Volkswagen Passenger Cars delivered a strong performance in a very difficult environment last year to register a new-car market share of 9.09 per cent, according to SMMT data – an increase of 0.4 per cent over 2019. The introduction in March of the new Golf 8 proved a significant contributor to these results, as did the ID.3 which, despite launching in September, became one of the top-selling BEVs of the year.

SUVs performed particularly strongly for the company, with Volkswagen ranked as one of the best-selling SUV brands in 2020. This was thanks in part to the introduction of new trims levels for the Touareg SUV at the start of 2020, including the popular Black Edition, while the continued popularity of the T-Roc and T-Cross, as well as the recent introduction of the revised Tiguan, also played a major role in the brand’s success within the segment.

However, it was the hatchback segment that still proved most popular with Volkswagen customers. The Golf was the third most popular car of the year and the best-seller in its class, driven by the launch of the eighth-generation model with its choice of petrol, diesel, mild-hybrid and plug-in hybrid drivetrains. Also key to this success was the Polo, finishing the year as the eighth best-seller. Another important model of note was the all-electric ID.3, which took off from a standing start at the end of September to considerable success in just one quarter, finishing December as the fourth best-selling model overall during the month.

Comfort is an inherent part of everyday life and the same has been revealed in a new research commissioned by Citroën India on where and how Indians seek comfort. Citroën India’s ‘Comfortology’ research revealed some fascinating insights to Indians’ comfort levels at varied stages, with larger weightage to mobility. The findings also reveals impact of pandemic on people’s perception and definition of comfort. The research was conducted across 10 cities in India with total of 1801 respondents from diverse ages and genders.

One of the key data, which shows inextricable link between comfort and travel, particularly by road, and Indians’ experience of the same includes:

• 19 per cent of respondents described their drive to work as ‘the most uncomfortable hour of their day’ because of pot-holes and jerks, etc.

• 29 per cent of respondents admitted that the drive to work is so full of noises / honking from outside, that they can barely concentrate on anything

• 16 per cent of respondents try to call up their friends and try to catch up; but it is very difficult and uncomfortable because of traffic disturbances

• 49 per cent Indians experience back ache, neck ache and other physical strains, while driving

Roland Bouchara, Senior Vice President, Sales & Marketing, Citroën India, highlights the objective and a key finding from the research, “Comfort – or its absence – represents a defining element of the driving experience; it is also a key consideration for road users and vehicle purchasers. This research provides unique insight into how and where Indians seek comfort, with respect to the daily lives, but also with respect to how they travel. Initial findings, for instance, demonstrate the profound impact the pandemic has had on people’s sense and definition of comfort; 25% respondents would have been most comfortable in a private car for short journeys (up to 3km) prior to the pandemic, a figure that has risen to 34% today. Preference for shared/public transport (buses/trains)) has declined from 28% to just 12% in the same period.”

In the automotive world, the aspect of the Citroën comfort philosophy encapsulates the ideas of practicality and versatility to make driving and travel easier. The easier a car is to live with every day, the more enjoyable and comfortable it will be to own. For Citroën, functional comfort applies to the combination of highly ergonomic, easy-to-use cabin designs with technology that is intuitive and easy to operate.

In the wider automotive sector, technology continues to take on greater prominence in cars; in some cases, to the detriment of user-friendliness. By contrast, Citroën has sought to apply new technology in such a way as to make its cars easier to use, with functionality enhancing comfort. The development of cars that offer maximum ‘living comfort’ is a thread that span’s Citroën’s entire history.

Speaking ahead of the launch of the new Citroën C5 Aircross SUV in India, Roland Bouchara reinforced the brand’s link and commitment to comfort and explained that comfort – in all its forms – represented a core value of the brand. “Since 1919, Citroën has been at the forefront of automotive comfort, from the revolutionary ‘Moteur Flottant’ [floating engine] to the innovative Suspension with Progressive Hydraulic Cushions®. Citroën’s benchmark in comfort is reflected in the Citroën Advanced Comfort® programme, aimed at bringing unprecedented comfort to every passenger. For us, comfort is a principle consideration for the entire driving experience. Our designs and features aim to reduce the mental load on the driver, combining clever driver aids with light, spacious cabin formats. All these elements translate into a stress-free travelling environment, innovative solutions and smart technology dedicated to ensuring the well-being of body and mind for all passengers.”

