Bentley 6¾ litre V8 to end production – Diesels & Hybrid on the way

Bentley’s outgoing boss has revealed Bentley are planning to drop their trademark 6¾ litre V8 and introduce hybrid and diesel options. Bentley’s famed 6¾ litre V8 engine – in production since 1959, although it didn’t grow to 6¾ litre until 1970 - is as much a USP for Bentley as the badge and the history. BMW tried to bring production of the old iron lump to an end in 1998 – replacing it with a characterless BMW 4.4 litre V8 – but it was back a year later when VW took over as the motivation for the Red Label Arnage – and it’s stayed ever since.

BMW reveals its 2012 London Olympics fleet

BMW 2012 London Olympic Fleet arrives BMW has revealed its fleet of cars for ferrying athletes, VIPs and officials around London for the 2012 Olympics. BMW is an official sponsor for the 2012 London Olympics – just in case you’ve been in a cave for the last couple of years – and are focusing supplying on low emission cars cars to transport the mass of Olympic bods round London this summer. That means there will be no plutocratic 7 Series of ‘let’s get there quick’ M5s on offer and instead the Olympic great and good will have to do with a fleet of cars with a green halo.

VW take control at Italdesign Giugiaro through Lamborghini.

Maserati Merak - by Giugiaro Perhaps it makes sense politically for an Italian company to takeover another, but the outcome is the same – VW has taken a majority stake in Italdesign Giugiaro – 90.1% – through its Italian subsidiary Lamborghini Holdings S.p.A. Just as we expected. And there’s a lot of sense in this move by VW – even if they are going back on their stated intent to end the acquisitions – as there’s a strong history with Giugiaro.