In the automobile industry , there are sealed companies with the reputation for creating the most luxuriouscarsin the human race – Mercedes - Benz , Jaguar , Lexus and BMW leaping to beware . But it ’s a smaller circle of luxury automobile party that localise the benchmark for opulence – like Maybach , Rolls - Royce , Aston Martin , Maseratiand Bentley . In recent years , the Bentley in particular has emerged as a popular pick of car for the fertile and renowned .
The Bentley Motor Company , like Aston Martin and Rolls - Royce , is a historic British railway car company . W.O. Bentley built the first Bentley automobile in 1919 . He was a race car fancier and thrill - searcher who wish to project and grow the world ’s best race car . He called his first drive the EXP1 , a prototype race auto with a 3 - literengine . Racing enthusiasts took notification of the gondola ’s superior performance .
Bentley ’s designs were very successful – a Bentley motorcar dominated the Le Mans races from 1927 to 1930 . Bentleys number in first lieu in races across Europe , and shortly a collection of race - car drivers known as the Bentley Boys became renowned for taking home trophies .
The Bentley argument of auto had many rivals – perhaps the most illustrious was Rolls - Royce . While Bentley automobiles were known for focal ratio and public presentation , Rolls - Royce cars were notable for elegance and sophistry . Both line agitate automobile advance in Europe . The rivalry might have lasted indefinitely had it not been for the Great Depression . Bentley Motors became financially unstable , and Rolls - Royce Limited purchased the company in 1931 . bit by bit , Bentley auto began to resemble the styles of the Rolls - Royce cars . Some models even used the samechassis– the same substructure frame – as the Rolls - Royce Silver Cloud .
In 1998 , Rolls - Royce sell Bentley Motors to Volkswagen ( eventually BMW purchased Rolls - Royce , so two of England ’s beloved car lines are now owned by German companies ) . output of the Bentley credit line remained in Crewe , England , where they ’ve been building Bentleys since 1946 . Today , Bentleys fill a ecological niche between the Rolls - Royce cars , known for their style and elegance , and the Aston Martin cars , far-famed for their performance and speed .
In this article , we ’ll learn about Bentley customization options , the Bentley Bond and Bentley driving courses . In the next section , we ’ll bet at the current Bentley models ( ormarques , as the Brits like to say ) .
Bentley Marques
Bentley ’s two flagship simulation ( ormarques ) are theArnageand theAzure . The Arnage is a four - doorway sedan , while the Azure is a two - doorconvertible . The Arnage example has three major variations - theArnage universal gas constant , theArnage Tand theArnage RL .
The Arnage R ( the radius , according to Bentley ’s Web land site , is for " refinement " ) is all about elegance and solace . Each elevator car comes with natural wood control panel , chrome controls , a handcrafted leather inside and a herculean 6.75 - liter , twin - turbocharged , V8engine . The railway locomotive give the car 450horsepower , quite a kick for a luxury fomite .
The Arnage T is more about ability and speed than its full cousin . Its locomotive allow for 500 HP , set aside the driver to push the car at speeds of 179 mile per minute ( miles per hour ) . It can go from 0 to 60 in just 5.2 bit . Many Bentley enthusiasts see the Arnage T as a direct descendent of former Bentleys , when speed and carrying into action were more crucial than luxurious interiors .
The Arnage RL is really a limousine ( the L place upright for " prospicient wheelbase " ) . Bentley offer the wheelbase by 10 inches , meaning they elaborate the rear compartment of the fomite so that passenger have extended leg room . The RL line has the same engine as the Arnage R cars . Arnage RL car often include the latest technological advances , including amusement systems withvideo game consolesor mobile office communications system of rules . Bentley limited the Arnage RL product run to just 20 vehicles .
The bright blue line feature an engine similar to the one get in the Arnage R. It ’s a 6.75 - liter , V8 engine that provides 450 horsepower , grant gadget driver to crowd the car up to 171 mph . The engine ’s torque supply a smooth modulation as the Bentley deepen gear and increase stop number . Bentley calls the performance " effortless . "
Besides the Arnage and Azure lines , Bentley also produces a line of car under the marque name Continental . TheContinental GTis the fastest Bentley contrive so far . This two - door coupe can top speeds of 200 mph . In a similar mineral vein , theContinental GTCis a convertible establish off the GT coupe purpose . It can accelerate from 0 to 100 miles per hour in just 5.1 seconds . TheContinental Flying Spuris a four - room access saloon that ’s aimed at moneyed , but not super plentiful , clientele .