Citroën India’s ‘Comfortology’ research also revealed some fascinating differences between Indians’ comfort levels; nearly a quarter (23 per cent) find working from home (WFM) ‘extremely comfortable’, while a similar proportion (22 per cent) describe it as quite the opposite (‘extremely uncomfortable’).

In terms of gender, women appeared more comfortable managing the demands of work and home life during confinement than their male counterparts; two thirds (66%) of female respondents were ‘comfortable’ or ‘extremely comfortable’ juggling both responsibilities during COVID-19, compared to just 49 per cent of men.

The findings were published in advance of a detailed report examining the changing nature and sources of comfort in India being published by Citroën India.

Citroën India’s ‘Comfortology’ report will be published, in full, in January 2021

Toyota Kirloskar Motor (TKM) has launched the new Toyota Fortuner and new Legender. The Fortuner has been an aspirational SUV for more than a decade now and continues to dominate the segment with over 53 per cent segment share, even today.

The new Fortuner is available in 2.8-litre diesel engine with 6-speed automatic and 6-speed manual transmission with intelligent manual transmission options and 2.7-litre petrol engine in 6-speed automatic and 5-speed manual transmission. The Fortuner automatic transmission variants produces 204 PS of power and 500 Nm of torque while manual transmission variants generate 204 PS of power and 420 Nm Torque.

The new Fortuner boasts of new exterior features like a tougher-looking new front grille, sculpted side-pontoon shaped bumper thus amplifying commanding presence. New headlamp design with distinctive sharp LED line guide, Daytime Running Lamps (DRLs) and multi-axis spoke alloy wheels with chrome metallic finishing giving a premium look.

For the interior, superior suction based seat ventilation system (front row) and a larger smart playcast touchscreen audio with Android Auto/Apple Carplay and a JBL 11 speaker w/ subwoofer system (4X4 variants only) are some of the key changes.

For added driving comfort and convenience, the new Fortuner comes with Auto Limited Slip Differential (Auto-LSD) that enables maximum power without breaking traction, Variable Flow Control (VFC) power steering that allows customers to dynamically change steering dynamics with drive modes (Eco, Normal, Sport) and front clearance sonar to safely navigate when parking in tight spaces.

The 4X4 (AT and MT) variants further enhance their off-road credentials with a lockable differential as an additional feature to ensure firm footing when navigating in extreme terrains.

The new Fortuner will be available in existing colours of Phantom Brown, Super White, Attitude Black, Avant-Garde Bronze, Grey Metallic, Silver Metallic, Pearl White Crystal Shine and a new color of Sparkling Black Crystal Shine.

On the occasion, TKM also unveiled the Legender. Its bold proportions demonstrate the clear differentiation that makes it cooler and futuristic. The Catamaran elements that wrap the corners creates a strong vertical prominence and ensure a wider presence. Further, an exclusive headlamp design has been crafted for the Legender – split quad LEDs with a waterfall LED line guide signature that will ensure the best of brightness. The sharp nose creates a strong forward movement; to create a sense of exclusivity with a sleek and cool theme, the Legender comes with exterior features such as Catamaran style front and rear bumpers sharp, and sleek front grille with piano black accents, sequential turn indicators and 18-inch multi-layered machine-cut finished alloy wheels.

In the Legender, the interior features include dual tone (black + maroon) interior theme, contrast stitching for steering wheel and console box, interior ambient illumination (I/P, front door trim, front foot-well areas) and rear USB ports. Apart from these, the Legender is loaded with premium features like kick sensor for power back door and wireless smartphone charger. The Legender is available only in exciting colour of Pearl White with Black roof (dual tone).

