Bentley Raising Sales Target to 20,000 by 2020

Bentley Raising Sales Target to 20,000 by 2020
Tesla Model S Registrations Sink 22 Percent
2014 AutoGuide Holiday Gift Guide
BMW i3 Takes Self Parking to Next Level
Jaguar Concept has Invisible Window Pillars
Acura RLX Recalled Over Headlight Issue

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Bentley wants to sell an awful lot of ultra luxury vehicles, mostly of the utility vehicle persuasion.

According to a recent from the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, the British automaker is now targeting 20,000 units per year by 2020, which means that it will be doubling its sales from last year within the decade. The company's original goal was to move 15,000 units by 2018, about 4,000 units more than it delivered last year.

The company has high hopes for its upcoming SUV, rumored to be called the Bentayga. Bentley expects to sell at least 3,000 units per year for its fourth model and is currently considering adding a fifth to its lineup. According to CEO Wolfgang Duerheimer, the company's sales, revenue and profit may all grow further this year compared to last year's $2.1 billion revenue and $208.6 million operating profit.

[Source: Automotive News Europe]

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Tesla Model S Registrations Sink 22 Percent

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Year to date, the number of Tesla Model S sedans registered with the U.S. Department of Motor Vehicles is significantly lower than it was last year.

"I think Tesla is getting to a point, at least in the U.S., where marketing the vehicle and consumer outreach will become more important," IHS analyst Stephanie Brinley said in an e-mail interview. "The purchase of a Tesla is a technology buy as well as a car buy, and those that can comfortably to add one to a household fleet, and want to, largely have. The company may have to work harder to get [potential customers] converted to buyers going forward."

Last week Tesla posted a job listing for a fleet development manager in North America who, among other things, will be responsible for creating a list of 50 prospective government and business clients. A Tesla representative said in an email that the posting is for a vacated position within the company that existed beforehand and that it does not reflect a change in the company's business strategy. Tesla hasn't commented on sinking vehicle registrations in its home market, but according to IHS Automotive, Tesla Model S U.S. registrations sit at 11,731 down 21.7 percent compared to the 14,984 registered by this time in 2013.

The California-based electric car maker doesn't officially report its monthly sales, but its inventory of completed cars the company reported in its latest quarterly SEC filing is nearly triple what it was a year prior. Larger, more mainstream automakers often use fleet sales to maintain volume when retail demand trails off, but fleet cars are usually considerably less expensive than the Model S, which starts at $79,000.

Merrill Lynch analyst John Lovallo said in a note to clients last month that he estimates Tesla could be sitting on as many as 3,000 unsold units. In the long run, Tesla hopes that half of its global sales will come from markets outside North America, but that plan is contingent on shoring up sales in Europe and China.

Telsa said in its third-quarter filing that its limited experience in selling cars to Chinese customers poses a risk that could threaten its ability to meet sales targets and that it needs to significantly increase Model S deliveries concurrent with its plan to increase production.

Last week the company's Chinese president Veronica Wu resigned after nine months in the role.

Its current product plan puts the Model X crossover on pace for delivery in late 2015 if the company can finish development in time. Tesla's Alpha prototypes of the Model X are still under testing and its Beta products are just coming online. The Model X launch was previously pegged for 2014, but delays are currently pushing its launch to late next year. Continued delays could shake investor confidence in the company's ability to create fresh products, though the delays haven't seemed to have a meaningful impact on its share prices so far.

2014 AutoGuide Holiday Gift Guide

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The holidays are here and by now you might be scrambling for gifts. Don't worry, here at AutoGuide.com, we've got you covered with a list of ideas you might have missed.

There's something for everyone in here, so look it over from 1 to 10 and then back again. We're sure you'll find the perfect something to give this holiday season.

BMW i3 Takes Self Parking to Next Level

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BMW plans to show off some of its latest car technologies at this year's Consumer Electronics show (CES) in Las Vegas.

To show off both its latest crash avoidance technology and autonomous parking systems, BMW will be bringing an i3 fit with four laser scanners. These offer the car a 360-degree view, allowing it to see obstacles or obstructions in the road. If the car is approaching something solid, it will apply the necessary brake pressure to make sure it stops short of the obstacle, unless the driver intervenes with steering input.

What's really interesting though is BMW's Remote Valet Parking Assistant, which uses the sensors to allow the car to navigate multi-storey parking garages on its own. The system is not dependent on GPS because sometimes the signal is weakened by the concrete structure. Using its sensors, the i3 can find its way to a parking spot on its own. Then, when it's time to leave, the driver can call on the car using their Smart Watch, and it will pilot itself back to the entrance of the garage.

While this is just a prototype, this i3 research vehicle is showing BMW's autonomous technology groundwork for the company's plan of having highly automated drive functions in passenger vehicles by 2020.

Discuss this story at our BMW Forum

Jaguar Concept has Invisible Window Pillars

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Jaguar is showcasing an experimental technology that could make its cars significantly easier to see out of.

Using screens on the window pillars of a concept car meant to showcase the technology and cameras looking outward, the system is able to project a virtual view of what the pillars would otherwise block. In doing so, Jaguar Land Rover hopes to effectively eliminate the blind spots those barriers create and reduce the chance of an accident. The system also projects a "ghost car" onto the windshield to give directions to the driver by showing them where to turn with the virtual car.

"If we can keep the driver's eyes on the road ahead and present information in a non-distracting way, we can help drivers make better decisions in the most demanding and congested driving environments," JLR research and technology boss Wolfgang Epple said.

The system can track the driver's head movement to activate the appropriate display to make the left pillar look like it is transparent when the driver looks that way or the right-hand pillar should the case call for it.

Discuss this story at our luxury lifestyle forum

Acura RLX Recalled Over Headlight Issue

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Acura is calling back about 9,700 RLX sedans over concerns with the headlights.

The Japanese automaker says that the reflective film backing found inside the headlights may delaminate, causing the cars to fall out of safety compliance. Acura will replace both headlight assemblies on the affected vehicles, free of charge.

No accidents or injuries have been reported as a result of this issue. The recall will begin in early February and concerned customers can contact 1-800-382-2238 for more information.

Discuss this story at our Acura RLX Forum

Car Reviews

Monday, 15 December 2014

Bentley Raising Sales Target to 20,000 by 2020

Bentley Raising Sales Target to 20,000 by 2020

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