Bentley has started work on an engineering test facility at the company’s expanding headquarters in Crewe – the latest phase in ongoing development of the site.

With completion due next autumn, the new building will cover more than 4,600m² over two storeys. Included in this figure will be 773m² of office space and 1,550m² designed for the installation of a single climate-controlled chassis dynamometer, operating across a range of temperatures from -10°C to +40°C.

There will also be a dedicated laboratory to run Real Driving Emissions (RDE) using the latest portable emissions measurement systems. Bentley’s technical conformity department will be based in the test centre, with over 100 people working in the building.

The centre will allow Bentley to meet increased consumer demand for its current range of ultra-luxury vehicles, including the all-new, performance-orientated Flying Spur, the Continental GT and the new Bentayga Hybrid SUV, which marks Bentley’s first step towards electrification.

It will also play a key role in Bentley’s target to become the world’s most sustainable luxury automotive manufacturer, giving the business capacity to grow as it diversifies into hybrid and electric models. The British marque has already confirmed that it will offer hybrid or electric variants of all of its models by 2023.

Commenting on the expansion, Dr Werner Tietz, Bentley’s member of the board for engineering, said: “Our new engineering test facility will further enhance Bentley’s industry-leading, modern, efficient manufacturing plant and allow us to grow as we diversify into hybrid and pure electric cars. It follows continued expansion and reinforces our commitment to build the finest, handcrafted motor cars in the world.”

The building project, which includes an outdoor fuel filling station for test vehicles, complements Bentley’s advanced new research and development headquarters, industry-leading training centre, engine production facility and paint shop.

It will also allow Bentley to carry out the latest WLTP fuel and efficiency test procedures more swiftly in-house. The World Harmonised Light Vehicle Test Procedure is used to measure fuel and electrical energy consumption and CO2 emissions from passenger cars, as well as their pollutant emissions. It was developed as a global benchmark for all cars and came into force in 2017.

Environmental considerations lie at the core of the new development, in line with the company’s sustainability approach, which aims to promote biodiversity and create a greener site environment. Ahead of starting work, Bentley has already safely rehomed 10 fruit trees to the neighbouring site of its flagship showroom concept, CW1 House.

Bentley Motors
www.bentley.co.uk

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