Sharing his views on the launch of the new Fortuner, Yoshiki Konishi, Chief Engineer, Toyota Motor Corporation, said, “The new Fortuner is born out of our understanding of the customer feedback. The idea was to enhance the toughness of the vehicle and give it a powerful presence and distinctiveness like no other. Our enhancements were more than just skin deep; we have also upgraded the engine by introducing a new heavy-duty Turbo, designed for powerful performance, and improved frictional efficiency. As a result, the Fortuner Automatic now puts out 500Nm of torque, making it the best in the segment. For the Legender, we have brought in a sense of exclusivity in the design language and style. The bold proportions and advanced features make it look cooler and modernized, giving it a true premium stance and outlook. We are confident customers will appreciate the tweaks we have introduced specifically for the Indian market.”

Commenting on the launch, Masakazu Yoshimura, Managing Director, TKM said, “For more than a decade, the Fortuner has proven itself to be the most dependable SUV becoming the top-most choice for customers across every corner of the country. The Fortuner witnessed demand despite the effects of the pandemic on the economy. Therefore, it gives me great pride to introduce the new Fortuner and new Legender to the ever-growing base of loyal customers in India. I am confident the new Fortuner and exclusive new Legender with their bold styling, advanced features and rugged frame structure will offer value, versatility and superiority attracting many existing customers to upgrade while bringing in new set of customers to the Toyota family.”

Talking about his views, Naveen Soni, Senior Vice President, TKM, said, “We are delighted to bring the all new Fortuner and New Legender to our customers in India. The Fortuner lineup together with the Legender reflect the growing aspirations of our customers who seek the best in style, comfort, and performance. Following our customer-first approach, we have tried to not just meet these aspirations but also surpass them by introducing the new Fortuner and the Legender. A key addition to the new Fortuner & Legender is connected technology that enables features like Geo-fencing, Real-time tracking, last parked location for peace of mind. The infotainment system also comes with Android Auto/Apple Carplay connectivity to provide more convenience. We are sure that the customers will enjoy the new features and continue to put their faith in India’s most admired SUV. We are anticipating great demand for our new offerings across all major Tier I, II and III markets in the country.”

Bookings for the new Fortuner and exclusive New Legender are now open.

Tata Motors has announced that it is bringing back its iconic brand ‘Safari’ with its forthcoming flagship SUV, (codenamed as the Gravitas).

Announcing the formal branding of its forthcoming SUV as the ‘Tata Safari’, Shailesh Chandra – President, Passenger Vehicles Business Unit (PVBU), Tata Motors, said, “We are proud and elated to re-introduce our flagship SUV–Safari. The Safari, an iconic brand with a strong following, has been the most sought after SUV on Indian roads for well over two decades. In its new avatar, the Safari will appeal to the socially active, fun loving customers who seek out unique experiences and adventure. Its design, performance, versatility, features, and long lasting build quality, reinforce the SUV lifestyle to provide unending pleasure. We are confident that the launch of the Safari will once again re-energise the market, amplifying its cult status.”

The Safari further builds on the Impact 2.0 design language with the proven capability of OMEGARC, an architecture derived from the renowned D8 platform from Land Rover, which in itself is the gold standard of SUVs worldwide. This adaptive architecture allows for further drive train enhancements including all-wheel drive and possibilities of electrification in future.

Arriving in showrooms this January, booking for the new Safari will begin shortly. Stay tuned for more details.

Ford India announced a new variant line-up of its popular compact SUV, EcoSport across dealerships.

Ensuring that every variant in the line-up delivers more value and features, the company has also introduced sun-roof on the Titanium trim. This popular feature is now available across half of EcoSport variant lineup in response to the feedback from customers.

“In the tradition of bringing what consumers want and value, we are happy to bolster the EcoSport line-up and make every variant compelling in terms of features and value,” said Vinay Raina, Executive Director Marketing, Sales & Service at Ford India. “With the new line-up, we have not just addressed the customer feedback on making sunroof and key features more accessible but also left scope to add more unique features in the future.”

