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Auto Blog
13-07-2025
- Automotive
- Auto Blog
Has Bentley Officially Surpassed Rolls-Royce?
By signing up I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy . You may unsubscribe from email communication at anytime. The two luxury automakers have a lot in common, but not their balance sheets Rolls-Royce and Bentley are tied to each other forever. As recently as the late 90s, the two automakers made vehicles that were virtually indistinguishable from one another. Each had its trademarks, badging, and in Rolls-Royce's case, the Spirit of Ecstasy and grille design. Fast-forwarding three decades, we find two brands with distinct personalities and heritage. Looking closer, we see two brands that have set out to accomplish similar things — and achieved on very different levels. Previous Pause Next Unmute 0:00 / 0:09 Full screen 2025 Audi S3 VS 2025 Mercedes-AMG CLA 35: Which one comes out on top? Watch More But first, a quick history lesson. Bentley Motors began life in January 1919 as World War I ended, debuting its first car later that year. The company delivered its first car in the following year and won the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1927. Then, the brand repeated its wins in the three years following. Rolls-Royce bought the brand when it went into receivership on the heels of the Great Depression. The newly acquired now-subsidiary's first car was a Bentley 3.5-liter that appeared in 1933, powered by a Rolls-Royce engine. The latter part would prove to be a trend as all Bentley models produced after the merger until 2004 relied on Rolls-Royce engines and chassis. After changing hands in the 1970s, Rolls-Royce (including Bentley) went up for sale in the late 1990s. BMW and Volkswagen were poised to become the inheritors of the luxury crown. BMW was already providing powertrains for Rolls, and took further steps to purchase the name and logo for Rolls-Royce. For a sizable $703 million, Volkswagen purchased the designs, nameplates, and the facilities themselves. But, without the rights to the name and badging, a compromise needed to be met. Thus, VW took Bentley, and BMW got Rolls-Royce. Effective January 2003, the two brands were finally separate entities. After twenty-two years apart, how have they fared? Sales figures show the two brands are living very different lives, with one common focus Let's start with Rolls-Royce. The original nameplate has carried itself well into the 21st century, and 2024 saw the brand deliver 5,712 cars, its third-best recorded. Here, Bentley compares favorably. The Crewe-based automaker delivered nearly double the number of cars as Rolls, with 10,600 cars finding new homes. However, volume is only part of where these brands generate their revenue. Both place a heavy emphasis on customizability; Rolls-Royce has Bespoke, while Bentley offers Mulliner. Last year, Bentley saw revenue per car rise 10%, and a lot of that comes from the fact that 70% of the cars delivered had at least one Mulliner inclusion. Rolls-Royce says, similarly, that it saw a 10% increase in Bespoke content overall, enough to set a record for the brand. Autoblog Newsletter Autoblog brings you car news; expert reviews and exciting pictures and video. Research and compare vehicles, too. Sign up or sign in with Google Facebook Microsoft Apple By signing up I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy . You may unsubscribe from email communication at anytime. Bentley Bentayga Speed Rolls-Royce Cullinan Bentley trounces Goodwood in volume, and profit is a similar story. Bentley reported a profit of $439 million. Meanwhile, BMW reported that Rolls-Royce generated around $140 million in profit, demonstrating that the brand is also very likely making less, percentage-wise, per car than the boys in Crewe. The story remains consistent no matter which arena you pick. Rolls-Royce, overall, accounts for roughly 1% of parent company BMW's profit. Bentley? Last year, despite a downturn in profits, the brand accounted for around 2% of Volkswagen's profit. Both are making plays for new customers We've established that Bentley is making more money than Rolls-Royce, but what does the future hold? Bentley certainly isn't resting on its laurels, just recently announcing three new stores for North America in desirable locations — Santa Barbara, California, San Antonio, Texas, and Oakville, Canada, a Toronto suburb. An exec was recently quoted as saying there's 'no real limitation' on what the automaker can or would build you, even offering a pickup truck. Finally, Bentley also laid the ground for a new BEV assembly line back in March 2025. Then, in July, Bentley opened up a brand-new design studio converted from one of its oldest and most heritage-filled buildings. BMW isn't putting Rolls-Royce out to pasture yet, though. Last year, the brand added two new Private Office locations and an invite-only network for Rolls-Royce customers to configure their vehicles. Furthermore, the brand committed around $400 million to expanding manufacturing at the Goodwood facility. 2024 Rolls-Royce Spectre The 2025 Bentley Continental GT Speed in the Meatpacking District, New York City Final thoughts The numbers don't lie. It's a fairly accurate statement to say that Bentley has surpassed Rolls-Royce, at least for the time being. However, even after a century, both brands are still growing. Notably, the big B doesn't have a single all-electric model. Meanwhile, Rolls-Royce has cleaned up with the Spectre, simultaneously attracting a whole new kind of buyer and moving units. It's too early to tell which of these historic luxury brands is going to come out on top, but Bentley has certainly taken the lead, and is obviously working and spending hard to maintain it. About the Author Steven Paul View Profile
