Bentley Motors' top designer criticized Ford's new Lincoln Continental on Facebook and called the model that was unveiled this week at the New York auto show a 'copy'.
Bentley design chief Luc Donckerwolke apparently thought the new Lincoln Continental luxury saloon shared too many similarities with the Bentley Flying Spur.
The side windows of the vehicles look similar and both models have chrome trim around their windows and rears.
Donckerwolke posted a comment on Lincoln designer David Woodhouses' Facebook page that was subsequently deleted, the Automotive News reported,
He wrote: 'Do you want us to send the product tooling?'
The designer elaborated to Car and Driver.
Donckerwolke added: 'This behavior is not respectable.
'Building a copy like this is giving a bad name to the car design world.'
Lincoln spokesman Stephane Cesareo dismissed the Bentley designer's criticism.
Cesareo told Reuters: 'The Lincoln Continental is clearly a Lincoln, we're very proud of it.'
A spokesman for Bentley sought to vindicate Donckerwolke's views.
In a statement released Wednesday, Bentley wrote: 'Car design is always an emotive subject and one of the reasons so many of us love cars.
'Our designers have strong views and are passionate about what they do, which drives them to create such extraordinary cars.'
The Flying Spur sells for around $200,000.
General Motors president Dan Ammann weighed in on the spat on Wednesday, the Wall Street Journal reported.
Ammann told reporters he 'liked the Bentley designer's comment.'
Ford is reviving the Lincoln Continental as its top-of-the-line luxury saloon as part of an effort to rebuild the brand's image in the United States and China.
Volkswagen-owned Bentley has had a Continental in its lineup since 1984, while Ford retired the Continental name in 2002.
(dailymail.co.uk)
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