Bentley. Flawless in the English way
Bentley is a cult-favorite British deluxe brand. Owners of these cars are people of all ages, professions, and ancetry. The only thing that they have in common is the status of a wealthy man who can afford a fully hand-assembled car, with the pure English exterior and interior using fabulously expensive leather and fine wood. Every Bentley is an exclusive car from the best materials. All exceptional Bentley cars have always been built only from the best materials by special people and for special owners. What suits this car best is the definition of 'uncompromising'. Purebred design, cutting-edge technology, and top-quality finishing have made Bentley the exclusive car brand. Each Bentley car is unique!
Bentley is not just a British luxury car brand, it’s another world where exceptional cars meet exceptional people. Bentley has become an iconic brand, not after all these years of technical evolution, but immediately after it appeared 100 years ago. The company’s founder, Walter Owen Bentley, said at the very beginning: ‘What is the policy of Bentley Motors?… To build a fast car, a good car, the best in its class.’ He also claimed that a man is usually judged by the car he drives. Someone can disagree. But people who can afford cars for $400,000 to $500,000, for some reason, usually prefer Bentley…
What suits this car best is the definition of 'uncompromising'. Even if one strives to find any weakness or flaw in Bentley, it’s almost impossible to do. Almost a century of hand-built cars and a deep tradition of characteristic exquisite style have done their job – even a rather old Bentley remains as flawless as the famous English lawn.
Rolls-Royce cars were always created for VIP-passengers in the back seat, while Bentley has always been a car for VIP-drivers!
So how is Bentley different from Rolls-Royce? It was not until January 1, 2003, that Bentley and Rolls-Royce became independent from each other… Although Rolls-Royce once bought Bentley, up to 1965, the company was mainly engaged in copying of prototypes of Rolls-Royce, cars of Rolls-Royce brand were always created to carry VIP-passengers in the back seat, while Bentley has always been a car for VIP-drivers!
Controlled by VAG
Bentley Motors Ltd. is a British automotive company. Since 1998, it is a part of the German concern called Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft or VAG, the leader in the world market by the number of cars produced. Volkswagen AG owns such brands as Audi, Bentley, Bugatti, Lamborghini, MAN, Porsche, SEAT, Scania, Skoda, and Volkswagen itself.
What is Bentley today and has it changed these days under the control of the German Volkswagen? Bentley’s Director in charge of the USA said: “Bentley is, first of all, stylish cars. Secondly – the craftsmanship of the trim, wood, leather, chrome jewelry, that is everything that happens inside. Thirdly, Bentley is power, it”s its heart – the engine and all its electrical systems. Fourthly, it’s road performance. Fifth, it’s racing because it’s in our blood. And that will never change! These are the five pillars on which Bentley has always rested and still rest on these.’
Has it all changed since Bentley became the property of Volkswagen? No. The heart of the brand is still in Crewe, Cheshire, England. VW supports all that Bentley does and follows its direction. What VAG has really become for Bentley is a source of funds, expertise, and components.
Interesting historrical facts
The history of the Bentley brand began with the famous winged logo designed by Frederick Gordon Crosby – a famous artist and a big fan of motor racing. The history of the famous Bentley’s wickered metal grille dates back to the period when the company took part in the Le Mans racing. It was created to protect the radiator, headlamps, and fuel tank from grit flying from under the wheels, and was made of intertwined wire.
The first engines Walter Bentley designed, the Bentley Rotary, were military fighter engines. By the end of The First World War, the B.R.1 and B.R.2 engines were widespread. The B.R.2 engine with 230 horsepowers was installed on the legendary Sopwith Camel fighter. It was installed on the Captain Brown’s fighter that shot down the Baron Manfred von Richtophen, German ace, more famous as the Red Baron. The factory in Crewe, UK, where Bentley Motors' headquarters are now located, was originally built to manufacture the Rolls-Royce Merlin aircraft engines that were mounted on the Spitfire and Hurricane fighters. Interestingly, the Merlin engine is still used in aviation.
Bentley is the most aristocratic car brand of our time. The excellence of Bentley consists not only in refined finishing and design but first of all in high sports technologies and traditions. The combination of aristocracy and sports has defined the essence of the brand since the first years. In England, sport and aristocracy have always been together. For an English gentleman, it has always been both prestigious and obligatory to go in for sport, be it golf, cricket, rowing, racing, or motorsport.
In honor of the half-century anniversary of the reign of Elizabeth II, an exclusive Bentley State Limousine was ordered for the Royal garage.
