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News

Which SUVs Are Being Discontinued in 2027?

The SUV boom shows no sign of slowing down. What was once a niche body style has become the dominant force in the European new-car market, reshaping manufacturers’ product strategies and pushing traditional vehicle segments further into the background.

But even in the world’s most popular automotive segment, success is never guaranteed.

Several familiar SUVs are approaching the end of their road, with some models scheduled to disappear from production as early as the end of 2026, while others are expected to remain in showrooms only until 2027. Falling sales, increasingly demanding safety regulations, electrification strategies and changing consumer preferences are all playing a role.

The SUV market may be booming, but there is simply not enough room for every model.

SUVs now dominate the European car market

The numbers tell the story better than almost anything else.

SUVs accounted for roughly 40 percent of new-car sales in Europe in 2020. Today, their share has climbed to around 60 percent, making the SUV by far the most important vehicle category for many manufacturers.

The trend covers virtually every segment, from small urban crossovers and compact family SUVs to large luxury models and electric SUVs.

With almost every major manufacturer now offering multiple SUVs, competition has become extremely intense. A model can have a respected name, a long history and a loyal customer base, yet still be eliminated if sales volumes no longer justify keeping it in production.

That is exactly what is happening to several recognizable SUVs.

Land Rover Discovery Sport: a victim of falling sales and tougher regulations

One of the names expected to disappear is the Land Rover Discovery Sport.

The Discovery Sport has occupied an important position in the Land Rover lineup for years. Positioned as a more accessible alternative to the brand’s larger and more expensive SUVs, it was designed to attract buyers who wanted the Land Rover image without stepping into the highest price brackets.

However, the model is now facing two major problems: declining demand and increasingly strict European regulations.

The European Union’s GSR2 safety regulations have introduced significantly tougher requirements for new vehicles. Meeting those requirements can be particularly challenging for older vehicle architectures, and updating an existing model to comply with every new regulation can become difficult to justify financially.

For the Discovery Sport, the result appears to be the end of the road.

The decision is also part of a broader transformation at Jaguar Land Rover, which is repositioning Jaguar, Range Rover, Defender and Discovery more distinctly as individual brands.

The Discovery Sport’s departure therefore represents more than the end of a single model. It is another sign that JLR is simplifying and reshaping its product strategy for a rapidly changing automotive market.

Ford Kuga: a successful SUV that still couldn’t escape the axe

The Ford Kuga is another established SUV approaching the end of its current production run.

After three generations, the Kuga is expected to cease production at the end of 2026. That decision will have a direct impact on Ford’s Almussafes factory in Spain, where the Kuga has been produced.

On paper, the Kuga might seem like an unlikely candidate for cancellation.

The compact SUV has been one of Ford’s most successful models in Europe and has enjoyed particularly strong demand for its plug-in hybrid versions. In fact, the Kuga has repeatedly ranked among Europe’s best-selling plug-in hybrid models.

Within Ford’s European lineup, only the Puma has sold more units in recent years.

Yet the automotive industry is not driven by sales figures alone. Production costs, factory capacity, electrification plans and future product strategies can be just as important.

There may, however, be life after the Kuga.

Reports suggest that Ford could eventually revive the Kuga name on a new electrified SUV based on technology from Geely, potentially using the Starray EM-i platform. If that happens, the Kuga could return in a very different form, reflecting the growing cooperation and technological links between global automakers.

For now, however, the current Kuga’s story appears to be coming to an end.

Volkswagen Tiguan and the uncertain future of the ID.5

Volkswagen is also reconsidering its SUV strategy as it accelerates its transition toward electric vehicles.

The future of the next-generation Tiguan has reportedly been the subject of debate, with two potential directions under consideration.

One possibility is to retain the Tiguan name and introduce an updated model. Another, increasingly likely, option would be to align the vehicle more closely with Volkswagen’s electric naming strategy.

That could result in the model becoming the Volkswagen ID. Tiguan from 2027.

The potential change illustrates just how quickly Volkswagen’s model naming strategy is evolving. The company is attempting to balance familiar names that carry decades of brand recognition with the new ID. identity associated with its electric vehicles.

At the same time, another Volkswagen SUV appears to have a less certain future.

Volkswagen ID.5 could disappear in 2027

The Volkswagen ID.5 was designed to combine the practicality of an SUV with the sleeker profile of a coupe-style crossover.

