2018 Bentley Bentayga Onyx Edition Sedan 4d on 2040-cars

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Volkswagen might cut 40 models across brands to save cash

Volkswagen once set out to pass Toyota and General Motors and become the largest automaker in the world. Following months of fallout from the diesel emissions scandal, the manufacturer is rumored to be dropping around 40 models from its company-wide lineup. According to German business and finance publication Handelsblatt, the Volkswagen Group is looking to slim down and remove a number of low-volume vehicles from various lineups. The company currently sells around 340 models across brands that include Audi, Lamborghini, and Bentley. Volkswagen is refusing to comment, but Handelsblatt claims to have sources within the company. Last week, Volkswagen Group CEO Matthias Muller announced a new strategy for the company that includes a major focus on electric vehicles and new technology services. During his announcement, Muller said the company would be cutting a number of models, but at the time no numbers, models, or brands were discussed. Despite comments to the contrary, rumors have persisted since late last year that Volkswagen was looking to sell commercial truck and bus manufacturer MAN. Volkswagen owns truck and bus manufacturer Scania, so even if it dropped MAN, the company would still have a foothold within the bus and truck market. There is also talk of the company selling Italian motorcycle manufacturer Ducati, which Volkswagen acquired via Audi in 2012. The company's image has taken a huge hit in the wake of the diesel scandal. Volkswagen has set aside cash in order to pay fines and may be looking to sell these several subsidiaries and cut low-volume models in order offset the costs. Despite the scandal, the company led worldwide sales in the first quarter of 2016. The same was true in 2015, but sales tanked at the end of the year following the diesel revelations. Related Video: Rumormill Audi Bentley Volkswagen Ducati

You can ice the Bentley Bentayga for $13 grand

Want to drive the new Bentley Bentayga? You'll be able to place your order soon enough, assuming you've got the scratch. And then you'll be able to drive it pretty much anywhere. But if you want to drive it on ice, and don't want to wait for delivery, then check out Bentley's Power on Ice program. The British automaker has been hosting ice-driving events for years now. But this winter, it's adding the new Bentayga to the mix. Participants will be invited to drive it on 10 ice tracks created atop frozen lakes in Finland. The tracks were designed by four-time World Rally Champion and ice-speed record-setter Juha Kankkunen, who also serves as lead instructor for the program. Of course, while the Bentayga may have the most advanced traction system on board, it's not the only all-wheel-drive Bentley lined up for the program. As you can see from the video above - in which the Bentayga appears only in parts starting around the halfway mark - there'll be Continentals, Flying Spurs, and even the GT3-R on hand as well. The event is based at the Chalet Ruka Peak in northern Finland. It also includes fine Scandinavian cuisine, saunas, and a nighttime dog-sled expedition to an old reindeer farm. Of course none of that comes cheap, with prices depending on the level of accommodation specified. But the experience starts off at ˆ11,900 per person – or about $13k at current exchange rates. BENTAYGA MAKES POWER ON ICE DEBUT Oct 29, 2015 - Bentley's extraordinary ice-driving event returns for 2016 - Bentayga to demonstrate prowess on frozen lakes of Finland - Former World Rally Champion, Juha Kankkunen, leads tuition team (Crewe, 29 October 2015) The most powerful, most luxurious, most exclusive and fastest SUV in the world, the Bentley Bentayga, makes its ice-driving debut in 2016 at Bentley's flagship customer event, Power on Ice. Power on Ice is an unforgettable four-day experience that provides the opportunity to push a full range of Bentley cars to their limits. Running throughout February next year, guests will be among the first to explore the Bentayga's extraordinary capabilities in one of the most beautiful and challenging environments in the world. Two days of exhilarating ice driving training are provided by the vastly experienced Bentley Ice Driving Team. Leading the tuition will be four-time World Rally Champion and two-time ice-speed record holder, Juha Kankkunen – who personally designs each of the ten ice tracks.

Bentley teases new Flying Spur before Geneva debut

Last time we saw the 2014 Bentley Continental Flying Spur out testing, our only questions about the new car regarded its rear-end styling, and when the car would debut. Well now we know for certain that the car will be unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show, and we're also getting a better idea of what the car will look like thanks to Bentley releasing a brief teaser video.
The easiest-to-spot detail that we see in this Flying Spur video is the car's horizontal taillights - the first such on a Bentley since the 1990s. We can also see that this hyper-luxury sedan will get a more squared-off front end than its Continental GT counterpart. But, from what we can tell, it will receive a similarly laid out interior, including the three-spoke steering wheel.
Scroll down to watch the video, and we've also attached the single-sentence press release in which Bentley promises to reveal more details about the car on February 20.