Starting at a price of INR 799,000 for petrol and INR 869,000 for diesel variants, the new line-up ensure Ford EcoSport remains competitively priced in the segment. The vehicle is available with Ford’s 1.5l TDCi diesel engine that delivers 100 PS power and 215 Nm of Torque. The three-cylinder 1.5-litre Ti-VCT petrol engine delivers 122 PS of power and 149 Nm of torque.

Customers can choose from the five-speed manual gearbox that is offered with both the engines. For enhanced convenience, the petrol-powered variant of the EcoSport is also available with a six-speed, torque convertor automatic.

Ford EcoSport is also comes with mobility and connectivity solution FordPassTM across its entire lineup. FordPassTM is a one-stop smartphone app meeting diverse ownership needs, at no additional cost. With a factory-fitted cloud-connected device, EcoSport owners can perform several vehicle operations — like starting, stopping, locking or unlocking remotely, via the FordPassTM app.

The 2021 Ford EcoSport offers safety, connectivity & convenience with:

· Up to six airbags for enhanced protection for the driver and as well as passengers

· SYNC 3 infotainment system, with an 8-inch touchscreen as well as Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility on top-of-the-line EcoSport S variant

· A 9-inch touchscreen-based, infotainment system and embedded navigation on most variants

· Convenience with driver assistance features like automatic HID headlamps, daytime running lights, electrochromic mirror, rain-sensing wipers, push-button start and scores of other intuitive features

The all-new Nissan Magnite will continue to be available across all Nissan India dealerships and on its website, https://book.nissan.in/, at the special introductory prices on most of the variants till further notice.

Nissan Magnite, with over 32,800 bookings and 1,80,000 enquiries since its launch a month ago on December 2, 2020, has had an overwhelming customer response having ignited consumer interest across buyer segments of SUV, sedan and hatchback. Moreover, drawing emphasis on the safety & security of the made-in-India Nissan Magnite SUV, it was awarded a 4-star on the crash test rating by ASEAN NCAP.

To shorten the delivery period to 2 to 3 months, the plant production capacity is being enhanced by introducing a third shift by employing over 1000 people to staff the manufacturing plant in addition to employing more staff at the dealerships to attend the customer requests. This decision is aimed at reducing the waiting period for all variants so that more and more customers get to enjoy the all-new Nissan Magnite at the earliest.

Ashwani Gupta, COO Nissan Motor Company, said “ The overwhelming positive response we have received for the all-new Nissan Magnite is a great testament to Nissan’s commitment to driving innovation in India through world class design, product technology and manufacturing. We are happy to reinforce our industrial strategy with a third shift to meet increasing customer demand. We hope to continue our contribution to the manufacturing and industrial sector in the country and help create further job opportunities during this uncertain period.”

Commenting on the decision, Sinan Ozkok, President, Nissan Motor India said, “Our endeavour is to enhance our customers’ satisfaction through shorter waiting period of two to three months. This requires additional employment to increase the production and delivery capacity. We are hiring more than 1,000 people in our plant and we have already reinforced our dealer network team. We will also be passing all the benefits of economies of scale to our customers for their belief in the Big, Bold, Beautiful and Carismatic SUV by the continuity of our introductory prices.”

“Nissan India has reached a colossal milestone with the launch of the all-new Nissan Magnite. Our brand philosophy of keeping the customer at the centre of everything we do enables us to create a game changer with a revolutionary value proposition. Customers have given their overwhelming response with record level of bookings and as our token of our appreciation, we would like to continue the special introductory price till further notice.” said Rakesh Srivastava, Managing Director, Nissan Motor India.

The all-new Nissan Magnite is available in 20 grade line-ups and over 36 combinations, each grade walk carefully curated to meet the aspirations of discerning Indian customers.

MG Motor India has launched the all-new Hector 2021 range starting at INR 12.89 lakhs. Hector 2021 is now comes loaded with several first-in-segment features, dual-tone exteriors and interiors, and a plethora of options to choose from. As part of the Hector 2021 range, the SUV is now available in its newly launched 7-seater avatar along with 5 and 6-seater options.

