Matt M. Myftiu
Matt Myftiu has been a journalist for two decades with a focus on technology, NASCAR and autos.
2017 Bentley Bentayga is here to shake up the luxury SUV market
TROY, Mich. -- Bentley is an automotive name with a certain mystique, so when they introduce a new model, it's felt throughout the upper-crust marketplace. When they enter a entirely new segment, it's even bigger news.
The auto industry has been abuzz all year with news of the coming 2017 Bentley Bentayga, the first SUV from the high-end automaker, and it's finally here. On Sunday I got a chance to see it up close, on display at the newly expanded Bentley showroom that Suburban Collection operates in Troy, Michigan.
So what's my first impression of the Bentayga, which comes in with a starting price of about $230K: Externally it's a thing of beauty, with a distinctive look no other SUV can offer -- especially in the grille. The interior (which is highly customizable with more than a dozen color options) is intricate and classy, down to the hand-stitching on the seats.
I could only look and was not able to drive the Bentayga yet (I hope to do so later this year), but the powerful 6.0-liter W-12 engine and 600 horsepower (and 664 lb.-ft. of torque) it offers leave very high hopes for what it will be like on the road. There's even an off-road package available if you want to take a $200K+ car off the beaten path. Oh yeah, it also tops out at 187 mph, if you're ever in a place where it's possible to go that fast (not that I'd recommend it).
Regarding the reason why SUV decided to take the plunge and make an SUV after so many years of not offering one, Bentley chief communication officer Jeff Kuhlman said:
"The trend in the industry is that crossovers and SUVs do very well. We saw our customers, who often have four to six cars, going to Escalade and Land Rover. We wanted to fill that void."
Overall sales goals
With a pricetag starting around $230K and the possibility of going into the $300K bracket with features added on, the Bentley brand will never rival its more affordable competitors in terms of overall sales numbers. But that's partly by design, as this brand needs to maintain a sense of exclusivity and not overproduce its vehicles.
Still, the brand (which still builds all of its vehicles at its factory in Crewe, England) is looking for numbers to tick up in coming years. For the past few years, their total sales numbers have been about 10,000, mostly from its Continental line of vehicles.
With the Bentayga coming on board, and both current Bentley customers looking to upgrade to an SUV, and non-Bentley buyers possible making the move to a Bentayga now that an SUV is offered, those numbers should rise steadily in the coming years. An ambitious goal of Bentley's is to double sales to the 20,000 range within 5 to 10 years -- and while that may or may not happen, there is bound to be substantial growth now that there is more diversity in the brand's lineup. (And it's anticipated the Bentayga will pass the Continental as the brand's most popular model within a few years).
Specificially for the Bentayga, total sales of at least 5,000 are anticipated (possible more if interest grows), with about 1,500 of that number coming from the United States.
Background on the Troy showroom
The Bentleys I saw were housed in the newly upgraded 5,200 square-foot showroom with high ceilings (32 feet) at the Suburban Collection's campus in Troy, which also houses showrooms for Lamborghini, Rolls Royce and Maserati. The new showroom had formerly housed a Hummer showroom in a past life, and in recent years was a temporary home for Cadillac and Kia dealerships during renovations.
Now it's classed up to the Bentley line, and the extra space was in part added due to the urging of Bentley, which wanted more room to show off its new wares -- included the long-awaited Bentayga (which started out as a concept car in 2012 and has evolved quite a bit to get to where it ended up).
The new showroom opens up to the public in Troy on Jan. 12, and an uptick in visitors is anticipated due to the arrival of the Bentayga. David Butler, executive manager of Suburban Collection, said it's anticipated the Troy location will sell about 20 Bentaygas this year, though it's likely they'll be able to sell more if Bentley gives them access to more of the vehicles, which are expected to be in high demand at dealerships all over the country. All of Bentley's other models will continue to be sold at the Troy location, too.
The bottom line
To this point, other automakers offering luxury SUVs could take comfort in knowing that Bentley fans didn't have an option in-house, but that's no longer the case. I'll be curious to see how that shakes things up for the competition in this small but competitive segment of high-end SUVs.
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Volkswagen bringing gesture control to mass production in e-Golf Touch
Volkswagen returns to CES 2016 with two ground-breaking, zero-emissions vehicles: the BUDD-e concept and the e-Golf Touch. BUDD-e is a concept vehicle that will take CES attendees on a quick time-hop to the year 2019. In contrast, the e-Golf Touch, with its next-generation infotainment system, shows that technologies showcased at CES 2015 are close to production.
Jimmie Johnson Foundation announces third annual Wellness Challenge
Six-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Champion Jimmie Johnson and his wife, Chandra announced today that the Jimmie Johnson Foundation (JJF) Wellness Challenge, presented by Penn Mutual, will return in 2016.
The JJF Wellness Challenge is a series of four athletic events that attract a wide range of participants, from beginners to advance. Three of the four events are located in and around Charlotte, North Carolina. New to the JJF Wellness Challenge in 2016 is the “JJF Virtual Triathlon” an event that allows anyone living in the United States to participate by registering and completing 2.4 miles swim, 112 miles bike and 26.2 miles run (in their own time), during the month of October.
“This marks the 10th anniversary of the Foundation and during that time, we have supported some great projects and non-profit organizations,” said Johnson, co-founder of the Jimmie Johnson Foundation. “The JJF Wellness Challenge is one of the many ways we raise money for programs that support public education.”
