Bentley reveals GT V8 S in the Middle East

• Bentley Motors unveiled the newest member of its Continental GT line-up — the Continental GT V8 S — for the first time in the Middle East — at the Qatar Motor Show. The new model builds on the V8 platform to deliver improved performance and sportier look and feel.
It will officially go on sale across the region in April 2014. The launch of this latest model took place the day after Al-Wajba Motors, the sole distributor for Bentley in Qatar, announced the opening of its new Bentley showroom in Doha, further strengthening the British brand’s presence in the state.
Kevin Rose, member of the board for sales, marketing and aftersales, commented: “Bentley has enjoyed remarkable success across the Middle East in recent years and the region is one of our most valued global markets.”
• BMW launched the all-new 4 Series Convertible in the Saudi market this month. The new BMW 4 Series Convertible is visibly larger in width, track and wheelbase than the BMW 3 Series. Powerfully taut surfaces and precise, sweeping lines define the athletic outline of the BMW 4 Series Convertible. The vehicle’s balance of proportions and characteristic flowing lines stem from the typical BMW short overhangs front and rear, the stretched bonnet and set-back passenger compartment. The dynamism of the BMW 4 Series Convertible is expressed by elements like the Air Breathers positioned behind front wheel arches. Together with the Air Curtains, which reduce turbulence and aerodynamic drag at the front wheels. Al-Naghi Motors said they are very excited about the new model.

• The European Union has set a target of 95 grams of CO2 per kilometer for passenger cars in 2020 but offered a compromised to German companies by making the deal unbinding. The compromise approved by the EU Parliament will impose the 95-gram cap on 95 percent of the new car fleet in 2020 and 100 percent beginning in 2021. EU governments have already signaled support for the deal, making their final approval a formality in the coming months. The new law helps an EU goal to reduce greenhouse gases, which are blamed for global warming, by a fifth in 2020 compared with 1990. CO2 is the main greenhouse gas.

• A total of 11.8 million cars were sold in 27 countries of the EU last year, according to the European Automobile Manufacturers Association. The figure translates into a fall of 1.7 percent compared to last year and is the lowest sales total since the association began to collect data across the EU in 2003.

• Two Aston Martin special editions will debut at Geneva Motor Show next week: the V8 Vantage N430 and the DB9 Carbon Black & Carbon White. Ian Minards, director of product development at Aston Martin, said that “the new N430 is all about bringing track-honed excitement to the road in an accessible, emotionally engaging, and authentically ‘analogue’ way.” The N430’s front mid-mounted, 4.7-liter, all-alloy, quad overhead cam, dry-sumped V8 engine is complemented by a rousing sports exhaust, aerodynamics honed through numerous wins in GT racing and a competition-derived braking system. The new Carbon Black accentuates the 183 mph DB9’s 6.0-liter V12 potential through a strong dark theme underpinned by a unique combination of lightweight carbon fiber features. Meanwhile, the contemporary Carbon White special edition creates a dramatic visual effect with the carbon fiber and dark elements contrasting strongly against the Stratus White paint and accented caliper color.