Thank you to our Sponsors
I think I am correct in saying that modern bentleys use a vw engine W12 and is produced alongside the phaeton in germany. I will confim this when i return to work tomorrow.
As for Lotus they use parts from many cars and assembled in Norfolk. they have been in financial trouble for as long as I can remember
So to an extent most companys have to outsource to china, to survive
good comments though
I think I am correct in saying that modern bentleys use a vw engine W12 and is produced alongside the phaeton in germany. I will confim this when i return to work tomorrow.
As for Lotus they use parts from many cars and assembled in Norfolk. they have been in financial trouble for as long as I can remember
So to an extent most companys have to outsource to china, to survive
good comments though
Nice points, and add that most of the majors surround themselves with sub-brands per se, though they might be JVs, subsidiaries, or higher placements in the food chain. BMW has Mini and RR, Nikon and Coolpix, Leica has Lumix via Panasonic, Mikimoto has Blue Lagoon, Rolex and Tudor, etc. Whether these are just B-school exercises or marketing tricks, fact remains it is impossible to ignore the manufucturing efficiencies of China and the cash generation capabilities of normal human customers, aspirational buyers or not. And if you look at Tue's CV, you can see that he was perfectly built to take advantage of those type synergies, and apparently chartered by the Board to do just that.
As one who is old enough to remember when Made in Japan was an insult and robots were science fiction, I appreciate a lot of products and companies that are gone, machine-made, or cheap imitations of things I treasure. Time to move on; That train has left the station.
I think I am correct in saying that modern bentleys use a vw engine W12 and is produced alongside the phaeton in germany. I will confim this when i return to work tomorrow.
Some are yes, such as the Continental GT & Flying Spur (unfortunately), but the (reletively new) flagship Mulsanne is using the fabulous 6.75Ltr V8 lump that can trace it's roots back over 50years to 1959 in fact when it was introduced (as a 6.3 litre in the Phantom and S-Series cars of the late 50's and 60's). It's been updated & massively uprated over the years and the latest Mulsanne's (the 'Mulsanne' name itself has also been revived from the early 80's) 6.75V8 block has now been further boosted with twin supercharged turbo units.
In essence though, this flagship modern Bentley is using the same lump that's in my late 80's built car, and its being hand assembled in the very same factory too.
This youtube vid is quite interesting if you are doubting the 'hand built' claim. As it says, upon completion, each & every individual car is driven 30 miles around the roads & lanes of Crewe, Cheshire just to ensure it is 100% correct. That sort of attention to detail is not synonomous with outsourcing!
Personally though I'm not keen on the latest Bentleys and if I could afford £230k for one of those Mulsannes (which I certainly cannot!), I would throw a further £20k on top and go for a Rolls~Royce Phantom.
🤒
We have a mulsanne at work, and a continental gt I think they are very well engineered and a showcase for vw to display their skills. they have an attention to detail that is unrivalled.
I do like the old cars, but I prefer the newer generation! Its funny that bmw and vw had an intrest in bentley, the base model arnage had the bmw 4.4 engine!
You know you have a well enginereed car when the windows are all chain driven!
Its funny that bmw and vw had an intrest in bentley, the base model arnage had the bmw 4.4 engine!
Yes, I think it was the Arnage Green Label that was given the 4.4 engine, as was very early models of the RR Silver Seraph...
What is even more remarkable however is that after using this 4.4 BMW derived unit for a reletively short time, customer demand (especially on the RR side) consigned this unit to the sidelines in preference for a return of the old 6.75 V8 lump that has it's origins back in the 1950's! (albeit with a lot of refinements over the years) - now thats quite a remarkable fact when you consider how engine technology has advanced so massively in the last 50/60 years!!
Getting a bit off-topic now though 😂
Its funny that bmw and vw had an intrest in bentley, the base model arnage had the bmw 4.4 engine!Yes, I think it was the Arnage Green Label that was given the 4.4 engine, as was very early models of the RR Silver Seraph...