This true British sporty aristocracy has always been at the heart of Bentley’s unique philosophy since it was established in 1919. Introducing his first car to the public, Walter Owen Bentley accurately defined the formula for Bentley’s success: ‘We will build the best in the aristocratic high-speed car class’. That phrase was the motto for all time. Bentley’s sporting triumphs are in harmony with aristocratic traditions as it’s this combination that makes Bentley cars unique. High technologies and hand assembly allow the creation of luxury cars distinguished by power, comfort, and reliability.
The quality of Bentley cars is recognized at the highest level: in 2002, Bentley secured the status of royal cars. In honor of the half-century anniversary of the reign of Elizabeth II, an exclusive Bentley State Limousine was ordered for the Royal garage. Until then, the Queen used exclusively the Rolls-Royce Phantom for official travel.
Unique cars
Purebred design, cutting-edge technology, and top-quality finishing have made Bentley the exclusive car brand. Each Bentley car is unique, but some of them are truly unique. These are customized cars. Bentley customers discuss their ideas and wishes with designers and engineers – from the individual interior of the car to the unique, unique outlines of its bodywork. The Bentley team consists of almost 4000 people; the Bentley group of designers consists of 35 people, ready to realize all dream (whatever it is!) of the customer. Nothing is impossible for professionals from the Bentley Mulliner studio to fulfill the individual wishes of discerning customers.
In 2002, one of the most significant cars ever of the brand, Continental GT, is presented. At the car show in the UK, it received an award of the Institute of Automotive Engineers in the categories Best Luxury Car and Best Exhibition Car. It’s equipped with a 12-cylinder 6-L engine with an output of 575 hp and fuel consumption of 26.5-L/100 km. Finnish rally driver Juha Kankkunen set the world speed record on ice on this car, accelerating the car to 321.65 km/h. The world’s fastest quadruple Continental GT Speed Convertible is shown in 2013. It’s equipped with a 616-hp W12 engine and an 8-speed gearbox.
Another masterpiece is the executive sedan Bentley Continental Flying Spur, built on the same platform as the second-generation Bentley Continental GT and third-generation Audi A8. There are four modifications: Flying Spur V8, Flying Spur V8S, Flying Spur W12, and Flying Spur W12S.
Another executive sedan is the Bentley Mulsanne. For Bentley Mulsanne at the headquarters of the British concern was designed the original, not borrowed as before, the platform with a wheelbase of 3266 mm. Its heart is a V-shaped 8-cylinder 6.75-L engine, with double supercharging and a maximum power of 512 hp. The maximum speed of the Mulsanne is just under 300 km/h, acceleration to 100 km/h takes 5.3 seconds. Bentley Mulsanne customers can choose one of 114 bodywork-coloring options. The interior of the Mulsanne uses natural leather in 24 color shades, precious woods, and hand-polished steel.
In 2014, a modification of Bentley Mulsanne Speed was presented. It’s distinguished by a forced up to 537 hp engine. In 2016 a restyling was carried out, which gave Mulsanne a new grille, bumpers, front and rear optics, multimedia system. Also, an extended version of the Bentley Mulsanne Extended Wheelbase with separate rear seats and a hatch above the rear seats was presented.
The new concept car Bentley EXP 12 Speed 6e is characterized not only by its stunning design but also by its electric propulsion system. It has enough power reserve to drive from London to Paris without recharging.
Another model is first mass-production SUV, Bentley Bentayga. This medium-size crossover of the super-luxury segment is equipped with a 6-L 12-cylinder engine with 8-speed automatic transmission. The maximum speed of Bentayga is 301 km/h, and it accelerates up to 100 km/h in 4.1 seconds. The interior of the Bentley Bentayga is presented in leather and wood decoration in the classic Bentley style. Bentayga has active cruise control, projection display, infrared camera, Naim for Bentley audio system, night vision system, lane holding system, removable touch screen remote control for rear passengers, and much more, typical for a car of this level.
For more than a century, Bentley is famous for its unrivaled craftsmanship, technology, and phenomenal power of its cars. As a next step, Bentley will consider creating a fully electric range from sports cars and sedans to SUVs. Electronic assistants will do much more than just drive the car. They will take on the role of a concierge: they will perform voice commands and help plan the whole day, not just the time spent on the road.
The new concept car Bentley EXP 12 Speed 6e is characterized not only by its stunning design but also by its electric propulsion system. It has enough power reserve to drive from London to Paris without recharging. The car dynamics will also continue to improve. The Bentley brand has long been renowned for the phenomenally high torque that modern hand-built combustion engines deliver. But imagine the power developed by a fully electric Bentley. This is the future of dynamics! This is the future of luxury!