Auto Blog
10-07-2025
- Automotive
- Auto Blog
Lanzante 95-59 Is A McLaren F1 Reincarnation For The Few
By signing up I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy . You may unsubscribe from email communication at anytime. Lanzante Unveils Yet Another Stunner At Goodwood In 1995, a Lanzante-run McLaren F1 GTR wearing #59 won the most prestigious endurance race on the planet. To celebrate, Lanzante has revealed the 95-59, paying tribute to its victory at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. It's a McLaren in some ways, from the drab name to the powertrain components, but Lanzante won't say which base car it started with. Considering the amount of work done (even to the chassis), does that matter? Perhaps, so we'll at least rule out what it's not. 0:06 / 0:09 What is the Sony Honda Mobility Afeela 1? Watch More The 95-59 has a (revised) 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 and a seven-speed Seamless Shift Gearbox, so that rules out the V6 hybrid Artura as a base, leaving us with the 750S and the GTS. The slotted engine cover of the former seems similar to that of the 95-59, but given that this is a full carbon fiber body with significant alterations to just about every element beneath it, Lanzante could possibly have started with either. Power Is High, Weight Is Low, And Aero Is Awesome So let's talk about what we do know: 'over' 850 horsepower and 649 lb-ft of torque, a target weight of under 2,760 lbs, and a floating active aero rear wing. Oh, and a three-seat layout with a central driving position, like the F1 that inspires it. Lanzante's Goodwood Festival of Speed reveals draw swarms, so this year, we're kept at arm's length while the 95-59 rotates, which made it a little easier to get photos without having showgoers in the foreground, but it also means we can't see inside. Back at the office, Lanzante's press images don't show off the cabin either, so we'll have to see the showpiece of the cabin a little later. But from this distance, the 95-59 looks slippery and sleek, and its body shape is certainly calling the 750S to mind. That's a good thing, because there's a lot of aero to hide, including a simply massive underbody diffuser. In Ueno Grey (the same as the 1995 Le Mans winner), the carbon fiber splitter, diffuser, doors, bumpers, and hood all blend seamlessly, and even the repositioned wing mirrors feel cohesive to the overall design. Of course, each of the 59 buyers who choose to drop a fortune on a car like this will be free to explore their own creativity, but with Paul Howse of P1 and 720S fame penning the 95-59, it's always going to have McLaren flavor, albeit seasoned to Lanzante's taste. Speaking of, we're looking at the optional LM30 Pack. Autoblog Newsletter Autoblog brings you car news; expert reviews and exciting pictures and video. Research and compare vehicles, too. Sign up or sign in with Google Facebook Microsoft Apple By signing up I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy . You may unsubscribe from email communication at anytime. Special Touches For The Hardcore Lanzante emphasizes that the 95-59 can 'comfortably accommodate three occupants' and is 'capable of extended cruising with luggage space,' so there will surely be those who lean into the luxury appeal of this car. For the rest, the LM30 (Le Mans, 30 years ago) Pack is how that featherweight curb weight is achieved, saving some 44 lbs. The package delivers forged aluminum wheels, Inconel exhaust headers (with the rest of the exhaust made of titanium), gold-plated heat shielding for the bay and the exhaust, and titanium body hardware. The package also adds small badges to the body, and inside, a map of the Circuit de la Sarthe is embossed in the driver seat headrest. Lanzante also fits a scrutineer-style plaque to ram home the motorsport inspiration behind this car. Hopefully, that will encourage buyers to thrash their 95-59s as often as possible, and the company highlights clear rear visibility and that buyers should have the notion that they're buying a classic car in the modern age. With a price of £1,020,000, or $1.38 million (plus taxes), it's not the sort of car you'd want to abuse, but it's also not so expensive that it'll crown the average buyer's collection. Still, the low volume will make it an exceedingly rare sight anywhere in the world. About the Author Sebastian Cenizo View Profile
Times of Oman
16-06-2025
- Automotive
- Times of Oman
Dream of 24hrs of Le Mans win ends for Oman's Ahmad Al Harthy
