Bentley Azure, Continental GTC come to India

15 October, 2007

The United Kingdom’s super premium luxury car brand Bentley Motors has unveiled its Azure and the Continental GTC, both convertibles, in India.

The cars, rolled out of the company’s Britain plant, are to be imported as completely built units (CBUs) and will be sold through the company’s India
partner, Delhi-based Exclusive Motors Private Ltd.

While the company has priced the Bentley Azure at Rs 3.8 crore (ex-showroom Delhi), the Continental GTC would sport a price tag of Rs 2.10 crore. The Azure comes powered with a V-8 6.75-litre twin turbo-charged engine. The Continental GTC, meanwhile comes with a 6.0-litre twin-turbo charged engine.

The Bentley is expected to fulfil the desire of Indians for premium cars. Bentley plans to sell at least 25 cars every year in India. Since its entry in 2003, Bentley has sold more than 40 cars in the super-luxury segment.

Meanwhile, a related report said that the car maker has urged the government for a revision in the import duty structure for automobiles. With the premium car market in India growing at an accelerated pace, it is important for the authorities to look at the tax structure for imported cars, it has been pointed out. India’s tax levy of over 100 per cent duty on imported vehicles is seen as on the higher side. However, the company also feels that its sales figures would move up the ladder in spite of the current tax structure on imported cars.

Companies such as American bike maker Harley Davidson had earlier in the past urged the government for a revision in the import duty structure for
automobiles.