It was an important part of Volkswagen’s strategy to expand its electric SUV family, but sales have not reached the levels the company originally hoped for.

Even though the ID.5 has experienced sales growth during the last two years, its overall numbers have remained insufficient to secure a long-term future.

Current expectations point toward production ending around the middle of 2027.

That would leave Volkswagen with one fewer electric SUV in a segment that has become increasingly crowded. Ironically, the same market trend that created the opportunity for the ID.5 is also making it harder for models like it to survive.

Tesla Model X: the electric SUV pioneer nearing the end

Perhaps the most recognizable name on this list is the Tesla Model X.

When Tesla introduced the Model X, it was unlike almost anything else on the market. Its large electric SUV body, impressive performance and distinctive falcon-wing doors helped establish it as one of the company’s technological showcases.

But the Model X never achieved the commercial success of the Model S or, particularly, the Model Y.

The Model Y became one of the most important electric vehicles in the world, while the Model X remained an expensive, relatively niche product.

Its unconventional doors were one of its biggest talking points, but they also contributed to production complexity and early delivery delays. Over time, Tesla made several updates to the Model X, but never gave it the kind of comprehensive redesign that many other manufacturers would have used to extend a vehicle’s life.

That appears to have finally caught up with the Model X.

Tesla has confirmed the end of production, bringing the story of one of the most distinctive electric SUVs to a close.

Why are popular SUVs disappearing?

The cancellation of these SUVs may appear surprising given the continuing growth of the segment, but there is a straightforward explanation.

Manufacturers are no longer competing simply on the number of SUVs they can offer. They are trying to determine which SUVs are profitable, future-proof and compatible with increasingly strict regulations.

Several factors are accelerating the process:

  • Tougher European safety regulations
  • Rapid electrification of vehicle lineups
  • Increasing development and production costs
  • Stronger competition within the SUV segment
  • Changing consumer preferences
  • Pressure to reduce the number of overlapping models
  • The need to use factories and platforms more efficiently

A manufacturer can therefore decide to eliminate an SUV even when the vehicle remains popular.

The key question is no longer simply, “Does it sell?”

It is, “Does it sell enough to justify its place in the future lineup?”

The SUV boom will not save every SUV

The disappearance of the Discovery Sport, Kuga, ID.5 and Model X demonstrates an important reality of today’s automotive industry.

SUVs are more popular than ever, but that popularity has created an extremely competitive environment. Manufacturers are filling their lineups with crossovers and SUVs, and consumers have more choices than ever before.

As a result, weaker-performing models are increasingly vulnerable.

The next few years could bring even more cancellations as automakers reorganize their lineups around electric platforms, stricter regulations and fewer but more strategically important models.

Some familiar names will undoubtedly return in new forms. Others will disappear permanently.

For drivers, that means the SUV market of 2027 could look surprisingly different from the one we know today.

The SUV may have won the battle for consumer popularity—but that does not mean every SUV will survive the industry’s next transformation.

News

France’s Car Taxes Have Become Extreme: A €40,000 Car Could Cost €100,000 to Register

France has dramatically tightened its vehicle taxation system, and the changes are hitting buyers of heavy, powerful and high-emission cars particularly hard. Under the revised rules, a new car can face both a steep CO2 tax and an additional weight-based charge, turning what looks like a €40,000 purchase into a six-figure financial commitment.

The result is one of the most unusual distortions in Europe’s new-car market: buyers who want performance, large SUVs or simply heavier vehicles can face taxes that rival or even exceed the price of the car itself.

And there is another uncomfortable twist. If the vehicle is subsequently stolen, those registration taxes generally do not become part of the car’s insured value.

France’s Car Tax System Gets Much Tougher

France has taxed new vehicles according to their CO2 emissions since 2008. However, the system has become considerably more aggressive, with the latest changes combining two separate charges.

The first is the CO2-based malus, which increases according to a vehicle’s certified emissions. The second is a weight-based tax, commonly referred to as the mass malus.

For buyers of large gasoline and diesel vehicles, the two charges can combine into an enormous registration bill.

The CO2 tax now begins at just 108 g/km, while vehicles with very high emissions can face penalties reaching tens of thousands of euros. At around 192 g/km, the CO2 component alone can reach approximately €80,000.

The weight tax adds another layer. It applies to vehicles above a specified mass threshold, with the penalty increasing for every additional kilogram.