Speaking on the launch, Rajeev Chaba, President & Managing Director, MG Motor India, said, “At MG, our constant endeavor is to capture the imagination of our customers. With the Hector 2021 line up, we have made changes taking into consideration customer and automotive experts’ feedback. HECTOR’s evolution has made the internet SUV an even more compelling choice in its segment.”

The Hector 2021 5-seater starts at INR 12.89 lakhs. It comes with an all-new bold thermopressed front chrome grille, which adds a sense of depth to its stance. It’s looks further get enhanced with larger 18-inch dual-tone alloys, a dark rear tailgate garnish, and gunmetal finish on front and rear skid plates. It also gets other new features like front ventilated seats, wireless charging, auto-dimming interior rear-view mirror and industry-first Hinglish voice commands. The SUV now also features a premium Champagne and Black Dual-Tone themed interior option.

The newly introduced 7-seater variant of Hector Plus starts at INR 13.34 lakhs. The SUV comes with a panoramic sunroof and gets updated 18-inch dual-tone alloys. It provides room for more occupants with 2nd row bench seats for 3 adults and the 3rd row for two children. The 7-seater will come in Style, Super, Smart, and a new ‘Select’ trim level.

The Hector Plus 6-seater with captain seats is priced at INR 15.99 lakhs. It gets updated 18-inch dual-tone alloys, front ventilated seats, wireless charging, and auto-dimming IRVM.

In line with MG’s commitment to be at the forefront of the auto-tech space, Hector 2021 has introduced an upgraded i-SMART with Hinglish voice commands. The SUV is equipped with engine start alarm and an in-car voice alert for critical tyre pressure. Hector 2021 can now also understand and respond to 35+ Hinglish commands that control various in-car functions such as Sunroof (“Khul Ja Sim Sim”), FM (“FM Chalao”), AC (“Temperature Kam kar do”) and many more.

MG Hector 2021 comes with 60+ connected car features with newly added features like i-SMART app on Apple watch, voice search for songs in Gaana app, Wi-Fi connectivity, Weather forecast by Accuweather, among many other features.

MG Hector 2021 range continues to be powered with the industry-first MG Shield. Under this, MG offers the best-in-class total cost of ownership (TCO). It offers 5-year/Unlimited KMs warranty, 5-year Roadside Assistance, and Free Labour Charges for the first 5 periodic services. MG Hector provides an attractive Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) which is 45 paise per KM for Petrol and 60 paise per KM for Diesel variants (calculated up to 100,000 KMs of usage).

Honda 2Wheelers India has announced that their scooter brand ‘Activa’ has now achieved the 2.5 crore customers mark.

Noteworthy, 20 years ago when the scooter market in India was fast declining, Honda made its solo entry with its first two wheeler – the 102cc Activa in 2001 and the rest is history! Over the years, Honda’s Activa brand accomplished many milestones on its way to achieve this remarkable feat in its latest BSVI avatar.

India’s love story with the Activa has only gained strength with every generation. In just three years of its debut in 2001, Activa became the leader in the scooter segment by 2003-04. The next two years saw it cross the 10 lakh cumulative customers’ milestone too.

The Activa brand 15 years to achieve the initial 1 crore customers in 2015. As scooter acceptability continued to rise, Activa brand accelerated on the growth trajectory, and became one of the leading choice of India families. Such is the popularity of the brand that the recent 1.5 crore customers were added with thrice the speed i.e. in just five years.

Expressing gratitude on achieving this historic milestone, Atsushi Ogata, Managing Director, President & CEO, Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India Pvt. Ltd. said, “Since its launch in 2001, be it the 100-110cc engine or the new more powerful 125cc engine, the secret of success of Activa family is Leadership that builds Trust. Since 20 years, Activa is at the forefront of technological innovation, sometimes even decade before it became the industry norm. Be it the Honda patented tuff-up tube and CLiC mechanism in 2001, Honda’s Combi-brake system with Equalizer in 2009, revolutionary Honda Eco Technology (HET) for 10% mileage up in 2013, or even the smarter HET PGM-Fi engine powered by eSP and World First Tumble flow in BS-VI era; every generation of Activa brand continued to evolve, revolutionize the scooter segment and Activate India. We are happy to see that India’s love for the legendary Activa continues to reign supreme.”

