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Miami Herald
3 days ago
- Automotive
- Miami Herald
Has Bentley Officially Surpassed Rolls-Royce?
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. 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? 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. 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. 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. 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. Copyright 2025 The Arena Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
USA Today
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- USA Today
Best rivalries in sports: Amanda Serrano vs. Katie Taylor fight adds a punch
Amanda Serrano speaks with authority. Katie Taylor speaks barely above a whisper. The Puerto Rican Serrano is a 36-year-old southpaw. The Irish Taylor is a 39-year-old fighting out of the orthodox stance. Together, they've formed a sizzling rivalry in the boxing ring, earning them a spot among some of sports greatest rivalries. It'll be on global display July 11, 2025. Fighting each other for the third time, Serrano and Taylor will square off in the main event during an all-women's card at Madison Square Garden to be televised by Netflix. The first two fights were electric, with Taylor winning both by decision even though the outcome could have gone either way. Jabs, hooks, uppercuts. Non-stop action. Fightin until the final bell. The big winner, as is the case with rivalries, is the fans. Here's a look at some of the greatest sports rivalries through the years: Ford vs. Ferrari A 98-percent rating on Rotten Tomatoes in the first evidence that Ford vs. Ferrari deserves a spot among greatest sport rivalries. Few of them inspire films that star Matt Damon and Christian Bale. Ford vs. Ferrari in real life was even better. In 1963, bad blood led Ford Motor Company to build a race car that would challenge Ferrari. Which at first seemed about as plausible as the Cleveland Browns building a Super Bowl contender. Or the Washington Wizards building a NBA championship team. Or the Colorado Rockies … OK, you get the drift. Yet Ferrari's superiority drove Ford in a way only a rival can. In 1966, Ferrari had a six-year winning streak at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. That year, Ford finally beat Ferrari, when the Ford GT40s finished 1-2-3 and a rivalry was born. Ford vanquished Ferrari yet again the following year at LeMans. Kobe vs. Shaq Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O'Neal, who played together for the Los Angeles Lakers from 1996 to 2004, proved that being teammates does not preclude a rivalry. Neither does winning. They pulled off a three-peat together, leading the Lakers to the NBA championship in 2000, 2001 and 2002. Yet it would have been a stretch to call them friends. The rivalry was born on the basketball court – especially at practice – where O'Neal lacked the discipline, drive and leadership that defined Bryant. The partnership ended in 2004 when O'Neal was traded to the Miami Heat. Though O'Neal won another NBA title in 2006 with the Heat and Bryant won NBA titles in 2009 and 2010, no amount of Larry O'Brien trophies offset the loss of a special rivalry. Ohio State vs. Michigan In 2017, A self-described Ohio State fan posted on social media video of him mowing the script Ohio on the lawn of a Michigan fan. Cute, but there's not much cute about the rivalry on the football field. Woody Hayes vs. Bo Schembechler. 'The Shoe" vs. 'The Big House.'' Scarlet and grey vs. maize and blue. Any confusion over this sentence should might earn residents or Ohio or Michigan removal to another state. It's a rivalry that lives and breathes on the football field and obsesses the adjoining states. Losing sting.s But losses against this rival? They burn. The inaugural clash between the two schools took place in 1897, when Michigan fans' lawns were safe. It's lost no luster since. Michigan entered this year's game as a 19 ½ point favorite, and the Wolverines prevailed 13-10. Going on to win the national championship was Ohio State's consolation prize. Joey Chestnut vs. Takeru Kobayashi Joey 'Jaws'' Chestnut stood 6-1 and weighed over 200 pounds. Takeru 'The Tsunami'' Kobayashi stood 5-8 and weighed 130 pounds. Together, at an astounding pace, they devoured hot dogs and buns on the world's biggest stage – the Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest in Coney Island, New York. The timing of the annual contest accentuated their differences – an American man competing against a Japanese man in front of a largely American crowd on the Fourth of July – that helped stoke their competition. The rivalry was hotter than anything Nathan's was grilling on the day of the contest. Five years of hot dog eating madness. From 2005 to 2009, Chestnut and Kobayashi stood on the same stage and went head to head. Twice Kobayashi won in regulation. Twice Chestnut won in regulation. Once they went into overtime, with Chestnut prevailing in a five hot dog eat-off in 2008. Two years later, Kobayashi left the contest over a contract dispute. Last year Chestnut was barred from Nathan's because of his own contract dispute. And so the great rivalry was renewed. Jaws and a bulked-up Tsunami went head-to-head one last time with Netflix livestreaming the contest. It was no contest. Chestnut ate a world-record 83 hot dogs. Kobayashi at 66. Afterwards, on stage, they did not shake hands. They did not exchange a glance. The rivalry still burned.
