A key moment at Bentley

The new chairman and chief executive of Bentley Motors started off in style at the Detroit Motor Show when he was presented with keys to his new company car: W.O. Bentley’s legendary 1930 8-litre saloon.

The 8-litre saloon represented the pinnacle of W.O. Bentley’s engineering career. Capable of reaching more than 100 mph, it demonstrated Bentley’s ambition and ability to build a grand luxury car capable of surpassing every other manufacturer of the day. This ability to combine stirring performance with hand-crafted luxury has been at the heart of the Bentley experience ever since.

The new CEO, Wolfgang Dürheimer, who received the keys as well as a hand-crafted model of the 8-litre from Bentley’s outgoing chairman and CEO Dr Franz-Josef Paefgen, who will join the famous manufacturer – based in Crewe in the UK – on 1 February.

“I have already had the pleasure of visiting Crewe and saw just why the company retains such a pride in its origins,” Dürheimer said. “The commitment to quality, craftsmanship and enthusiasm that everyone there shares, is remarkable and a tribute to the leadership of Dr Paefgen.”Wolfgang Dürheimer takes charge of Bentley Motors while also taking custody of the keys to the marquee’s famous “company car”.