- Geely Holding, majority owner of Volvo Car Corporation (Volvo Cars) and Geely, will establish a Research and Development Centre in Gothenburg, Sweden. The Centre will develop a new modular architecture and set of components for future C-segment cars, addressing the needs of both Volvo Cars and Geely. The new R&D Centre will employ approximately 200 full-time employees, Swedish and Chinese. It will be operational in late 2013. The Centre will leverage on the Volvo technology leadership within Geely Holding.

- “The modular design allows several different vehicle platforms to be developed from one single architecture, thereby ensuring tailor-made solutions for both brands. This will be a showcase for cooperation between a Western world premium car manufacturer and a thriving Chinese automotive company.” stated Mats Fägerhag, C.E.O. of the new R&D centre.

- The modular architecture and set of components will not only deliver world-class product technologies and attributes, but also considerable cost savings in terms of development, testing and sourcing, leading to the rachievements of significant economies of scale.

- In parallel, Volvo continues to develop internally a flexible and scalable architecture for future models of the upper segments. The first car born of this architecture, new generation XC90 will be launched in 2014.

Data source : File #10 - Start of Production (SOP) of new and modified vehicles in Europe

-Bentley (luxury branch of the VW Group) launchs the Flying Spur new generation, a sport limousine that competes directly with the Rolls-Royce Ghost (BMW Group). Unlike the coupe and convertible Continental, simply retouched during the past year, the Flying Spur limousine  has been  entirely  relifted. It remains equipped with the W12 engine (12 cylinders) and ranks as the fastest sedan in the history of the brand.

-Unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show, the Flying Spur definitively abandons the term "Continental" which appeared in its name.
The Bentley brand’s characteristic curves meet crisp, clean new edges in a remarkably sleek silhouette.
The side feature line runs along the car from the rear wheel arch in parallel with the low roof, down to its hand-fitted chrome front grille
It is 5.30 m long, i.e. 28 cm shorter than the Mulsanne (which competes with the Rolls-Royce Phantom).

-This Bentley runs  actually even faster than the Rolls-Royce Ghost V12 (320km / h against 250 km / h), which makes sense given the sporting past of the Bentley brand.

Data source : File #10 - Start of Production (SOP) of new and modified vehicles in Europe