Overview & Reviews

The Bentley brand is to luxury cars what Everest is to mountains. Those with wallets deep enough to meet the six-figure price tags of the company's vehicles are treated to towering levels of refinement and prestige. Bentley coupes and sedans are mostly hand-assembled in Great Britain at the manufacturer's state-of-the-art Crewe factory. This fusion of old-world craftsmanship with new-world technology is what the Bentley marque is all about.

Founded by Walter Owen Bentley, Bentley Motors was born in England in 1919. Two years later, the first model debuted, the rapid "3-litre" Bentley. Larger cars followed, and racing success at Le Mans earned the Bentley motorcars status among British sports car enthusiasts. Financial woes (brought on in part by the Wall Street Crash of 1929) triggered the brand's sale to Rolls-Royce in 1931. The first new Bentley after this event was the "3 1/2-litre," introduced in 1933 and based on a Rolls chassis that never saw production.

In subsequent decades, Bentley slowly slid into anonymity with vehicles that, at times, were little more than rebadged Rolls-Royces. The company's fortunes finally took an upturn in the 1980s. A new company policy dictated a more distinctive brand image, and it yielded the Mulsanne Turbo sedan, named after the famous corner on the Le Mans circuit. Most other Bentley models of this time, however, such as the Continental coupe and convertible, were still Rolls-Royces with different grilles.

The '90s brought more distinctive models into the fold, such as the redesigned Continental coupe, new Azure convertible and the new Arnage sedan, the latter replacing the dated Mulsanne. In 1998 BMW began supplying engines to both the Bentley and Rolls-Royce brands. Later that year this relationship created a conflict when Volkswagen acquired both marques, but the two German automakers reached an agreement that saw VW handing over control of Rolls to BMW in 2003, while keeping Bentley and the Crewe factory.

During the 2000s, that VW ownership allowed Bentley to further expand its model range and improve overall quality. The Continental coupe was again redesigned and quickly became a sales success, spawning a convertible version. Soon a four-door version of the Continental, the Flying Spur, debuted, followed in 2011 by the Mulsanne flagship sedan.

As one would expect, modern Bentley coupes and sedans are powered by a series of surprisingly muscular engines. The most potent models are motivated by a turbocharged 12-cylinder engine that generates more than 600 horsepower, though a new V8 promises similar acceleration but with much better fuel economy. No matter the engine, Bentley's traditional qualities remain, with all models benefiting from a cabin exquisitely finished in a variety of leather and wood trim.

There are high-dollar ultraluxury cruisers, and then there are Bentleys. Whether it's the Arnage sedan or the Brooklands coupe, these cars make an impressive statement and are sumptuous enough to make even the most jaded tycoon purr with delight.

User Reviews:

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  continental GT - 2004 Bentley Continental GT
  By dajavoo - November 13 - 10:00 am

  Superb Vehicle, gives a presence of dominance on and off the road!

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  Bentley Continental GT - 2005 Bentley Continental GT
  By Blake - August 29 - 12:16 pm

  Smooth to drive and a LOT of horsepower. Before I bought the GT I test drove the Aston Martin DB9. Theres nothing like a Bentley compared to the DB9.

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  Best Car Ever! - 2004 Bentley Continental GT
  By Normboat - May 20 - 10:00 am

  The most unbelievable vehicle I have ever driven, much less owned. It makes most other cars toy-like, and shows the marked difference between cars. Blows away others. A true wonder of the combination of engineering and luxury.

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  Car of Cars - 2008 Bentley Continental GT
  By jordegcam - April 15 - 12:16 am

  Traded in my 2006 Maserati Gransport for a 2008 Black Bentley Continental GT Coupe. Wow! The styling is all at once beautiful, sporty, elegant, and eye-catching. While I miss the throaty roar of the Massy, the elegance and power of this Black Beauty is enthralling. The creature comforts, the interior, the modern features are beyond compare. This has to be the worlds best car. The Bluetooth feature apparently has been improved, my iPhone works well with it seamlessly. The drive is comfortable, yet very powerful. With a 0 to 60 of 4.6 seconds and 552 horsepower, this is a far better buy than a Ferrari Scaglietti, in my opinion. No regrets so far after 5 days!

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  Best Luxury Sports Car on the Market - 2013 Bentley Continental GTC
  By mww824804 - February 17 - 11:36 pm

  Very few cars that cost upwards of 200k make sense to purchase. However, with the Bentley GTC you definitely see where the money goes. With custom interiors, hand-crafted seats, and an exterior unmatched by anything else, Bentley really does know how to build a car. After driving mine for about a year now, all I can say is how timeless of a car it really is and will continue to be.

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  Time in Motion - 2005 Bentley Continental GT
  By R. Olander - February 12 - 10:16 am

  Wow! The Bentley Continental GT is a new benchmark. The interior workmanship is excellent and the exterior looks great from the front and side views. Its rear legroom is a liitle skimpy, but Bentley delivers on the 1952 Continental R concept. This vehicle will be a real classic. It was worth the wait.

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  Great car, love it - 2009 Bentley Continental Flying Spur
  By Libra_2009 - February 7 - 4:16 am

  This is my third Bentley and this one has to be my favorite! It has amazing handling as it should. The headrests dvd systems make the car more lovable! I will definitely be keeping this one for a while.

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  Goodbye S-Class! - 2006 Bentley Continental Flying Spur
  By icecofe - January 4 - 6:00 am

  I have owned a Merecedes-Benz S-Class for 15 years. In the Continental Flying Spur, I have finally found a car that looks, drives, and sounds as good as the hype. It is heaven to drive and the quality is unbelievable. It was worth the wait. There is nothing like it on the road. Its a sports car and a family sedan with class.

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  Continental GTC - 2007 Bentley Continental GTC
  By JA - July 13 - 9:40 pm

  I have had the Bentley Continental GTC for about one week now. It is a real blast to drive. I am planning to get rid of my older Bentley GT because this one is so much fun to drive! The interior is the best part of the car. The leather is like no other car in the world! The GTC drives so nicely I prefer to drive this over my Rolls Royce Phantom. In my opinion this is Bentleys best car yet!

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  Great Car - 2006 Bentley Continental Flying Spur
  By SpineGod - July 11 - 5:36 am

  Ive had my Flying Spur since April. It is a great car and it is not ubiquitous like all other luxury sedans on the market today. It is fun to drive, has a huge trunk, and accelerates like a sports car. If it had iPod integration, it would be the greatest car ever. That said, I love these new Bentleys. I cant wait to get my Continental GTC.