £46,801 N/A
Annual tax liability std/higher rate £5,870/£11,740 £6,383/£12,766
Annual fuel cost (12k/20k miles) £3,198/£5,330 £3,919/£6,532
Ins. group/quote/road tax band/cost 50/£989/M/£500 50/£1,609/M/£500
Cost of 1st/2nd/3rd service £331 per year (3yrs) £651/£680/£651
Length/wheelbase 4,470/2,622mm 4,382/2,601mm
Height/width 1,321/1,923 1,260/1,866mm
Engine V8 s’charged/5,000cc V8/4,735cc
Peak power/revs 543/6,500 bhp/rpm 430/7,300 bhp/rpm
Peak torque/revs 680/3,500 Nm/rpm 490/5,000 Nm/rpm
Transmission 8-spd auto/rwd 6-spd man/rwd
Fuel tank capacity/spare wheel 70 litres/repair kit 80 litres/repair kit
Boot capacity 315 litres 300 litres
Kerbweight/payload 1,650/400kg 1,610/300kg
Turning circle 10.9 metres 11.4 metres
Basic warranty (miles)/recovery 3yrs (unlimited)/3yrs 3yrs (unlimited)/3yrs
Service intervals/UK dealers 16,000 miles (1yr)/97 10,000 miles/22
Driver Power manufacturer/dealer pos. 2nd/7th* N/A
0-60/30-70mph 3.9/3.0 secs 4.9/3.9 secs
30-50mph in 3rd/4th 2.3/3.0 secs 2.9/4.4 secs
50-70mph 5th/6th/7th/8th 3.2/5.4/6.9 secs/N/A 5.5/7.4 secs/N/A/N/A
Top speed/rpm at 70mph 186mph/1,500rpm 190mph/2,500rpm
Braking 70-0/60-0/30-0mph 49.1/35.3/9.3m 49.2/35.7/9.1m
Noise outside/idle/30/70mph 66/51/65/71dB 67/51/68/75dB
Auto Express econ (mpg/mpl)/range 23.9/5.3/368 miles 19.5/4.3/343 miles
Govt urban/extra-urban/combined 17.8/34.0/25.5mpg 14.4/27.2/20.5mpg
Govt urban/extra-urban/combined 3.9/7.5/5.6mpl 3.2/6.0/4.5mpl
Actual/claimed CO2/tax bracket 273/259g/km/35% 335/321g/km/35%
Airbags/Isofix/rear parking camera Four/yes/£255 Four/yes/£995
Automatic box/stability/cruise ctrl Yes/yes/yes £5,000/yes/yes
Climate ctrl/leather/heated seats Yes/yes/£350 Yes/yes/£495
Met paint/xenon lights/keyless go £700/yes/£450 Yes/yes/no
Sat-nav/USB connection/Bluetooth Yes/yes/yes £1,795/yes/£484
Source http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/jaguar/f-type/87845/jaguar-f-type-coupe-vs-aston-martin-v8-vantage

Stars and there cars!

Its not just about owning an expensive luxury car these days, its about modifying it to be the ultimate ride!

Can you guess which celebrity owns this leopard-print custom car? YOLO – it’s Justin Bieber, obviously!

The 20-year-old singer, who recently shared a video of Tom Hanks getting down and grooving away at a wedding, had his bodyguard test drive and then deliver the leopard print custom Audi R8 to him in Los Angeles.

Justin Bieber new custom painted Audi R8 car, Los Angeles, America - 09 Jul 2014 Custom leopard-print painted Audi R8 car owned by Justin Bieber, driven by one of his bodyguards 9 Jul 2014

The singer was later spotted cruising around Hollywood in the garish vehicle with reported new girlfriend, model Yovanna Ventura.

But Bieber’s not alone in possessing such an awfully ugly and over-priced car… Here’s a few more celebrities with questionable automobiles below:

will.i.am

Headline: Will.I.Am talks on his phone outside his 900 thousand dollar custom car Date of Picture: 03/04/2013 See the set: SPL505893 Usage: World Rights Caption: Will.I.Am talks on his phone outside his 900 thousand dollar custom car.

will.i.am’s unusual vehicle set him back a whopping $900,000 and is based on a 1958 Volkswagen Beetle.

Nicki Minaj

Nicki Minaj seen arriving at for her 31st birthday party "Philippe" Restaurant in Beverly Hills in her custom $700,000 Pink Lamborghini Aventador sports car Date of Picture: 12/08/2013 See the set: SPL662989 Usage: World Rights Caption: Nicki Minaj seen arriving at for her 31st birthday party "Philippe" Restaurant in Beverly Hills in her custom $700,000 Pink Lamborghini Aventador sports car. Nicky's birthday cake was of a pair of Breasts which said ' Shake your Breasts Love Nicki'.

Here comes Nicki Minaj in her understated, custom Pepto Bismol pink Lamborghini Aventador sports car.

Katie Price

LONDON, ENGLAND - JANUARY 19: Katie Price's car parked in the street on January 19, 2012 in London, England. (Photo by Ben Pruchnie/FilmMagic)

You can’t miss Katie Price’s pink monster of a Range Rover – we especially love the personalised ‘KP HOT’ licence plate.

Paris Hilton

Paris Hilton and Brittany Flickinger Shopping at Intuition, Los Angeles, America - 22 Dec 2008 Paris Hilton with her new pink Bentley 22 Dec 2008

Only Paris Hilton would own a pink Bentley…

Source http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/showbiz/news/a583745/can-you-guess-which-celebrity-owns-this-leopard-print-custom-car.html#~oJYAMWsYKkVBSL

 

Bentley set to have a record breaking year

Yet again, we are seeing record breaking sales in luxury cars across the board. Today we bring the facts and figures for Bentley’s first half of 2014.

Luxury car marker Bentley is set to break more sales records in 2014 after global deliveries increased by almost a quarter in the first six months of the year. There has been particularly strong growth for the group in China and the Middle East, although UK sales have also risen.

Bentley, which reported its best ever performance in 2013, said deliveries increased by 23 per cent to 5,254 cars in the six months to 30 June 2014.

This is compared with 4,279 cars in the first six months of 2013.

Americans remained the group’s biggest region with an 8 per cent rise in sales during the six months.

But China is a growing country for Bentley after deliveries soared by 61 per cent to 1,388 cars, boosted by the success of the Flying Spur and Flying Spur V8.

In the Asia Pacific region the figure was up by 46 per cent while in the Middle East there was a 27 per cent rise in deliveries.

Meanwhile, in Europe sales were up 11 per cent boosted by a strong performance in Germany.

UK deliveries rose by 2 per cent to 713 cars.

Bentley has also announced a foray into the telecommunications market through a partnership with luxury smartphone maker Vertu.

Under a five-year deal, five Bentley smartphones are to be released featuring design elements of the brand as well as lifestyle services.

A Bentley app will also be included on each phone.

Kevin Rose, Bentley’s board member for sales, marketing and aftersales, said: “There is simply no-one in the luxury automotive sector that can match these results. We continue to prove we are the world’s most sought after luxury car brand. It’s vital to continuously develop in our exclusive market, as our customers are the most discerning.

“There is no question that some markets will remain tough but we are confident of a good 2014.”

The interim performance follows a record 2013 with the group reporting its highest delivery, turnover and profit figures in its 95-year history.

Source http://www.insidermedia.com/insider/north-west/118677-bentley-record-2014/