IOL News
5 days ago
- Automotive
- IOL News
Lanzante 95-59 supercar debuts at Goodwood: lighter than a hot hatch, but with 635kW
Lanzante has created its own supercar, the 95-59. Image: Supplied UK engineering firm Lanzante stepped into the spotlight in 1995 when it was tasked by McLaren to prepare the F1 supercar to compete at the world-famous 24 Hours of Le Mans. That car went on to win the endurance race. The company has now created its own supercar, the Lanzante 95-59. It debuts 30 years after that famous win in France. The name 95-59 explains the story of where this latest Lanzante project started out: 95 was the year Lanzante claimed its victory at Le Mans, and 59 was the race number of the winning car. Fittingly, just 59 examples will be produced. The price for each is quoted as £1,020,000, that's about R25m at today's exchange rate. The Lanzante 95-59 is based around an all-new carbon-fibre monocoque. The passenger cell was designed to accommodate three occupants, with the driver placed in the middle of the cabin, just like the famous McLaren F1. The Lanzante 95-59 was designed unashamedly around the driver. Image: Supplied The same treatment has been applied to the F1's spiritual successor, the GMA T.50, as well as the McLaren Speedtail. The company says every decision has been made with the driver as the main focus. As a result of the widespread adoption of lightweight materials, Lanzante is targeting a mass of under 1,300 kg, less than your typical hot hatch. The Lanzante 95-59 is powered by a twin-turbocharged V8. The 4.0-litre unit (which we guess comes from McLaren) is quoted as producing in excess of 635kW (850 hp). A seven-speed dual-clutch transmission sends 880Nm of torque to the rear axle. Although no performance claims have been made, we'll just assume that the latest member of the supercar club is going to be suitably rapid. The man responsible for the 95-59's design is Paul Howse, the same chap who penned the McLaren P1. '95-59 has a very natural balance to it By its very design, with the driver as the focal point, it works as a piece of design, with symmetry and very natural forms,' explains Howse. 'The design is a continuing development of my design theory, based on the efficiencies of organic shapes, and we have worked hard to deliver something that pushes the boundaries.' The show car, as seen here and debuted, at the Goodwood Festival of Speed is finished in the same shade of grey as the race-winner. "95-59 is the result of everything I personally and we, as a business, have learned and experienced over three decades since winning Le Mans," Dean Lanzante enthused. "Crossing the finish line at Le Mans was actually the start of this journey to where Lanzante is now, and we are always looking to push boundaries and perceptions. The original brief of 'Project 95-59' was to create something accessible and useable, for drivers. "Three seats, luggage space, enhanced range; something drivers could, and wanted, to use. We wanted to deliver the same enjoyment and passion of buying and owning a classic car but in a contemporary way. Full focus on what the driver needs and wants, with a blend of modern technologies but pared back to maintain driver focus," Lanzante concluded. Story courtesy of Double Apex
Belfast Telegraph
5 days ago
- Automotive
- Belfast Telegraph
Charlie Eastwood has reasons for optimism as he chases victory in Brazilian leg of World Endurance Championship
The South American fixture is the fifth round of the FIA World Endurance Championship, and Eastwood arrives in expectant mood having finished June's 24 Hours of Le Mans third in LMGT3 alongside driving-mates Tom Van Rompuy and Rui Andrade in their Z06 GT3.R. Eastwood followed that up with a breakthrough victory in the European Le Mans Series at Sunday's Four Hours of Imola for the American manufacturer. It also ended a 19-month wait for him to record a first class win with Corvette following his switch to the squad from Aston Martin in late 2023. 'I have to say that I am really looking forward to getting back to the FIA World Endurance Championship — I think that we are finally on something of a good run in the competition, especially with our podium finish at Le Mans in June,' Eastwood told Belfast Telegraph Sport. 'Then, of course, I got my first win in a Corvette just last weekend — a performance that really gives us confidence as we head to Brazil; we are really optimistic about Sao Paulo. 