HardShoulder

Stories from the world of motors

Stories from the world of motors

Bentley is planning to move to 24-hour working at its Crewe factory after it launches a four-door version of its €310,000 Continental GT coupé next year. The company, owned by Germany's Volkswagen, will start recruiting more than 100 staff towards the end of this year for a third shift, and hopes to start production of the saloon early next year.

The plans are a rare bit of good news for Volkswagen's luxury operations. Sister brand Bugatti's€€1.5m Veyron has been delayed until next year because it is too difficult to drive, while the investment in VW's luxury saloon, the Phaeton, has been written off after poor sales.

Franz-Josef Paefgen, chief executive, told the FT last mo nth that Bentley expected to make a profit next year. "Next year we want to show a little black figure."

READ MORE

Ireland's hard-hitting TV ads for road safety is due to target motorcyclists in the next campaign. Created by Lyle Baillie and produced jointly between the British Department of Transport and the National Safety Council (NSC), the ads have covered the wearing of seatbelts, pedestrians and drink driving. The ads are proving their worth abroad. After a recent EU visit to Ireland by Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, he was so impressed with the strong message in the ads that they are now broadcast on Italian TV. Israeli TV is also showing the seatbelt advert.

Speaking at last week's road safety conference organised by the National Safety Council, Ray Shuey, the recently retired Assistant Commissioner of the Australian Sate of Victoria Police touched a rather raw nerve with some Government ministers when he made the point that none should be immune from speeding restrictions. He specifically cited VIPs. It is perhaps as well that he was not in Ireland during much of the EC Presidency and witnessed dramatic, high-speed convoys hurtling to and from the airport. Most of those accommodated in this fashion don't face any credible terrorist threat, and the likelihood of their plane going without them is remote.

The Loughshinny MCCs 59th Skerries 100 Road Race takes place this weekend, July 2nd and 3rd. Among those attending are Robert Dunlop riding in the 125cc race and Dublin's Martin Finnegan.