Hunaudieres

Volkswagen agreed to buy Rolls-Royce Motor Cars in 1998, though the Rolls-Royce name itself went to BMW. Project Hunaudieres followed at the Geneva salon in March 1999, named after the Le Mans straight that English speakers call Mulsanne, where Bentley had won five times between 1924 and 1930. Behind the two seats sat a naturally aspirated 8,004 cc W16, which Bentley quoted at 623 bhp (463 kW) at 6,000 rpm and 561 lb ft at 4,000, with permanent four-wheel drive. The body used carbon fibre and alloy over a steel space-frame. Andreas Mindt drew it under Hartmut Warkuss at Wolfsburg. Bentley said no production decision had been taken, and one was built.