It is no secret the UAE has a love for luxury. Al Habtoor Motors created a bit of a stir at the opening of its new Bentley Emirates showroom in Abu Dhabi as it unveiled not one, but two ultra high end cars – including a sneak preview to Bentley’s first ever SUV. Joanna Andrews was one of the lucky few to attend
Al Habtoor Motors celebrated the opening of its newest Bentley Emirates showroom in the UAE in style while further cementing their position as one of the most successful car retailers in the Middle East. The showroom is situated along the Corniche in one of Abu Dhabi’s most prominent automotive showroom locations.
The opening of the new showroom comes after an excellent start to the year with sales in the UAE accounting for over 50 per cent of total sales in the Middle East. In fact, 2012 is set to be the most successful year in the region for Bentley Motors Middle East and the new Bentley Emirates showroom in Abu Dhabi will further enhance customer service and sales.
Regional Director for the Middle East, Africa and India Chris Buxton said, “This has been an exceptional year for Bentley in the Middle East, already one of our most important markets it continued to grow above our expectation, with the opening of this Abu Dhabi showroom Al Habtoor has demonstrated its efforts to better accommodate our customers here in the UAE, this is something we are grateful for.”
A ONE OF A KIND
To mark the occasion attendees had the opportunity to see two Middle East debuts from Bentley. The first model to capture the attention of the VIP guests was Bentley’s first-ever SUV, code-named EXP 9-F. This ‘concept’ is Bentley’s vision of an ultra-performance and ultra-luxury sport utility vehicle. In addition to its dynamic and sporty design, EXP 9-F combines a spacious, versatile cabin and commanding driving position. As with all the Bentley models the EXP 9-F will also have all the hallmarks that make Bentley vehicles luxurious and unique, with handcrafted wood, leather and polished metals such as aluminum, bronze and gunmetal creating a sense of British luxury.
The maker of ultra-luxury vehicles first presented the SUV concept at the 2012 Geneva Motor Show in March in order to gauge public reaction and interest. It later travelled to various prestigious international events around the world including Pebble Beach Concours D’Elegance in North America, Beijing International Motor Show in China and Goodwood Festival of Speed in the UK.
BESPOKE BENTLEY
The second premiere at the Abu Dhabi event was the Mulsanne Executive Interior Specification which is now available to order in the Middle East. It offers an impressive array of bespoke business, comfort and entertainment features. Designed to conduct business on the move the beautifully integrated multi-media functions are fitted seamlessly into the sumptuous and comfortable cabin which takes Bentley’s craftsmen and women over 170 hours to create.
The Mulsanne rear passengers receive individual Apple iPad workstations with full internet access (integrated into retractable picnic tables) whilst a large, drop-down LED screen ensures that a wide selection of movies as well as television can also be enjoyed. Renowned for its painstaking attention to detail, Bentley has added a range of finishing touches including a Tibaldi fountain pen from its specially commissioned collection and for the first time on a Bentley, a distinctive Yachting-style veneer with light and dark tones, features throughout the cabin.
George Duncan, Director, Al Habtoor Motors, Prestige Cars commented, “This is a landmark day for everyone at Al Habtoor Motors and Bentley. The opening of the new showroom is a testament to the growth that we have enjoyed in the UAE”. He added “We aim to ensure that every one of our customers has full satisfaction in our delivery of service, from entering the showroom to after sales. We have many customers in Abu Dhabi and look forward to introducing new customers to Bentley.”
With the combination of its demand for high-end luxury and its desert terrain, the UAE is the perfect recipe for Bentley’s new offerings.