Top-priced Bentley car sold out on Day 1, SH show

Shanghai, April 22 (Gasgoo.com) The British premium luxury sedan brand Bentley has brought its three Continental models to the 2009 Shanghai auto show, and the most expensive model was sold out on Day 1 of the event, sina.com said today.

The Continental lineup exhibited at the Shanghai show includes the Continental Flying Spur Speed, Continental GTC Speed and Continental GT Speed. The Flying Spur Speed and GTC Speed are first unveiled in China, while the GT Speed made its China debut one year ago at the 2008 Beijing auto show.

"This [Shanghai] auto show is very important. We have for the first time brought here all the products of our Continental series, and four precious cars that have never been shown in China," said Bentley Global President Dr. Ulrich Eichhorn. The highest-priced Bentley model, at a staggering 5.88 million yuan ($861,000), was sold out on the opening day of the show.

In 2008, Bentley's sales in China exceeded 500 cars, growing 50% over the previous year. Bentley's dealer in Beijing has overtaken rivals in the U.S. and Europe to become one of the company's top ten dealers in Bentley's global sales. Its Beijing dealer is likely to enter the top five in 2009.

Rolls-Royce has announced at the Shanghai auto show that its new Bentley Continental-fighting sedan, previously known as the RR4, will be called the Ghost. The 2010 Ghost gives Rolls-Royce a more attainable model to compete against the Bentley Continental Flying Spur.