Sharing the uniqueness of Activa brand’s 2 decades’ journey Yadvinder Singh Guleria, Director – Sales & Marketing, Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India Pvt. Ltd. said, “Very rarely does a two-wheeler transcend from just utility to an emotion which stirs and resonates with the soul of society, like Activa has. So much has changed around us during this period, but Activa still continues to remain the first love of Indian families, when it comes to buying purchase a scooter. As generations grew from infants on pillion to first time riders, from the empowered first time women rider to the savvy grandparents living it up; Honda is proud that Activa brand has been intrinsic to the activation of this great nation. Many of our Customers share their cherished memories over every generation of Activa. Thank you India 2.5 crore times over, for making Activa the gold standard of your everyday ride.”

Mini India introduced a special edition of the Mini 3-Door Hatch, the Mini Paddy Hopkirk Edition in India. Offered as a Completely Built-Up unit (CBU), only 15 units are available and can be booked exclusively on shop.mini.in.

In 1964, defying all odds, the classic Mini Cooper S clinched the first of three victories at the legendary Monte Carlo Rally. At the wheel was the then 30-year-old Northern Irish rally driver Patrick “Paddy” Hopkirk in the iconic No. 37 Red Mini Cooper S. A timeless tribute to the racing legend and his triumph of the Monte Carlo Rally, Mini brings back the iconic No. 37 to the starting line with the Mini Paddy Hopkirk Edition. With an exclusive design and equipment features to mark a spectacular win, the Mini Paddy Hopkirk Edition is a timeless tribute to the historic moment that defined Mini’s racing legacy.

Vikram Pawah, President, BMW Group India said, “The MINI Paddy Hopkirk Edition is a reflection of MINI’s challenger spirit and racing genes. It is a celebration of the ultimate MINI challenger moment – Paddy Hopkirk’s first Monte Carlo Rally victory in the classic Mini Cooper S. The winning streak at the Monte Carlo Rally continues to inspire MINI fans all over the world to this day. We are delighted to start the New Year with the launch of the MINI Paddy Hopkirk Edition, an icon of international motorsports history.”

The Mini Paddy Hopkirk Edition is available at an ex-showroom price of INR 41,70,000.

The Mini Paddy Hopkirk Edition is a modern interpretation of the classic Red Mini Cooper S driven by Paddy Hopkirk at the Monte Carlo Rally. The limited edition features a Chili Red exterior colour with Aspen White Roof, Black Mirror Caps, 16-inch Light Alloy Wheels Victory Spoke in Black and Exterior Elements in Piano Black (Bonnet Scoop, Door Handles, Fuel Filler Cap, Waistline Finisher, Mini Emblem Front & Rear, Kidney Grille Strut).

Features exclusive to the MINI Paddy Hopkirk Edition include the iconic No. 37 Sticker in white on both sides and No. 37 badging on Side Scuttles as well as the Keycap. The Paddy Hopkirk signature appears on the illuminated Door Sills, the C-pillars and on the Cockpit Facia along with a rear sticker in matt black. A single Bonnet Stripe in white with Paddy Hopkirk’s signature and 33EJB badging of number plate further enhances the special edition’s exclusivity. The Mini Paddy Hopkirk Edition also includes the Panorama Glass Roof, Comfort Access System, Rear View Camera, and John Cooper Works Sport Leather Steering Wheel.

At the heart of the Mini Paddy Hopkirk Edition is the adrenalin pumping Mini Cooper S 2-litre 4-cylinder Petrol engine with TwinPower Turbo Technology. It mobilises a peak output of 192 hp/ 141 kW and a maximum torque of 280 Nm. The car sprints from 100 kmph in 6.7 seconds and the top speed is limited to 235 kmph.

