Bentley Motors

Bentley is a marque on the march as, since its purchase by Volkswagen in 1998, it has undergone a major revolution. With a large range of body styles now available, as well as a tasty selection of meaty engines, if you’re after a reassuringly old school but impeccably engineered British cruiser, then a Bentley represents the ultimate choice

They say that the more things change, the more they stay the same; if ever a cliché can be applied to Bentley, this one’s it. You see, the company’s products are classically old-school Britain, but it has a young and international clientele these days – and we have Volkswagen’s billions to thank for that.

Bentley – as a super-marque – might have been around since the 1930s, but after the 1960s, it fell off the pace thanks mainly to the cars being little more than badge-engineered Rolls-Royces. However, the return of the ‘Blower’ Bentley in 1982 and the strength of the ‘Turbo R’ brand distanced the great marque enough to encourage BMW and Volkswagen to have a tug-of-love over the Crewe based company in 1998.

The end result was BMW making off with Rolls-Royce with Bentley (and its Crewe factory) falling under Volkswagen’s ownership. The ‘traditional’ product line remained with Bentley (and it continued to build Rolls-Royces, too, until 2002) with production of the Arnage and Continental R coupes continuing while an all-important VAG-based Bentley was developed.

Modern day revival

In 2003, that job was done and the Continental GT arrived. In a stroke, Bentley’s Millennial revolution was kicked off in massive style. Based heavily on VAG componentry, the GT was still designed with plenty of sympathy for the marque’s values, and featured an interior that shouted ‘old money’. Within weeks, it became a huge success – becoming one of the sector’s hottest tickets.

The GT formed the cornerstone for the expansion and modernisation of Bentley, and each subsequent year seems to have been marked with the introduction of another new model. As the marque has grown, so production outputs have risen, and the old-world appeal of Bentley has melded nicely with the new-age products that have been rolled out since the arrival of the GT.

In fact, the Bentley revival has been one of the industry’s genuine success stories. After the launch of the v12- powered GT, the Crewe factory was unable to cope with demand, even though capacity has been increased to 9,500 per year. With the introduction of the Continental Flying Spur saloon in 2005, we saw the first German-built Bentleys appear on the market place – sharing a line at Volkswagen’s ‘Transparent Factory’ where the Phaeton luxury saloon was also put together. However that situation was temporary and, late last year, the Flying Spur came home to Crewe, where it belongs…

So, with three GT-based models on the books – the convertible GTC arriving last year – as well as the new Azure (also launched last year) and Arnage, Bentley’s success looks to be sustainable, and the only way is up. Just to prove this, the company recently unveiled the stunning Brooklands Coupe – a brand new car to take up where the much-loved Continental R left off when it went out of production in 2002.

That means the Bentley range is now neatly split into two interesting trios; the Continental W12-powered cars (GT, Flying Spur and GTC) forming the mainstay, while the Brooklands, Arnage and Azure top the price lists and, by using the legacy Rolls-Royce V8 (after the BMW units were dropped), maintain a direct link with the company’s past.

In 2005, sales of the marque were strong with 8,627 worldwide – don’t be surprised if that figure creeps up towards 10,000 in the next few years, making it a major player in the prestige sector.

The cars

Since Volkswagen has taken the reins of this most British of companies, Bentley’s range has expanded beyond all recognition, and if you’re the sort of well-heeled buyer these cars are aimed at, there’s pretty much a car with a ‘winged-B’ on the bootld

Continental GT

Here’s the car that started the Bentley bandwagon rolling in 2003 – and four years on, it’s still achingly desirable. When it first appeared, the Continental GT raised a few eyebrows – not least because as a full-blown Coupe powered by a Volkswagen derived W12 engine, and that denoted a departure for the once conservative marque.

But as supercars go, it’s pure gold – because that is what the Continental GT surely is. Yes, it’s user-friendly, and a doddle to drive very, very quickly. Although there’s plenty of Phaeton under the skin, the Bentley feels different to drive. The bespoke leather lined interior treated to hand-stitching, chrome and wood could only be a Bentley – and where Aston Martin is going all ‘Cool Britannia’ on us, the GT sticks to what it knows best.

On the road, it’s as good as you’d expect any 500bhp car to be. Fourwheel drive and a paddle shift gearbox help the driver harness all the grunt, and despite its weight, the GT feels agile on the road.

Prices are realistic in view of the car’s desirability and popularity – and if it’s stickered-up for £75K (as an ’04 model would be), that’s a serious amount of ability for the cash.

Continental GTC

The march of the Continental continues unabated with the launch of the sub-zero convertible version. Taking the platform of the original car and beefing it up considerably to compensate for the lack of a roof seems to have done little harm to overall refinement and performance (although top speed has dropped slightly).

The GTC is a real achievement for Bentley, and although there are criticisms to be made of it – such as the lack of responsiveness from the paddle shift gearbox, and the slightly tighter rear seats – the overall picture is overwhelmingly positive. Underway, with the top up, you’d never be able to tell it’s an open topped car – quite an achievement.

The W12 engine sounds great in this installation, and you’ll soon be wafting in ‘D’, enjoying the unfeasibly rapid mid-range acceleration. Unlike some cars in this sector, the Bentley doesn’t seem to incite rage in other road users, and you can make your way discreetly at a fair rate of knots.

Demand is high as customers clamour for the new car – and any hope of finding a used example resides with those people prepared to sell theirs at a premium, so the best advice is to wait.

Flying Spur

Given the heady mix of old and new in the Arnage, you might wonder why on earth Bentley felt the need to introduce a saloon version of the impressive Continental GT. However, these two cars are very different in looks and feel, and should appeal to very different buyers.

Producing a top-drawer saloon from a Coupe should have flagged up a number of compromises, but the execution of the new car is so successful that you’d never know where it came from. In short, it’s deeply impressive at so many levels that you’ll not care about its origins once you’re under way.

It’s tight and together – and on the road, its sporting origins are no handicap to dignified progress. In fact, the slightly undistinguished sounding engine seems to have found a more natural home here than in the Coupe or Convertible.

In short, like all Bentleys, it’s a truly special place to spend time, and it works in the real world because, as 200mph cars go, none are more civilised. Without doubt, it’s the best saloon ever produced by Bentley, and one you’ll desire to drive at every opportunity.

It’s too soon to talk about residuals, but there’s no reason to assume it will not live up to Bentley’s usual high standards.

Arnage

It’s difficult to believe when looking at it, but the Bentley Arnage dates back to the mid-1990s. There’s a timeless elegance to the styling that will reassure any potential buyers that they’re buying a car that will fit in anywhere – unlike the more ostentatious (and considerably more expensive) Rolls-Royce Phantom.

Powered by the charismatic turbocharged V8 that delivers torque in sledgehammer assisted lumps, there’s something particularly satisfying about wafting along in the Arnage – the longer the journey, the better. Rivals are few and far between, and what this car majors on is roominess and prestige.

On the road, the Arnage is a lot wieldier than you’d think – and the traditional styling and retro interior seem juxtaposed to the agility the car has in tight situations. It’s a remarkable achievement considering ts size and weight – even though a BMW 760Li or Mercedes-Benz S600 will deliver quantifiably more of everything for considerably less outlay. But then again, is that why we’d buy an Arnage?

Azure

For the moment, the new generation Azure is the ultimate incarnation of the traditional V8 Bentley line – and one that we can’t see not being a restrained success for the company. Now that its old-world engine has been married to a new world gearbox, there are few criticisms you can level at the Azure.

In fact, though the latest car to wear the Azure badge might look similar to the last model, it is actually all-new, being based on the Arnage – as opposed to the Continental R of the previous generation. That means you’re in for a much more solid and focused drive courtesy of an insightful chassis, capable steering and a responsive gearbox.

If there are any criticisms you can lay at its door, it’s the lottery-winner price tag. At £222,500, it’s up against some serious opposition (not least the much cheaper Bentley GTC), although none of the similarly-priced soft-tops can make you feel as alive as this.

The beauty of the Azure is that you’re in for a unique motoring experience, either as a driver or passenger. There are some who would consider this as a poser’s car, but just because it looks good hood up or down, doesn’t mean to say there isn’t deeply-ingrained appeal for the enthusiast.

Bentley Brooklands

Continuing the resurgence of the Bentley marque, a new Brooklands model was recently unveiled, finally plugging the gap in the range created when the Continental R/S/T models were phased out in 2002. In true Bentley style, the Brooklands is an ultra-luxury coupe, based on the Arnage – and tops the still-popular V8 range.

The body has been tweaked into a powerful and rakish grand tourer in the style of its progenitors, and retains the classic British three-box proportions that worked so well in the past. A limited run of just 550 examples over three years is all you’re going to get, and it will appeal to all those who feel that the existing Continental GT is a little too ubiquitous.

The styling is dramatic, featuring a low roof, which is 45mm lower than the Arnage’s, a long bonnet, short front overhang and pillarless doors. It’s a stunning-looking car that will be much sought-after when it goes on sale – to that very limited clientele – in 2008.

Each car will be hand-built over 650 hours, employing the coach building techniques developed over nearly 90 years and including sections that are, uniquely for the modern car industry, brazed together. The Brooklands should also be able to back its sporting looks with suitably sporting performance, thanks to the V8 engine that develops 530bhp and an astonishing 774 lb/ft of torque.