VIP experience with Danica Patrick, Tony Stewart offered via TaxAct sweepstakes
As Stewart-Haas Racing (SHR) prepares for the start of the 2016 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season, TaxAct, the official tax preparation software partner of SHR and driver Danica Patrick, has launched the Race to Your Refund Sweepstakes. Race fans can now enter the Race to Your Refund Sweepstakes for a chance to win a number of prizes, including an exclusive 2017 VIP Daytona race experience featuring Patrick and SHR co-owner Tony Stewart.
“TaxAct does a great job of engaging NASCAR fans and the Race to Your Refund program is another strong example of their efforts,” Patrick said. “The sweepstakes provides an opportunity for our fans to have some fun and connect with TaxAct, all while helping them to get the best deal when they file their own income tax return.”
Toyota donations to help the poor stay warm this winter
As temperatures fluctuate this winter in Michigan, one thing for sure is snowy, icy and even cold rainy days are here through March and warm winter boots and socks are still a “must have” in Michigan. Without adequate clothing, often low-income families and people experiencing homelessness have a much higher risk than the general population of developing exposure-related conditions such as hypothermia and frostbite.
To protect families from the cold, Toyota Motor North America through its “Toyota Walk In My Boots” community outreach project and North American International Auto Show activities, is stepping in to help area low-income and homeless families by providing new insulated boots and socks to more than 200 participants of The Salvation Army Conner Creek Corps Community Center located on Detroit’s Eastside and The Salvation Army Booth Services of Detroit, a homeless shelter for primarily women and single mothers and their children.
ION Audio unveils water-resistant wireless outdoor speakers
ION Audio has announced the introduction of three new water-resistant outdoor speakers, all with wireless Bluetooth streaming capability. Recognizing an ever-growing demand for wireless outdoor entertainment solutions, these three new ION speakers give customers the ability to choose their speaker’s size and loudness capability to perfectly match their requirements, with the added bonus of being IPX4 water-resistant. That means whether a quick spring shower pops up or someone wants to use their speaker near children splashing in a pool, any of these new ION speakers is ideal.
The Block Rocker Splash boasts an impressive 8-inch 2-way speaker system powered by a 100-watt dynamic power amplifier. Its rechargeable battery lasts for 100 hours, so the fun keeps going without missing a beat. It streams music wirelessly from any Bluetooth device and also has a built-in AM/FM radio, plus it comes with a microphone and cable so users can be the MC at their own event or even have Karaoke parties in the rain!
Toyota looks to the future with NAIAS exhibit
The Toyota exhibit at the 2016 North American International Auto Show (NAIAS), from January 16-24 in Detroit, provides a glimpse at this transformational change to mobility while showing off the full line of new cars, trucks and SUVs available today.
Fresh off of announcements at CES (Consumer Electronics Show), which revealed Artificial Intelligence (AI) and robotics research plans by the new Toyota Research Institute Inc. (TRI) and the commercialization of a telematics system using SmartDeviceLink, Toyota arrives in Detroit to showcase its vision of the connected car and future mobility.
Toyota will use exhibit displays to tell its AI story. One exhibit has small moving vehicles on a table that learn how to drive in a congested environment.
Use of drones prohibited on national forest lands
Do you own a drone? If so, there are important restrictions in federal law that you should know.
Unmanned aircraft systems, popularly called drones, have become increasingly popular and less expensive in recent years. However, many people may not be aware that they are regulated by the Federal Aviation Administration, which also controls private and commercial aircraft. FAA regulations restrict drone use within areas where they may interfere with other air traffic, such as an FAA rules also prohibit drone use over most federal land, such as national forests and parks.
A drone can annoy visitors to these public places, typically seeking peace and quiet. A drone may disturb, or even harass, wildlife. Drones may also interfere with other aerial activity such as wildfire detection and suppression. There have been several incidents in recent years in which firefighters have had to suspend the use of aircraft in fighting wildfires because of the presence of private drones.
Recent FAA regulations require the registration of drones above a certain weight or face civil and criminal penalties. The Huron-Manistee National Forests encourage the public to be aware of these regulations and the responsibility involved in flying a drone by visiting their website at: https://www.faa.gov/uas/registration/faqs/
-- Press release courtesy of Huron-Manistee National Forests
NASCAR Hall of Fame open free to fans on Jan. 23
For the third consecutive year, the NASCAR Hall of Fame will open its doors for free for NASCAR Fan Appreciation Day.
On Saturday, Jan. 23, fans will have free access to the Hall for a full day of activities, including autographs and Q&A sessions with current drivers and NASCAR Hall of Famers. Fans will be admitted into the Hall on a first-come, first-served basis in lieu of needing a ticket.
However, tickets to the below autograph sessions, highlighted by 13-time Sprint NMPA Most Popular Driver Dale Earnhardt Jr. must be secured in advance. Vouchers for these autograph sessions will be available for free on NASCARHall.com starting at 10 a.m. ET on Saturday, Jan. 16. Each fan can secure up to two autograph session vouchers.
2016 Volvo XC90 is a luxurious and rugged SUV option
Volvo’s got a tough row to hoe in the United States as it battles with other automakers for market share here.
In addition to the brand having a very small number of sales annually to begin with (about 60,000), it also has to deal with some level of concern among U.S. buyers that it is now a Chinese company, which is true on some level since a Chinese automaker (Geely) bought the company a few years back.
But that doesn’t mean the company is throwing in the towel in the U.S.
In fact, they’ve gone full steam ahead to attract luxury SUV buyers with an all-out redesign on their at-one-time-very-popular XC90 model (which is still made in Sweden). This SUV had continued to fall behind its rivals in recent years with no reboot in ages, but its day has finally come for a facelift -- and the changes are pretty much in every corner -- with something new to find throughout its design, under the hood and in the tech setup.
I recently spent some time in an XC90, and I’m back with a full report.
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