Posts tagged ‘motorshow’

By Team Lenspeed

Lenspeed realises a British Racing Dream in British Racing Green. Hold on tight.

A clear vision neatly explained in a concise package. That’s what Bentley has done at Geneva a couple of weeks ago. And just by looking at press images, this has to be one of the most aesthetically pleasing concepts – a huge statement we reckon when Geneva has traditionally welcomed the automotive sector to show the world what they have to offer. If they are impressive, the marketing exposure will expand ten fold naturally compared to other motor shows – and Bentley has emerged victorious in this aspect for sure.

Standing tall in Bentley’s booth is the EXP 10 Speed 6, soaked in a very deep shade of British Racing Green. It shouts speed from ground up, and unlike its current lineup, this example features a front end that is reworked. But we can definitely feel Bentley’s need to retain their trademark quad headlights and brave mesh grille design, which is no bad thing at all.

According to Wolfgang Durheimer, Head of Bentley Motors, this concept might actually be placed alongside the Continental GT. But we’re keen to know if this will be the more performance-oriented variant in the stable. After all, the Conti GT has the firepower to match rivals, but petrol heads often claim that it lacks the out-and-out dynamic precision due to its hefty weight – it sits comfortably more than 2 tonnes!

But judging by its impressive interior, it seems that emphasis is still placed to create a premium experience for (very) wealthy buyers. It might still not be the ultimate driving weapon, but Bentley’s business model comprises of other factors such as luxury and exclusivity – and Lenspeed respects the men at Crewe for that. Theoretically, it might not wear British Racing Green as confidently on track as Aston’s DBR9 screamer, but design wise, its still a step in the right direction for Bentley. Checkmate.

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By The Lenspeed Team

Oriental Force

The Chinese automotive sector opens a market of possibilities to the West. And all parties involved should be very thankful…

Chinese automobile manufacturers might still be tagged with the social stigma deeply embedded in the minds of the car-obsessed public. This comes as little surprise, since the products we get to “scrutinise” at the recently concluded Beijing International Auto Show are far from original. Just take a look at the Zotye E20. It looks as though a Ferrari F430 Scuderia had a love affair with a Toyota Aygo. Sounds like a plan to capture a larger slice of the fancy EV market, but when put into practice, it’s not quite the aesthetically pleasing output we desire when placed into mass production.

But the Chinese car market is still having the last laugh in the end, with auto sales smashing the 20 million mark in 2013, ballooning by nearly 14 per cent. It is (as expected) still the world’s biggest car market. This implies that cars like the Zotye E20 could see sales surpassing more technically superior imports – a statistic that foreign companies ”vow” not to concede without a good fight.

This pot of gold and high potential for market growth proves all the more vital for European manufacturers, since reports out of Europe have not been promising. On a global scale, sales of French cars “hit a 15-year low” in 2013. Transactions for German cars fell last year too. This could mean that more European imports should and would “seek refuge” in the highly lucrative market of the Middle Kingdom, if they play their cards right.

One part of the world benefiting from the sheer scale of China’s economic ability will be the United States, with General Motors posting a 11.4 per cent hike in vehicle sales from 2012 to 2013. By now, we should realise that anything is possible in China. Even if we still have doubts regarding Chinese-made modes of transport, we cannot avoid the fact that this shift in economic advantage places Chinese companies at the driver’s seat in terms of economies of scale, familiarity, labour cost and geography. And with the West’s superior technical advantage over local products, it could very well be a win-win situation for all major players dabbling in the Chinese market. Its more of a marriage of convenience than fight for the finish line. Well played, folks.

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