The 7-speed Steptronic Sport Transmission with double clutch and steering wheel paddles enables smooth gear shifts, optimised acoustic and vibration response and contributes to the sophisticated characteristics of the drive system.

The Mini Driving Modes enable an individualised vehicle set-up focusing on either ride comfort, sportiness or efficiency, according to preference. In addition to the standard Mid mode, the Sport mode is geared towards active driving fun while the Green mode supports fuel-efficient driving.

The Mini Paddy Hopkirk Edition is stacked with a range of intuitive safety technologies. The standard safety equipment comprises of Front and Passenger Airbags, Brake Assist, 3-Point Seat Belts, Dynamic Stability Control, Crash Sensor, Anti-lock Braking System, Cornering Brake Control and Run-flat Indicator.

The standard Minimalism technology includes an auto start/stop function, brake energy recuperation, shift point display and electromechanical power steering. Another cool feature is the Mini Excitement Package, which comprises LED interior and ambient lighting as well as a projection of the Mini logo on the ground on the driver’s side when the door is opened.

Bentley Motors today announced total sales of 11,206 in 2020, an increase of two per cent over 2019. Although the pre-COVID sales forecast was much greater, new model introductions fuelled this significant achievement which was the highest sales performance in any of the luxury British marque’s 101 years.

Bentley’s production was shutdown for seven weeks beginning in March, and running at a 50 per cent output for a further nine weeks thereafter, as social distancing measures were introduced. A resulting comprehensive redesign of the production facility enabled Bentley to meet this global demand while in parallel maintaining these social distancing protocols to the current day and beyond.

The Americas remained Bentley’s number one region although a strong performance in China, posting an increase of 48 per cent, ran it close.

Commenting on the global sales results, Adrian Hallmark, Chairman and CEO of Bentley Motors, said: “Even though we anticipated greater sales before the pandemic struck, when you consider the level of restrictions around the world for the majority of the year, to achieve a record sales performance is a strong measure of our potential.

“As we look to the year ahead we remain cautiously optimistic as much remains uncertain. One thing that doesn’t is our commitment to progress, the first step of which is the launch of the Bentayga Hybrid. This is one of nine new models we will launch this year as we continue on our Beyond100 strategic path and our accelerated journey towards becoming a fully electrified car company by 2030.”

Key to the company’s ongoing success was the introduction of a number of exciting new models, combined with greater global availability of other popular models. In particular the all-new Flying Spur was launched internationally and received a phenomenal reception from customers and media alike.

This demand was increased further in October with the introduction of a high-performance V8 engine derivative.

The Bentley Continental GT (24 per cent) and GT Convertible (15 per cent) together accounted for 39 per cent of total sales, finishing the year as Bentley’s number one selling model line. However, in spite of the run out of the previous generation model, and delays to market entry of the all-new Bentayga due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the pioneering, go-anywhere SUV was still the biggest selling single model, accounting for 37 per cent of total sales.

The Americas region delivered 3,035 cars, an increase of four per cent on the corresponding figure for 2019, 2,913. Placing the region as Bentley’s number one market, this strong performance was boosted by the introduction of the Flying Spur and a full year of sales of the Continental GT and GT Convertible luxury Grand Tourer.

Bentley’s biggest growth was reserved for China, posting a sales increase of 48 per cent, 2,880 cars, against 1,940, as the traditional sedan market welcomed the introduction of the all-new Flying Spur, with Bentayga sales remaining strong.

Europe closed the year with the delivery of 2,193 cars, against a figure of 2,670 in 2019, a decrease of 18 per cent with the region impacted because of the market entry delays of the all-new Bentayga.

Bentley’s home market in the UK continued its consistent strong performance, recording sales of 1,160 cars. This represented a decrease of 22 per cent over the previous year.

Bentley delivered 735 cars to the Middle East in 2020, against a total of 852 the previous year.