Friday 23rd April 2010

Bentley And Lamborghini Reveal Chinese Specials

Luxury makers have Chinese money firmly in their sights

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Both Bentley and Lamborghini have revealed China-only special editions at the Beijing motor show.

Following the example set last year by Ferrari's dozen or so China Limited Edition Ferrari 599s based on the 599 HGTE, Bentley and Lamborghini have come up with Chinese versions of the Continental and Murcielago respectively.

Lamborghini's pithily named LP 670-4 SuperVeloce China Limited Edition (or the LP 670-4 SV CLE for the sake of brevity and sanity) is, in essence, a LP670-4 SV. To that, Lamborghini adds on orange stripe on grey paintwork (meant to represent an erupting volcano, we're told).

Inside, the car's serial number and the owner's name are displayed on a plaque. And that's it - but then there's not much you can add to aMurcielago SV to make it better.

Lamborghini says that the car has been "designed and manufactured exclusively for China's most discriminating super sports car enthusiasts" and that "not more than 10" examples will be made.

Bentley's angle on a Chinese special edition is two-pronged. First is the Continental GT Design Series China, which gets a three-tone interior, an exterior wing badge, a special kickplate and a centre console name badge.

Continental Flying Spur Speed China gets similar subtle design tweaks. Its suspension has also been retuned for the enhanced comfort that Chinese tastes demand, and the exhaust system has been quietened-down.

Bentley's and Lamborghini's Beijing show stands are further proof - if any were needed - of the increasing importance of the Chinese market for high-end makers: China is now Bentley's third-biggest market, with the winged B shifting 421 cars in 2009.

[MrTappets]

Erupting volcano, eh? Good thing this isn't a European edition!

[Lawrence5]

Gives them something to strip down and backwards engineer I guess

[sprinter1050]

Wonder if the Reg Nos on those Bentleys mean something in Chinese?

[soad]

I take it these "specials" will cost a tad more too then?

[Whitean3]

So from what I've read, in order to tailor your product offerings to the rich chinese car "enthusiast", what you need most of all is a plaque inside with the owner's name? THen you can add a couple of zeros to the price tag...hmmm.....

[easytiger123]

sprinter1050 said:

Wonder if the Reg Nos on those Bentleys mean something in Chinese?

I believe the Conti Gt's one is sweet and sour chicken, and the Flying Spur is the same but with fried rice.

[Spiritual_Beggar]

Screw the Murci.....where's the Gallardo SV?

[G4HKS]

And that very naff badge glued to the top of the ashtray cover in the GT/Spur.

[450Nick]

Shameless...

[lionrampant]

So the Lambo gets a tacky paint job and name, and the Bentley gets tacky add-ons and woolier handling?

Ye gods.

[mat205125]

Lawrence5 said:

Gives them something to strip down and backwards engineer I guess

I was hoping this thread was going to be a comedy Chinese copy fun fest. I love them

[Vetteran]

It was programming the Sat Nav in Chinese that pushed up the price !!

[Martin_Hx]

[10 Pence Short]

Velly speshul rooking indeed.

[A.S.H]

Bloody Tiddleys

[Remagel2507]

They made the Bentley even more quiet? It needs making louder not the other way round

Im not quite familier with China - is there a place where you can properly unleash these vehicles performance (well the lambo anyway) all I can picture when someone mentions China is a packed out city with lots of traffic

[DodoRacing]

Remagel2507 said:

They made the Bentley even more quiet? It needs making louder not the other way round

Im not quite familier with China - is there a place where you can properly unleash these vehicles performance (well the lambo anyway) all I can picture when someone mentions China is a packed out city with lots of traffic

You can go on the 15,000 Red Miles Tour.
http://www.ferrari.com/English/GT_Sport%20Cars/Cur...

[tati25]

MrTappets said:

Erupting volcano, eh? Good thing this isn't a European edition!

LOL

Love the paint scheme though!

[pits]

How much did the tooling cost to make these 1/5 scale?

[Liokault]

Remagel2507 said:

Im not quite familier with China - is there a place where you can properly unleash these vehicles performance (well the lambo anyway) all I can picture when someone mentions China is a packed out city with lots of traffic

My experiance of driving in China (well, being driven), is that although it is total chaos with no one giving a toss for anyone else, they don't really drive very fast, even when traffic opens out.