What is even more remarkable however is that after using this 4.4 BMW derived unit for a reletively short time, customer demand (especially of the RR side) consigned this unit to the sidelines in preference for a return of the old 6.75 V8 lump that has it's origins back in the 1950's! (albeit with a lot of refinements over the years) - now thats quite a remarkable fact when you consider how engine technology has advanced so massively in the last 50/60 years!!
Getting a bit off-topic now though 😂
maybe the crt will return with a vengance!!!😂
maybe the crt will return with a vengance!!!😂
😂
Hahaha yeah! Lets buy up all the Avants and MX's we can find now for 20quid a piece - we could make enough to buy one of those Mulsannes or a Phantom each
😂
maybe the crt will return with a vengance!!!😂
😂
Hahaha yeah! Lets buy up all the Avants and MX's we can find now for 20quid a piece - we could make enough to buy one of those Mulsannes or a Phantom each
😂
your on!
Anyone (with access to BBC) just watched the item on China on Newsnight on BBC2?
Interesting....
Guess anyone interested can watch a re-run on BBCiplayer....
My conclusion would be that consumer electronics prices and house prices are not related.
Amen!
Can't this thread grind to a halt? It's a discussion going no-where. We have people saying the Chinese can't produce quality, but who the hell cares? The proof is in the pudding and the pudding is damned good - the Chinese BS8 and Beolit 12 are great.
Miele may produce their washing machines in Germany, but I can also tell you that Miele purchasers I know say that recent Miele products are not a patch on old Miele products, which were built like tanks. Even Miele are finding ways to cut costs, like all manufacturers.
I've never seen a discussion before, at such length, where the argument is over successful products. How on earth can any create an argument around this?
People here are putting out daft arguments about quality of manufacturing.....as if the BS8/Beolit 12 were failures and the reason was due to the manufacturing! Weird, just weird.
Moxxey,
For me personally it's not about that the Chinese couldn't produce quality products.
I know they can. A good example is the Chinese hifi. Allthough it might not always be so easy to convince the press that this is the case.
What I don't like with the outsourcing going on right now at B&O is...
Mark my words.
Next will be the high-end stuff as the Beolab 5's, Beovision XX etc.
I can assure you that the prices of these products will follow inflation or a bit more. They will not become cheaper from being "made in China".
Sure one can always defend this practise with "capitalism at work". But I don't buy that. In this case it might be a desperate move to "produce". Numbers is what needs to be produced. This is seen with too many companies. Shareholders need to be overly satisfied. Bonuses need to be given left and right. And to give these bonuses margin and big payouts need to be made to the shareholders. Keep them happy, and they applaude another bonus for the execs.
Writing this I realize I'm portraying myself almost as red colored politically.
Nothing could be further from the truth. I'm a business owner myself. But I take great pride in firstly being Finnish, and owning a Finnish company, albeit a small one. We use Finnish products as far as possible. I employ a Finnish staff. I like to think I make my own small contribution to society.
I like to think I drive my company with pride and quality, not greed.
Surely money is in the masses, in more ways than one. But I can't help to think a product as the BL5 couldn't be economically made in Denmark at close to 20K euros a pair.
Something that would be interesting to see is that are the higher end products of B&O selling stronger or weaker year by year? I suspect weaker, as we see this move to B&O play products. Could price play a role here?
I know I've said this before, and I'm going to say it again.
The prices of the TV's...
They are ridiculous. I like my BV10, but it's not worth the price.
If one of your strongest marketing ideas is the masterlink, and the interconnection with your products and ultimately the idea of having your whole home filled with one brand, why on earth is it so lacking?
On the positive note, we who own the fabulous BL5's, made in Denmark edition, maybe they will become collectable, as a Comex sub...? 😂😂😂
Question for you: if there was a Chinese chef who was the best chef in the world, could produce every dish on your menu perfectly every time, could have every plate ready on time, and could do it at half the cost price you're paying now; would you hire him?
You must be logged in as a BeoWorld member to post replies to forum threads.
Register to access the forums, reference material, and exclusive member benefits — including our monthly prize draw.
Become a Member