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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  Amazing experiance - 2008 Bentley Continental Flying Spur
  By luvwater - May 22 - 2:00 am

  That 552 HP engine will leave you breathless, great sedan, comfort and performance are second to none, my two daughters 2 and 3 yo in their car seats have plenty of space watching their DVDs while I enjoy this magnificent ride, if you are thinking about buying one, I say do it today.

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  My Bentley - 2002 Bentley Continental
  By Big Balla - March 31 - 2:00 am

  Great Car, but only for the financially stable.... Ha! Rides and handles great, awesome acceleration.

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  pleasent car - 2002 Bentley Azure
  By tyrese - March 30 - 2:00 am

  to the people that say it is a waste of money to buy this car please go buy a bmw or a pontiac. This car is one of the most luxurious and comfortable rides in the world today and that why is priced like it is, i will buy next years also and if it still worth it i will keep buying it. to the high rollers this is a most.

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  Very Very Nice - 2002 Bentley Arnage
  By Erick - March 26 - 2:00 am

  I have owned my Red Label for no more than a week and I must say that I have never driven a saloon anywhere near this quality. I though the S600 was nice but this, this is very very nice. I will be looking into purchasing another for my wife, since she always wants to drive mine now.

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  Not quite worth the cost... - 2002 Bentley Azure
  By Jagwoman - March 9 - 4:22 am

  This car is beautiful, but I have other vehicles that compare quite favorably at a fraction of the price. Buy this car for the status only, not for the performance.

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  bently - 2001 Bentley Arnage
  By Brody Starling - March 6 - 11:25 am

  put rims on the car on the front page

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  Great Car - 2002 Bentley Arnage
  By Irvin Chuck - March 2 - 2:41 pm

  This is an excellent car. I have just bought the Red Label and i think that even though it has a very high price tag, it is much better and roomier in the back than my 2001 S-Class. It is a lovely car...

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  wow - 2002 Bentley Continental
  By joel - February 27 - 3:47 pm

  i love this car!

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  Car Bulit to Please!! - 2002 Bentley Arnage
  By FineDriver - February 26 - 12:17 pm

  Exellent car, never will Have I ever owned anything so refined! I love this vehicle and love the responce I get when I drive through Down Town Houston.

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  Wow - 2002 Bentley Azure
  By Jagman - February 12 - 10:22 pm

  This car is devine. I have longed for a Bent for a long time, and by the time this beauty came in, I was about to explode with anticipation. The second I turned the thing on, the engine almost made me wet my pants because of the roar that was produced. Every surface has wood and leather for miles and miles, and I could almost fall asleep behind the wheel, its so comfortable.