Muscat: Faultless driving, top strategy and a very quick BMW M4 LMGT3 were not enough to deliver what looked likely to be a bid for a dream victory at this year's 24 Hours of Le Mans for Ahmad Al Harthy and Team WRT – electrical problems in the early hours of Sunday, 15th June, forcing retirement. Oman's Al Harthy and team-mates Valentino Rossi and Kelvin van der Linde had delivered an incredible performance throughout the first half of the twice-round-the-clock encounter at the eight-plus mile Circuit de la Sarthe in France, with LMGT3 silverware well within their grasp. Sadly, though, and for the second year in succession, the 24 Hours of Le Mans ended in misfortune for Al Harthy and Team WRT, having led the class or been inside the top two for the most part since lights-out at 16.00 local time on Saturday, 14th June. After qualifying an excellent third on the grid for the biggest race of the season, round four of the FIA World Endurance Championship, the team choose to begin the 24 Hours with van der Linde and he very quickly climbed into second in LMGT3 close behind the leader. Van der Linde remained in touch in the No.46 BMW M4 and after the initial pit-stops, the South African was back up to second. Oman's Al Harthy climbed behind the wheel for his first miles of the race in hour two and was within less than four seconds of the LMGT3 lead with one hour and 45 minutes elapsed. After another stop, Al Harthy moved up into the lead and he then began to build his advantage, driving faultlessly. Just over three hours into the race the Omani, who is supported by prestigious partners OQ Group, Sohar International, Omantel, Oman LNG, BMW Oman, Oman Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth and Experience Oman, led by around 25 seconds. Half an hour later the lead was up to roughly 60 seconds, before handing over to Rossi for his first stint of the race. Holding second place initially, the Italian was every bit as competitive as his two team-mates and he soon moved the No.46 BMW back into first place in LMGT3. One quarter of the way through the race, 22.00 local time, van der Linde was back behind the wheel and held an advantage of 14 seconds at that stage. Just before 23.00, with 100 racing laps in the book, he remained at the front with a buffer of half-a-minute over the nearest rival. The entire race strategy from Team WRT was working like clockwork as midnight neared. Around three hours later, though, the squad's tremendous challenge for a dream victory at the 24 Hours of Le Mans came to an end when the car ground to a halt – seemingly with no power. After being recovered back to the pits, it was discovered electrical problems were the cause. Moreover, the issue was irreparable at the track in the time available. Ahmad Al Harthy said: 'Being in the first two positions for the majority of the nine to 10 hours we were racing definitely got us thinking of the possibility of an amazing result. I think how we were able to push the entire time showed we would have been competitive at the end of the race. Unfortunately, though, an electrics issue forced us to retire the car. 'This is what we know about racing, especially at the highest level like Le Mans, and we accept it. Things like this make you appreciate the achievements when you get them. The entire team did an amazing job right throughout the week at Le Mans, across all sessions, and the performance we showed in qualifying was a real highlight personally. We showed in the race what we're capable of, so now we look to bounce back in Brazil. Thank you to everyone for the amazing support.' Round five of the FIA World Endurance Championship takes place four weeks from now, over the weekend 12th/13th July, with the Rolex 6 Hours of Sao Paulo at Interlagos in Brazil.
Washington Post
15-06-2025
- Automotive
- Washington Post
Ferrari wins the 24 Hours of Le Mans for third year in a row
LE MANS, France — Ferrari won the 24 Hours of Le Mans for the third year running Sunday but a late surge from Porsche Penske Motorsport denied the Italian manufacturer a podium sweep. The No. 83 Ferrari 499P crew of Robert Kubica, Ye Yifei and Philip Hanson took the win as Ferrari won for the 12th time in the 102nd edition of the storied race. Their bright-yellow car, privately entered by the AF Corse team, got the better of Porsche and the two official factory-entered Ferraris. The Penske-operated No. 6 Porsche 963 of Kévin Estre, Laurens Vanthoor and Matt Campbell surged late in the race to finish second ahead of the two other Ferraris. For Kubica and Ye, it was redemption after their car — then with Robert Shwartzman as third driver — was a strong contender to win last year's race before a crash, a penalty and finally a race-ending mechanical failure. ___ AP auto racing:
Associated Press
15-06-2025
- Automotive
- Associated Press
Ferrari wins the 24 Hours of Le Mans for third year in a row
LE MANS, France (AP) — Ferrari won the 24 Hours of Le Mans for the third year running Sunday but a late surge from Porsche Penske Motorsport denied the Italian manufacturer a podium sweep. The No. 83 Ferrari 499P crew of Robert Kubica, Ye Yifei and Philip Hanson took the win as Ferrari won for the 12th time in the 102nd edition of the storied race. Their bright-yellow car, privately entered by the AF Corse team, got the better of Porsche and the two official factory-entered Ferraris. The Penske-operated No. 6 Porsche 963 of Kévin Estre, Laurens Vanthoor and Matt Campbell surged late in the race to finish second ahead of the two other Ferraris. For Kubica and Ye, it was redemption after their car — then with Robert Shwartzman as third driver — was a strong contender to win last year's race before a crash, a penalty and finally a race-ending mechanical failure. ___ AP auto racing:
