Bentley is a leading car brand that specializes in luxury vehicles. Handcrafted interiors, beautiful design and powerful engines have made Bentley one of the most sought after and expensive vehicles in the world. Working only with some of the best in the industry worldwide, each part of Bentley is meticulously made to show elegance and power under the hood.
Who Owns Bentley?
Founded in 1919, Bentley became a familiar name in the car industry because of their high performance vehicles. They established themselves as speedy, powerful vehicles makers when they won the Le Mans in 1924 and from 1927 to 1930 - a run of winnings made possible by the "Bentley Boys."
Bentley was eventually sold off to Rolls-Royce in 1931 and today's Bentleys are currently under Volkswagen since its acquisition in 1998.
Bentley's Top Cars to Date
Even with the Change of Hands, the extensive history and reputation of Bentley are undeniable.
Here are the top five vehicles that easily represent the eras of incredible Bentley cars.
The 1929 Blower
Using a rare Supercharged Engine of its time, the Blower was a racing legend because of its Le Mans success. This relatively small vehicle measured only at 162.0 inches in length and 67.0 inches in width but it came with 175 horsepower making it a beast during its time. Because of its success and the use of an incredibly powerful engine in the late 20s, it's now considered one of the most expensive collectible vehicles. The 1931 version of the Blower was sold at $9.6 million.
The Bentley Arnage
The Arnage holds significant place in the history of Bentley because it was the final model made before Volkswagen's acquisition. First launched in 1998, it is now considered as the final of the "classics" boasting of 212.2 inches in length and 75.6 in width. On its launch, the Arnage was using BMW's V8 before switching to the 6.75L Twin-Turbocharged V8. Its 0-60 mph speed was 5.5 seconds with maximum speed of 170 mph.
Bentley Mulsanne
The Bentley Mulsanne, launched in 2010, ironically emerged as a rival to the Rolls-Royce Phantom, a model from its former manufacturer. This roomy vehicle (219.5 in/75.8 in) came with power under the hood featuring the 6.75L V8 engine with 530 hp and 811 lb-ft torque. Discontinued in 2020, it is considered one of the final hand-built sedans from the famed manufacturer.
Bentley Flying Spur
The Bentley Flying Spur - Building on the legacy of the legendary Mulsanne, Bentley raised the bar once again with the Flying Spur. Currently, there are two versions available: the Speed and Mulliner. Both versions feature a potent 'Hybrid' powertrain, combining the benefits of electric and combustion power to deliver exceptional performance, speed, and efficiency.
A Closer Look At The Bentley Continental - Bentley's Undisputed Leader
The Blower, Arnage and Mulsanne each have their place in history in building Bentley's current name. But talking about Bentley means talking about its most popular model - the Continental Since its first generation in 1952, the Continental has continued to evolve, remaining a true representation of handcrafted vehicles.
Let's dig a bit deeper into the Bentley Continental's heritage with four important models:
Bentley R-Type Continental
The first will always be an important piece of history for any car manufacturer and Bentley's first Continental was no exception. Measuring at 205.0 inches and 73.5 inches in length and width, it is considered as one of the fastest of its kind during its time as it could reach 120 mph - a challenging feat for a four-seater. Notably, the Continental's dimensions were already impressive when it was first unveiled in 1952.
Bentley S1/S2/S3 Continental
Replacing the R-Type Continental in 1955, the S1/S2/S3 features a relatively larger body (210.0 in/74.0 in) and an engine upgrade. The S1 used the 4.9L Inline-6 while the S2/S3 version used the 6.2L V8 with a top speed of 125 mph. Design-wise, the S3 was notable for the use of four headlamp lights - a tradition continued by many Bentley vehicles.
Interestingly, the Continental model underwent two significant redesigns, which explains why size increases were not always the primary focus.
The Bentley Continental T and Continental R
The S1/S2/S3 were discontinued in 1965 and the model only resurfaced in 1991 with these two model versions. The Continental R was built as a daily driver while the Continental T was built for those looking for more power on the road. The Continental R initially featured a different engine than the Continental T but was later upgraded to feature the 420 horsepower, 6.75L Turbocharged V8 engine. These are also relatively rare with only 1,548 units for the R model and 322 models for the T model. Both models share the same dimensions, measuring 209.0 inches in length and 78.5 inches in width.
Bentley Continental GT
The second reset of Bentley Continental happened when the company was sold to Volkswagen. It's relatively smaller than its predecessor (up to 190.9 in/76.9 in) even on its current 3rd generation. The first generation of the Continental GT featured the 6.0L W12 Twin-Turbo engine with top speed of 200 mph while the 3rd generation came with 6.0L Twin-Turbo W12 engine boasting 650 horsepower and top speed of 208 mph.
The Future
Bentley's future vision for cars is focused on electrification, sustainability, and luxury. In terms of size, Bentley is planning to introduce a new Luxury Urban SUV, which will be the world's first fully electric car in its class.
Conclusion
Bentley may have changed hands in recent years but it still lives up to its reputation as a high-end luxury sedan. Taking full advantage of current technology while maintaining great craftsmanship, Bentley is still a highly sought after vehicle.