In other words, France is effectively taxing two characteristics that are closely associated with modern performance cars, large SUVs and many plug-in hybrid vehicles: how much CO2 they emit and how much they weigh.

A Ford Mustang GT Can Become a Financial Nightmare

The scale of the system becomes easier to understand with a performance car such as the Ford Mustang GT.

The Mustang GT is one of the classic examples of a car that becomes dramatically more expensive in markets with aggressive emissions taxation. In France, a vehicle costing roughly €60,000 can face a maximum CO2 penalty of around €80,000, with the weight-based charge potentially adding even more.

That means the government’s tax bill can approach or even exceed the price of the vehicle itself.

A buyer could therefore be looking at a total financial commitment approaching six figures for a car whose underlying purchase price is nowhere near that amount.

The situation illustrates a broader problem with punitive vehicle taxation: the tax is no longer simply a surcharge added to the purchase price. For some vehicles, it becomes the dominant component of the transaction.

The Weight Tax Creates a Second Problem

The CO2 malus is relatively straightforward: vehicles that emit more CO2 pay more.

The weight tax is more controversial because vehicle mass does not necessarily correspond directly to real-world emissions.

Modern cars have become heavier for numerous reasons, including larger batteries, additional safety equipment, more sophisticated chassis systems, sound insulation and increasingly generous dimensions.

That means a vehicle can be relatively clean from an emissions standpoint but still face a substantial financial penalty because it is heavy.

This is particularly relevant for plug-in hybrids.

Plug-In Hybrids Are Not Automatically Safe

The Peugeot 5008 Plug-in Hybrid is a good example.

Because its certified CO2 emissions are sufficiently low, the 5008 PHEV can avoid the CO2 malus under the relevant threshold. But that does not mean the buyer escapes taxation.

With a mass of approximately 2,123 kg, the vehicle can incur roughly €6,100 in weight-based taxation.

The example highlights an important weakness in a system designed around environmental objectives.

A plug-in hybrid may produce very low official CO2 figures under testing conditions, yet its large battery, electric motor and associated hardware can make it substantially heavier than a conventional vehicle.

The tax system therefore shifts some of the environmental penalty from emissions to mass.

Renault 5 E-Tech Shows the Other Side of the Equation

At the opposite end of the spectrum is the electric Renault 5 E-Tech.

With a mass of around 1,450 kg, the small electric hatchback falls below the relevant weight threshold. Because it produces no tailpipe CO2, it also avoids the emissions-based tax.

The result is a dramatic difference in taxation compared with a large gasoline-powered performance car.

This is clearly the behavior policymakers want to encourage: smaller, lighter and zero-emission vehicles receive favorable treatment, while heavy and high-emission vehicles become increasingly expensive.

But the consequences extend beyond the immediate tax bill.

What Happens If the Car Is Stolen?

One of the most controversial aspects of the system concerns insurance.

Imagine buying a car for €35,000 and paying another €55,000 in taxes and penalties when it is registered.

The vehicle has effectively cost you €90,000.

If it is later stolen, however, the insurance payout is generally based on the insured value of the vehicle rather than treating government taxes as an additional recoverable asset.

That creates a painful scenario.

The owner could have spent €90,000 in total but potentially receive compensation corresponding to only the €35,000 value of the vehicle itself, depending on the policy and its valuation terms.

In practical terms, the registration tax becomes a sunk cost.

This is especially significant for expensive performance cars because their taxation can represent a huge proportion of the owner’s total investment.

France’s New Car Taxes Could Boost the Used-Car Market

Perhaps the most interesting consequence is what these taxes could do to the French used-car market.

The taxation system primarily targets the purchase and registration of new vehicles. Older vehicles can therefore become comparatively attractive, particularly for buyers looking for large engines, high performance or substantial dimensions.

Why pay an enormous penalty for a new performance car when an older example can provide much of the same experience without the same level of taxation?

That economic calculation could increasingly push consumers toward used vehicles.

The irony is that this can undermine one of the fundamental objectives of environmental vehicle policy.

The “Havana Effect” Comes to Europe

The phenomenon has sometimes been compared with the “Havana effect”, referring to places such as Cuba where people continue operating decades-old vehicles because replacing them with newer cars is difficult or prohibitively expensive.

France obviously isn’t experiencing anything remotely comparable on the same scale, but the basic economic mechanism is similar.

If new vehicles become excessively expensive while existing vehicles remain comparatively affordable, owners have a stronger incentive to keep their current cars for longer.

