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The new Continental Supersports, the first
Bentley to use FlexFuel technology which enables it to run on E85
biofuel, gasoline or any combination of these two fuels, has further
underlined its green credentials by meeting the 85% recyclability
standard (95% for recoverability) demanded of all the Bentley
Continental range. In May 2009
Bentley received the official recycling pre-certification (in accordance
with the EU Directive 2005/64/EG) from the German Motor Transport
Authority (KBA) - thereby becoming one of the first luxury car
manufacturers to attain this standard.
Type approval then followed from TÜV,
the independent testing and certification service supplier, and now,
with the addition of the Continental Supersports to this certification,
the entire Bentley Continental range meets this exacting standard. The
certificate, which is only awarded after detailed independent scrutiny
of the car, assures the fact that virtually all the Continental's
materials can be reused or reprocessed by other industries.
The Crewe-built Supercar, which is now
arriving in Bentley showrooms, is the most extreme production car in the
company's 90-year history. Capable of reaching 204 mph (329km/h), it is
also the lightest road-going Bentley having shed some 110kg through a
broad programme of weight reduction involving the innovative use of new
materials such as carbon ceramics and carbon fibre.
The achievement of this certification
is testament to the endeavours of the Bentley engineering team as Dr.
Arno Homburg, Head of Whole vehicle Development at Bentley Motors said:
"Producing the fastest Bentley was a
challenge in itself. However, we were equally determined not to
sacrifice any environmental aspect in pursuit of this goal. The result
is the paradox that the most extreme Bentley ever, is also the
greenest".
The Supersports is the first iteration
of the environmental strategy Bentley launched at the Geneva Motor Show
in 2008. Powered by gasoline, E85 biofuel or any combination of these
two fuels, the Supersports can reduce CO2 emissions by up to 70% on a
well-to-wheel basis.
It is one element of a broader Bentley
strategy which will see by 2012 the company's average fleet CO2
emissions reduced by 15% and the introduction of a new powertrain that
will by itself deliver a 40% reduction in fuel consumption. This
programme is also supported at the Bentley factory where the use of gas,
electricity and water have all been reduced significantly despite
Bentley achieving record levels of production in recent years.
A genuine two-seater, the Supersports
takes Bentley into new market sectors. It has received an overwhelmingly
positive media reaction and is now attracting keen customer interest.
Its Flexfuel capability ensures that is fuelled for the future and, with
this latest recyclability certification, customers can be assured that
every effort has been taken to consider the environmental impact of all
components over the entire life of the car. As Dr Homburg adds:
"It is part of our responsibility as a
car maker to contribute to environmental improvements and with
Supersports you can see an evolution of this thinking. Even though
Bentleys last a very long time - nearly 70% of all cars ever made are
still on the road or in collections - we have still sought to ensure any
environmental impact is minimised. The wide use of natural materials
such as wood and leather and the craftsmanship inherent in their use
naturally favours us here." |
