Key moment for Bentley boss
1 min read
Wolfgang Dürheimer (52) prepared for his new role as the chairman and chief executive of Crewe-based Bentley Motors at the Detroit Motor Show yesterday (10 January) when he accepted the keys to one of the company's most revered cars – W.O. Bentley's 1930 8-litre saloon which was his official company car.
The 8-litre, now owned by Bentley Motors and still driven to this day, represented the pinnacle of W.O. Bentley's engineering career. Capable of reaching more than 100 mph, the 8-litre demonstrated W.O. Bentley's ambition and ability to build a grand luxury car capable of surpassing every other leading 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.
Dürheimer (pictured), 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 and who will join the famous Crewe manufacturer, now under VW ownership, on 1 February, commented: "I have already had the pleasure of visiting Crewe and saw just why the company retains such a pride in its origins. The commitment to quality, craftsmanship and enthusiasm that everyone there shares, is remarkable and a tribute to the leadership of Dr. Paefgen."
