UK new car registrations: 20 months of growth

The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) has once again increased its new car forecast for 2013. The news comes off the back of the 20th consecutive month of growth, with new car registrations up 4% in October. Last month’s total of 157,314 registrations brings the total to 1,952,238 in 2013 so far, leading the SMMT to up its forecast from 2.22 million to 2.25 million.

How Porsche will be integrated into VW

By Georg Kacher Motor Industry 20 November 2009 12:32 Although Porsche won't be a fully integrated member of the Volkswagen group before mid-2011, the sports car maker can even at this early point in the merger no longer make independent strategic decisions. After all, Martin Winterkorn has effectively been appointed head of the Porsche SE Holding which in turn employs the Porsche AG chairman Michael Macht.  With a takeover as costly and complicated to fund as this one – all in all, VW will have to fork out a staggering €16 billion to absorb the latest family member – it is only logical that the new owner wants to get the restructuring process going asap. Overnight, Porsche has become easily VW's most expensive brand.How VW will integrate PorscheTo protect and eventually enhance its value, the powers in Wolfsburg will leave no stone unturned to rearrange the product portfolio, to streamline R&D, to shake up purchasing and production, and to ensure a variety of synergies which are estimated to range from €500m to €750m per year.

Bentley Continental GT V8 S & ‘Old Number 1′ at 2014 Goodwood Festival of Speed

The Bentley Continental GT V8 S (pictured) will make its Goodwood debut in June It’s only three months before the world’s greatest petrolhead gathering takes place in Sussex, and the offerings for the 2014 Goodwood Festival of Speed are now starting to come in to focus. As you’d expect, Bentley are as keen as ever to make a good showing at Goodwood and are taking along plenty of new stuff to keep Goodwood visitors happy, with the new Bentley Continental GT V8 S making its Goodwood debut, as is the Flying Spur V8. The more powerful GT V8 S turns the power up on the regular GT V8 to 521bhp, enough to make its 0-62mph the match of the W12 GT but with a more focused driver appeal thanks to better throttle response and a tweaked chassis, as well as a few go-faster bits like a diffuser at the back and a butch set of side sills.