'We are now up to sixth position in the Championship standings after the 24 Hours of Le Mans and hopefully we can keep pushing forward, and keep building on that.' What could help the number eighty-one crews' efforts is extensive upgrade work to the anti-clockwise Interlagos Circuit, which is officially called Autodromo José Carlos Pace. Another possible curveball ahead of Sunday's race — which gets under way at 3.30pm UK time — is the introduction of a new compound from WEC's official tyre supplier, Goodyear. 'The tyre is in response to the high degradation based on last year; it's a hard compound which we did some development work on before it was signed off,' explained Eastwood, 'but we are not fully aware of what tyre they finalised, so that is going to be a big change. 'The track's surface has also been completely resurfaced, so it's tricky to know how it will all pan out. But, like I said, the team is operating at a really high level, as are my two team-mates, so we will look to get up to speed quickly and hopefully get our first win in WEC.' Eastwood, Andrade and Van Rompuy make up an 18-car field for the Six Hours of Sao Paulo, with Aston Martin, BMW, Ferrari, McLaren, Ford and Lexus all represented.
Muscat Daily
6 days ago
- Automotive
- Muscat Daily
Oman's Al Harthy eyes podium finish in Brazil
Muscat – South America is the destination for Ahmad al Harthy later this week when the FIA World Endurance Championship resumes for round five of the season, the Rolex 6 Hours of Sao Paulo, which will take place on Sunday. Oman's Al Harthy, who has been in tremendous form throughout the 2025 campaign along with Team WRT teammates Valentino Rossi and Kelvin van der Linde, is very much hoping for a boost to the squad's fortunes in Brazil off the back off a frustrating non-finish in the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Well on course to challenge for the LMGT3 class win, a podium at least, during the championship's biggest race of the year just three weeks ago, a luckless electrical issue enforced retirement of the rapid No.46 BMW M4 LMGT3 part way through the twice-round-the-clock French encounter. 'I can't wait to return to Brazil this week for my second attempt at the Rolex 6 Hours of Sao Paulo, we had a great weekend last year and the top five result from 12th on the grid was a satisfying result on my first ever visit to the track,' said Al Harthy 'We're all determined, every single member of the team, to be in a position to challenge for the podium on Sunday and that will be our focus with our preparation. 'Everyone was very disappointed that we had to retire the car at Le Mans, but the strength of the performance we showed before then – the pace, the strategy and our individual performances as well – gave us a lot to take away and be very positive about. We're aiming to put all we learned and that experience into practice and hit back as strongly as we can in Sao Paolo.' Al Harthy, supported by prestigious partners OQ Group, Sohar International, Omantel, Oman LNG, BMW Oman, Oman Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth and Experience Oman, is hungrier than ever to be back on the FIA WEC podium and will be working as hard as possible to achieve that aim. During last year's visit to Interlagos, the Omani's maiden trip to the Brazilian venue, he and then teammates Rossi and Maxime Martin achieved a strong top five result from 12th on the grid, almost snatching fourth – less than a second shy at the chequered flag after six intense hours of action. As has been a hallmark of Al Harthy's endurance racing career to-date, his opening stint in last year's Rolex 6 Hours of Sao Paulo was immensely impressive. Gaining no fewer than six places during the first hour of action, this set the scene for the pleasing result on his Interlagos debut. His second stint was equally strong with fantastic speed, racecraft and overtaking skills on show for all to witness. This time around, Oman's number one racing driver is hoping for more still as the team strives to begin the second half of the FIA World Endurance Championship season on the front foot, and climb back up the LMGT3 points table. Competition, as always in FIA WEC, will be fierce in Brazilwith 18 cars entered in LMGT3 alone and a combined grid of 36 entries expected including those from the Hypercar class. Going into the event Al Harthy, Rossi and van der Linde are 12th in the LMGT3 driver standings with a season-best finish of second place from round two at Imola in Italy.