Bentley pop the question one other model of car , theBrooklands . Named after a racing lap famous during the prime of the Bentley Boys , the Brooklands sell out its first year of production before a undivided elevator car was ready for legal transfer . Bentley says they will produce only 550 of these cars , then retire the marque . They ’ve schedule the saving of the first Brooklands cars for 2008 .
In the next section , we ’ll seem at some of the features for which Bentley is famous .
Bentley Customization
One of the most appealing property of the Bentley line of descent , aside from the repute for splendid carrying into action , is the extent to which the customer can custom-make hiscar . Bentley Mulliner , a division of the fellowship with the sole use of customization with unparalleled craftsmanship , is in direction of making certain the customer gets what he wants .
The Mulliner division has a history even longer than that of Bentley itself . As far back as the 1500s , it was a companionship that produced saddle . In 1760 , the company began to design coach ( of the horse - cast sentiment ) . The company gain a reputation for punctilious work and care to client asking . When the automobile debuted , Mulliner adapted its methods to building coaches for railroad car . In fact , Mulliner design and built the DoI for W.O. Bentley ’s EXP1 .
Mulliner craftsmanship is legendary , and they employ only master artisans . You might be surprised at the titles of some Mulliner employee – on their payroll they have coachbuilders , coppersmiths , furniture maker and experts in leading - edge technologies . Almost everything in the interior of an Arnage or Azure is handcraft . create the steering wheel alone could take as tenacious as 50 hour .
Mulliner allows a client to be as involved in the design process of the inside as he want , even to the full stop of giving input on initial sketch or computer - aided designing ( CAD ) draft . Practically every element within the elevator car can be customized or personalise if the customer wish . all-embracing customization tend to result in foresightful waits for vehicles , but most customers seem content to wait , knowing their Bentley will be a truly alone machine .
Before Rolls - Royce acquired Bentley , the communication channel of cars was screw mostly for its speed and performance . Some fans of the car experience that the influence of Rolls - Royce diluted Bentley ’s lineage . Today , Bentley is winning fans back with models like the Continental GT , which once again contribute hurrying and operation in focus . Now , Bentley has a reputation for produce some of the most luxurious car you’re able to obtain , as well as vehicles that are as elegant as they are degraded .
In the next subdivision , we ’ll look at some famous Bentley owners and enthusiast .
Famous Bentley Owners
One of the most noted owners of a Bentley never even subsist . He is 007 , James Bond , of Her Majesty ’s Secret Service . In the original novels by Ian Fleming , Bond have several Bentleys ( in the film he usually drove an Aston Martin ) . Bond ’s first Bentley shuffle off this mortal coil in " Moonraker , " when it met its end as a event of a car chase with a motortruck .
Some non - fancied owners of Bentleys have also achieved a degree of renown . Rapper Jay - zed mentions Bentleys in several of his songs and drives around in them as well . Ludacris own a Pt Bentley Continental GT – he claims he catch the hookup from his friend Shaquille O’Neal . Shaq has his own Bentley , reportedly with a customSupermanlogo mounted on the front grillwork [ source : Forbes ] .
Some other famous Bentley owner :
In 2002 , Bentley Motors presented the Queen of England with two Bentley limousine as a present tense for herGolden Jubilee , a solemnisation marking her 50th class as female monarch of England . These limousines are now the official land limo . Bentley designed the car to travel smoothly even at a walking pace – necessary if you spend a lot of time in parade or processions . Reportedly , the railway car have exceptional stereo system systems .
Bentley automobiles are rare in the United States . They are also very expensive , ranging in the one C of chiliad of dollars . Their carrying into action , sumptuosity , scarcity and expense combine to make a very tempting parcel for the wealthy . There ’s a mother wit of prestige that come up with owning a Bentley – you ’re part of an elite class of people if you could afford to undulate in a Bentley .
In the next division , we ’ll depend at some of the Bentley Driving Courses .
Bentley Driving Courses
Bentley pop the question several driving courses for Bentley owner ( though only one course is uncommitted in the United States ) . Courses range from testing a Bentley ’s capability at high pep pill to getting one - on - one instruction about your personal driving habits .
Bentley Motors go forward to reach to be the best not only in luxurycarproduction , but also client service . While cause your own Bentley is n’t as well-heeled as drive a car right off the hatful – some Bentleys can take more than a class before they are ready for a customer – you are assure of amazing aid and inspection and repair , not to refer you ’ll be join the social status of the elite in your new cycle .
To discover more about Bentleys and related to topics , assure out the links on the next page .
