Rs 2-crore cars hit India! Now new Bentley is here

Heating up the competition in the super premium segment, British car-maker Bentley on Thursday introduced its Continental GT luxury sedan in India with a price tag of Rs 1.9 crore (Rs 19 million) -- ex-showroom, Delhi.

"India is growing fast in the luxury automobile space. We hope to achieve a sales figure of 100 units here from our entire range by next year," Bentley regional director (India) Chris Buxton said in New Delhi.

Based in Crewe, England, since 1946, the company expects to sell about 45 units in India in this year. Globally, it is targeting to sell 7,000 units in 2011.

Buxton said the Indian super luxury car market is estimated to be around 600-700 units this year and it is growing at around 30 per cent every year.

"Bentley's sales in India are growing at around 45 per cent every year," he added.

The Volkswagen Group company's new 2-door offering, the Continental GT, is powered by a 12-cylinder engine and can reach a top speed of 318 km per hour.

The company currently sells its products trough two dealerships in the country, based in New Delhi and Mumbai.

In recent times, to feed the growing appetite of the burgeoning number of Indian millionaires, many global super premium car-makers have entered the country.

On Wednesday, Italian luxury sports car maker Maserati announced its foray into the Indian market with its entire range of products, priced between Rs 1.20 crore (Rs 12 million) and Rs 1.43 crore (Rs 14.3 million) -- ex-showroom, New Delhi.

Last month, InterGlobe General Aviation introduced Swedish super luxury sports car Koenigsegg in India, which carries a price tag of about Rs 12.5 crore (Rs 125 million).

Volkswagen Group company Bugatti Automobiles' super premium sports car, Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport, is the most expensive car to hit the Indian roads with price starting at Rs 16 crore (Rs 160 million). It was launched here in October last year.