New £40m HQ for Bentley SUV

Bentley has announced plans for the biggest site development in its history, expanding the company’s headquarters in Crewe as part of a £40 million investment programme. 

The centre will be home to the new Bentley SUV due in 2016, a car billed to use the same platform as the upcoming Audi Q7. It was previewed at the 2012 Geneva Motor Show, and is expected to cost more than £140,000, rivalling cars like the long-wheelbase Range Rover. More details will be revealed next year, but it’s likely to offer a choice of W12 and V8 petrol engines, with the option of diesel and hybrid tech too.

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The 11-acre Cheshire-based facility will house 1,300 Bentley engineers, including designers, R&D officers and technical professionals. Work on the new site will start early next year, and is key to the future success of the British car maker.

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Wolfgang Durheimer, chairman and CEO said: “With Bentley’s new research and development centre, we will develop a new generation of Bentleys, which will continue our commitment of luxury, performance, quality and engineering excellence.” 

The move means Bentley has now announced the creation of more than 950 jobs over the past 18 months and continues to boost the thriving UK car industry.  Bentley delivered more cars in 2013 than ever before, finding homes for more than 10,000 Continental, Flying Spur and Mulsanne models.

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The development was announced earlier this month and was welcomed by George Obsorne, Chancellor of the Exchequer. 

Osborne said: “Bentley is an iconic British brand that exports around the world. Their decision to create another 300 jobs in R&D on a new site providing close to 1,000 new jobs is fantastic news for Crewe and for Britain.

“The investment will not only create jobs at Bentley, but support many more through suppliers across the UK.”