That can create a market in which well-maintained older vehicles become increasingly valuable.

For enthusiasts, this could be particularly significant.

Cars equipped with larger engines, manual transmissions or increasingly rare powertrains could become desirable precisely because new alternatives are becoming financially inaccessible.

Could Environmental Taxes Actually Make the Car Fleet Older?

This is where the French system creates an intriguing paradox.

The objective of emissions taxation is straightforward: encourage consumers to purchase vehicles that produce less CO2.

But taxation can only achieve that objective if consumers can realistically afford the alternatives.

If the price difference becomes too large, some buyers may simply postpone replacing their existing vehicle.

Instead of replacing a 10-year-old car with a new, more efficient model, an owner may decide to keep the older vehicle for another five years.

That can produce an unintended consequence: the average vehicle fleet becomes older rather than newer.

France’s average vehicle age has already moved beyond 11 years, illustrating the broader challenge facing European governments as they attempt to accelerate the transition toward cleaner transportation.

The Problem With Taxing Weight

The weight-based component also raises a wider question about how governments should measure a vehicle’s environmental impact.

Weight matters. Heavier vehicles generally require more energy to move, and producing large vehicles also requires additional raw materials.

But mass alone does not tell the complete environmental story.

A heavy electric vehicle and a heavy gasoline SUV can have dramatically different operational emissions.

Likewise, a lightweight older gasoline car can produce substantially more CO2 over its lifetime than a newer but heavier electrified vehicle.

A tax system based heavily on vehicle characteristics therefore risks creating unintended market distortions.

Performance Cars Are Becoming a Luxury Few Can Afford

For enthusiasts, the consequences are even more obvious.

Large-displacement engines and high-performance cars are already facing increasing pressure from emissions regulations across Europe. France’s tax system takes that trend several steps further by making the initial purchase potentially extraordinarily expensive.

A car that might otherwise be considered an attainable performance vehicle can suddenly become a luxury product.

The result could be a shrinking market for new sports cars and high-performance sedans and SUVs, while older examples become more desirable.

That could also affect manufacturers.

If customers abandon expensive new performance cars for used alternatives, automakers have less incentive to offer combustion-powered enthusiast models in the French market.

A Tax System With an Unexpected Side Effect

France’s approach demonstrates the difficulty of designing environmental taxation.

On paper, the logic is compelling: make high-emission and heavy vehicles more expensive, and consumers will choose smaller, cleaner alternatives.

In practice, consumers respond not only by changing what they buy but also by changing whether they buy at all.

A customer faced with a €60,000 car and an enormous registration penalty may not necessarily choose a €30,000 electric car. They may simply keep their existing vehicle.

That distinction is crucial.

Environmental policy can change purchasing behavior, but excessive taxation can also delay vehicle replacement, strengthen the used-car market and preserve older vehicles on the road.

The Bigger Question for Europe

France’s experience could serve as a warning for other European countries considering increasingly aggressive vehicle taxation.

The transition toward lower-emission transportation is already transforming the automotive industry. Electric vehicles are becoming more common, combustion engines are being regulated more heavily and manufacturers are investing billions in electrification.

But the affordability question remains.

If governments make new vehicles dramatically more expensive through taxation, consumers with limited budgets may not have the ability to switch to the newest and cleanest technology.

Instead, they may hold onto the vehicle they already own.

That could create a peculiar automotive future in which new cars become cleaner, but the cars people actually drive become older.

Source: Bloomberg

News

Bentley Celebrates 80 Years of Crewe Production With Heritage-Inspired Continental GT Azure

Bentley is celebrating 80 years of automobile production at its legendary Crewe factory with a special tribute that brings together the past and present. At the British Motor Museum on August 29, members of the RREC—the International Club for Rolls-Royce and Bentley enthusiasts—will mark the milestone with a display of significant Bentley models spanning eight decades, from the 1946 Mark VI to the latest Continental GT.

At the center of the celebration will be two cars separated by 80 years but connected by the same philosophy: a heritage-collection Bentley Mark VI and a one-off Continental GT Azure created by Mulliner specifically to honor its historic predecessor.

The pairing offers a striking illustration of how Bentley’s interpretation of luxury has evolved since production began at Crewe in 1946.

Bentley Marks 80 Years of Production at Crewe

The story of modern Bentley production at Crewe began in the aftermath of World War II. The Pyms Lane factory was originally constructed in 1938 to manufacture Rolls-Royce Merlin aero engines, but in 1946 it took on a new role as a car manufacturing facility.

