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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  Best Car I have EVER owned - 2008 Bentley Continental GT
  By pb - October 3 - 7:33 am

  Traded my 07 maserati QP for a new 2008 GT, the car is absolutely amazing, insane amounts of power and torque can be driven like a limo or spanked like a true sports car. The interior is the best I have ever seen, bluetooth works fine, back up camera is a great help, ride is silky smooth and in my opinion this is the sexiest car on the market today (with a 599 a close second). I have not yet driven the car in winter conditions, but the 7000 miles I have driven over the past 6 months have been most enjoyable...

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  Sheer Luxury, Built to Last - 2006 Bentley Continental Flying Spur
  By BobS - September 20 - 7:50 am

  Having owned quite an array of luxury vehicles over the past 30+ years I thought Id become quite jaded. I loved my Jaguar XJs but then moved on to the Mercedes S-class, owning 4 over the years (including a new 2007 for my wife). The time had come for something different--something which looks and feels superior. The Flying Spur is IT! No Mercedes sedan can compare with the WOW factor of this Bentley. And, the beauty, quality and craftsmanship of the interior places this car head and shoulders all others. While I have no doubt the 2007 S-class is the true standard of the world, there is a certain satisfaction in driving the much more exclusive Flying Spur. It is a JOY!

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  Two Thumbs Down - 2006 Bentley Continental Flying Spur
  By Robert C. - September 2 - 1:10 am

  Parple Lossh knows what hes talikng about! I dont like my Bentley either. Its extremely uncomfortable. I would rather have a Mercedes-Benz S600. Everyone has their own opinion, of course.

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  Fabulous Vehicle - 2006 Bentley Continental GT
  By Gil Amoroso - August 17 - 3:53 pm

  I couldnt disagree more with the naysayers of this automobile. Its not only beautiful and fast but its great to drive. It has superb handling for a heavy car but Im not Mario Andretti. The gas mileage is awful but what would you expect from a 550 hp vehicle? A Prius its not. Its build quality is great and Ive had no problems so far. Its a real head turner wherever I go. .Im very happy with the purchase.

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  love the car - 2005 Bentley Continental GT
  By George Molnar - August 12 - 1:46 am

  Beautiful, yet understated. Drives like a dream. Uplifiting to drive, great overall feeling. Getting in and out of the back seat is difficult.

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  One for the Ages - 2005 Bentley Continental GT
  By TED G. - April 13 - 11:30 am

  While I waited for delivery, I asked an existing owner how he liked the the car; "I dont like it.....I love it!" End of story. It is clearly the best luxury porformance car I have ever owned. The blend of styling, performance and engineering is unsurpassed! I look for reasons to take the car out, it is that much fun to drive. I just took my first "road trip" through the mountain passes of Washington State and it handled flawlessly. This is as close to perfection as I have seen in a mechanical structure!

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  Surprisingly Affordable - 2012 Bentley Continental Flying Spur
  By sebring101 - March 17 - 1:32 am

  The dealer made this very easy to buy. Very nice buying experience-I was able to negotiate and pay my price. I was a little dubious about buying this vehicle but when you put your foot on the accelerator and feel the movement the exhilaration is more than rewarding. Handles like a dream. You are in control every step of the way. Plenty of room and easy to adjust settings. Everything is intuitive. You do not need the owners manual. Nothing is hidden. It is all up front and works like a charm. No MBA required. Comfort is unbelievable. Interior is first class as is the fit and finish. Its a very German car without all the quirkiness and regimentation of a Mercedes. Loose and fluid. Easy.

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  Great car for everyday highway driving - 2006 Bentley Arnage
  By Brent - February 19 - 12:40 pm

  The 2006 Bentley Arnage R is a driving machine. I enjoy all aspects of the it. It is a great conversation piece at gas stations, which I hit often with the 10 miles per gallon that the Arnage gets. Overall it is a great car.

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  Bentley Good, but Not Great - 2006 Bentley Continental GT
  By Roger Marchs - February 3 - 10:23 pm

  The Bentley Continental GT is comfortable and darn fast. However too its console contains too many shared Volkswagen/Audi parts. Come on, for $165,000 I dont want the Audi controller, nor do I want two paired Volkswagen 6 cylinder engines bolter together for a total of 12. This is a pretty car and its very comfortable. Its almost great, but not quite there.

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  Continental GT- Smoke and Mirrors - 2005 Bentley Continental GT
  By Ken Dialo - November 23 - 11:53 pm

  This car took me a long time to receive. After 3 months not satisfied. Engine is strong, but does not prove out to alleged specs that are reported. Porsche all models will give it a solid run to 60mph. Handling is sloppy, braking is not world class. Interior is beautiful, controls are nicely placed. Overall I will purchase Ferrari or Aston on next trip around.