The first Bentley to emerge from the Crewe production line was the Mark VI.

That makes the 1946 Bentley Mark VI more than simply another model in the company’s history. It represents the beginning of an era that continues today, with every modern Bentley produced at the historic Crewe site.

For the 80th anniversary celebration, Bentley and Mulliner have chosen one particular Mark VI as the inspiration for a contemporary Continental GT Azure. The result is a modern grand tourer that deliberately avoids chasing contemporary styling trends and instead looks back to one of the most elegant Bentleys in the company’s Heritage Collection.

A Modern Bentley Inspired by a 1950 Mark VI

The inspiration for the anniversary Continental GT Azure is a two-tone green-and-black Bentley Mark VI with coachwork by H.J. Mulliner.

The historic Bentley is one of just 241 coachbuilt four-door, six-light saloons produced by H.J. Mulliner, which at the time operated as an independent coachbuilder.

Delivered in January 1950 to its first owner, William Lount of Alabastine Co Ltd., the Mark VI eventually became part of Bentley’s Heritage Collection in 2021.

Its distinctive combination of green bodywork and black roof became the foundation for Mulliner’s design of the anniversary Continental GT Azure.

Rather than reproducing the historic car literally, Mulliner has translated its visual character into the language of a modern Bentley.

The Continental GT Azure is finished in solid Barnato Green, complemented by a Mulliner Black contrasting roof. The combination immediately recalls the 1950 Mark VI while giving the contemporary Continental GT a distinctly traditional appearance.

Azure exterior brightware provides additional contrast, while the carbon-fibre Styling Specification adds a modern performance-oriented element.

Black-painted and bright-machined 22-inch ten-spoke wheels complete the exterior treatment. Black brake calipers and self-levelling Bentley “B” wheel badges provide the finishing touches.

The result is a Continental GT that looks contemporary at first glance but reveals its historical connection through carefully chosen details.

Bentley’s Heritage Meets Modern Luxury

If the exterior pays tribute to Bentley’s past, the interior demonstrates just how dramatically luxury-car technology has evolved over the past eight decades.

The 1946 Mark VI represented the height of British automotive luxury for its time. Its cabin featured Connolly leather, walnut veneer and wool-pile carpeting, while practical equipment such as an improved heater and demister reinforced its credentials as a long-distance grand tourer.

The modern Continental GT Azure takes those same ideas and pushes them into an entirely different technological era.

Its cabin is upholstered in rich Cricket Ball main hide combined with Beluga secondary hide. The deep red-and-black combination creates an atmosphere that deliberately recalls the classic Bentley interiors of the post-war era.

But the details are unmistakably modern.

Contrast stitching and piping, embroidered Azure emblems, diamond quilting and perforated leather demonstrate the level of craftsmanship now possible through Bentley Mulliner’s bespoke division.

These details aren’t simply decorative. They illustrate how Bentley has transformed traditional craftsmanship into a modern luxury proposition where almost every element of a vehicle can be individually specified.

Dark Walnut Veneer Connects Two Generations

One of the most effective links between the Mark VI and Continental GT Azure is found across the dashboard.

The historic Bentley’s burr walnut interior inspired the modern car’s dark stained burr walnut veneer, positioned over Grand Black piano veneer.

A chrome pinstripe separates the two materials and extends across the dashboard fascia and into the door waistrails, creating a continuous visual element throughout the cabin.

The Continental GT’s Rotating Display adds another clever connection between old and new.

At the press of a button, the driver can rotate the central dashboard section to reveal one of three configurations: a high-definition touchscreen, traditional analogue instruments or a plain veneer surface.

The analogue dials and veneer options are particularly appropriate for an anniversary car whose entire purpose is to celebrate Bentley’s history.

Bentley’s Definition of Luxury Has Changed—But Not Its Philosophy

The contrast between the two Bentleys is particularly interesting because it highlights how much the definition of luxury has changed since 1946.

The Mark VI delivered its occupants leather, wood, carpeting, improved heating and the ability to cover huge distances in comfort. The Continental GT Azure adds technologies that would have been unimaginable when the first Mark VI left Crewe.

The anniversary car features Bentley’s Front Seat Comfort and Wellness specifications, an air ioniser and a Naim for Bentley premium audio system.

In other words, the modern Bentley doesn’t abandon the principles of its predecessor. It expands them.

Comfort has become wellness technology. A high-quality radio has evolved into a concert-standard audio system. Hand-finished wood remains important, but it now shares the cabin with sophisticated digital interfaces.

That continuity is arguably the most important part of Bentley’s 80-year Crewe story.

Mulliner Shows What Bentley Bespoke Can Do

Bentley’s customers today have access to an enormous range of personalization possibilities, with almost 100 exterior paint finishes available across solid, metallic, satin, ombré and Spectraflair options.

Yet for this particular Continental GT Azure, Mulliner’s designers deliberately resisted the temptation to showcase contemporary trends.

Instead, they went back to the Heritage Collection.

The approach is significant because it demonstrates how Bentley can use its historical archive as a source of inspiration without creating a car that feels like a retro design exercise.

The Continental GT Azure remains unmistakably modern. Its proportions, technology, materials and performance are products of the 21st century. But its color scheme, wood treatment and interior palette establish a direct visual conversation with a Bentley built in 1950.

The Mark VI That Started the Crewe Era

The original Bentley Mark VI was powered by a 4,257cc six-cylinder B60 engine.

Despite its understated appearance, the Mark VI was designed to provide both performance and reliability. Some examples were capable of covering more than 100,000 miles, or approximately 161,000 kilometers, without requiring a major engine overhaul.

That level of durability helped establish the Mark VI as a capable grand touring automobile at a time when Britain was still living through post-war austerity.

The Mark VI’s restrained appearance also suited the era. Bentley offered an understated form of luxury rather than the flamboyance associated with some of its competitors.

Production continued until 1951, with 4,001 examples built. Of those, 3,171 received Bentley’s standard steel body.

The remaining cars were supplied as rolling chassis and could be fitted with bespoke bodies from independent coachbuilders.

That coachbuilt tradition is particularly relevant to the anniversary Continental GT because the specific Mark VI that inspired it was one of those bespoke-bodied cars.

A Meeting of Two Bentleys Eight Decades Apart

The decision to display the historic Mark VI and the new Continental GT Azure together is more than a convenient anniversary photo opportunity.

It creates a visual timeline of Bentley’s evolution.

The Mark VI represents an era when luxury cars were defined by coachbuilt bodies, hand-finished wood, leather interiors and mechanical engineering designed for durability.

The Continental GT represents a world of digital displays, advanced chassis technology, sophisticated comfort systems and virtually unlimited personalization.

Yet both cars were created around the same fundamental concept: a Bentley should make long-distance travel effortless while combining performance with exceptional comfort and craftsmanship.

That philosophy has survived even as the technology surrounding it has changed almost beyond recognition.

Anniversary Details Complete the Continental GT Azure

Mulliner has also incorporated a discreet but meaningful anniversary detail into the car.

The treadplates feature graphic outlines of both the Mark VI and Continental GT, accompanied by the inscription:

“Celebrating the 80th Anniversary of production in Crewe, 1946-2026.”

It is an appropriately understated detail for a car inspired by a brand whose most enduring designs have rarely relied on excessive decoration.

Instead, the anniversary Continental GT Azure communicates its significance through craftsmanship, color, materials and historical references.

Bentley’s Past, Present and Future in One Display

The RREC event at the British Motor Museum provides an appropriate setting for Bentley’s 80th anniversary of Crewe production.

Cars brought by club members from around the world will represent Bentley’s long manufacturing history, creating a collection that stretches from the post-war Mark VI through to the newest Continental GT.

Among them, the two green-and-black Bentleys should command particular attention.

One was created at the beginning of Bentley’s Crewe era, when the Mark VI introduced a new generation of British luxury motoring. The other is a modern Continental GT Azure, created by Mulliner to celebrate the legacy of that original car.

Eight decades separate them, but the connection is unmistakable.

The 1950 Mark VI demonstrates what Bentley luxury meant in the post-war era. The new Continental GT Azure demonstrates what the same philosophy looks like in 2026.

Together, they tell a much larger story about Bentley: a company that has changed dramatically in eight decades, yet continues to place effortless performance, exceptional comfort and meticulous British craftsmanship at the heart of its automobiles.

For Bentley, the 80th anniversary of production at Crewe is therefore more than a celebration of longevity. It is a reminder that the most valuable part of the company’s heritage isn’t a particular engine, body style or design detail.

It is the ability to evolve without losing its identity.

Source: Bentley