Bentley

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Bentley Motors Limited

Type	Subsidiary and marque of Volkswagen Group
Founded	18 January 1919
Founder	Walter Owen Bentley
Headquarters	Crewe, England, UK
Area served	Worldwide
Key people	Dr. Franz-Josef Paefgen, CEO
Industry	Manufacturing
Products	Cars
Employees	4000 (2006)
Parent	Volkswagen Group
Website	BentleyMotors.com

Bentley's winged "B" badge and hood ornament.

1929 "Blower" Bentley from the Ralph Lauren collection.

Bentley Motors Limited is an English manufacturer of luxury automobiles and Grand Tourers. Bentley Motors was founded in England on 18 January 1919 by Walter Owen Bentley, known as W.O. Bentley or just "W.O." (1888–1971). He was previously known for his successful range of rotary aero-engines in World War I, the most famous being the Bentley BR1 as used in later versions of the Sopwith Camel. Since 1998 the company has been owned by the Volkswagen Group (Volkswagen AG) (VWAG).

1 Bentley as a separate company (1919-1931)
- 1.1 The Bentley Boys
- 1.2 Car models
2 Bentleys of the Rolls-Royce era (1931-1998)
- 2.1 Car models
3 Volkswagen Group ownership
4 References
5 Further reading
6 External links

[edit] Bentley as a separate company (1919-1931)

Before World War I W.O. Bentley had been in partnership with his brother H.M. Bentley selling French D.F.P. cars but he had always wanted to design and build his own range of cars bearing his own name. In August 1919 Bentley Motors Ltd was registered and a chassis, with dummy engine, was exhibited at the London Motor Show in October that year. ^[1]. An engine was built and running by December and orders taken for deliveries starting in June 1920. However, development took longer than estimated and the first cars were not ready until September 1921.^[1]

The company was always underfunded and Bentley turned to millionaire Woolf Barnato for help in 1925. As part of a re-financing deal, leaving him effectively owning the company, Barnato became chairman. A great deal of Barnato's fortune was devoted to keeping Bentley afloat but the Great Depression destroyed demand for the company's expensive products, and it was finally sold to Rolls-Royce in 1931.

[edit] The Bentley Boys

A group of wealthy British automobile aficionados known as the "Bentley Boys" (Woolf Barnato, Sir Henry Birkin, steeplechaser George Duller, aviator Glen Kidston, automotive journalist S. C. H. "Sammy" Davis, and Dr. Dudley Benjafield among them) kept the car's reputation for high performance alive. At one point, on a bet, Barnato raced Le Train Bleu from Cannes to Calais, then by ferry to Dover and finally London, travelling on public highways with normal traffic, and won ; the special-bodied 6½ Litre car became known as the Blue Train Bentley. Thanks to the dedication of this group to serious racing, the company, located at Cricklewood, north London, was noted for its four consecutive victories at the 24 hours of Le Mans from 1927 to 1930. Their greatest competitor at the time, Bugatti, whose lightweight, elegant, but fragile creations contrasted with the Bentley's rugged reliability and durability, referred to them as "the world's fastest lorries".

[edit] Car models

The original model was the 3 litre, but as customers put heavier bodies on the chassis a larger 4½ litre model followed. Perhaps the most iconic model of the period is the 4½ Litre "Blower Bentley", with its distinctive supercharger projecting forward from the bottom of the grille. Uncharacteristically fragile for a Bentley, it was not the racing workhorse, the 6½ Litre was. It became famous in popular media as the vehicle of James Bond in the original novels, but not in film; however John Steed in the television series The Avengers did drive a Bentley.

1921-1929 3 Litre
1926-1930 4½ Litre & "Blower Bentley"
1926-1930 6½ Litre
1928-1930 6½ Litre Speed Six
1930-1931 8 Litre
1931 4 Litre

[edit] Bentleys of the Rolls-Royce era (1931-1998)

1935 Bentley 3½ Litre Cabriolet

S1 Continental Fastback Coupé with Mulliner Bodywork

Bentley R Type 1952: an evolution of the Mark VI which was the first Bentley available from the manufacturer with a standard body.

Rare left-hand drive 1963 Bentley S3 Continental

Bentley Mulsanne 1980

Rolls-Royce had bought Bentley secretly using a company named the British Central Equitable Trust and not even Bentley himself knew the true identity of the purchaser until the deal was completed.^[1] A new company, wholly owned by Rolls-Royce, was formed called Bentley Motors (1931) Ltd with W.O. Bentley himself little more than an employee and he left to join Lagonda in 1935 when his contract was up for renewal. The Cricklewood factory was closed and sold and production moved to the Rolls-Royce works in Derby.

When a new Bentley car appeared in 1933, the 3½ Litre, it was a sporting variant of the Rolls-Royce 20/25 and although disappointing some traditional customers, it was well received by many others and even Bentley himself was reported as saying "Taking all things into consideration, I would rather own this Bentley than any other car produced under that name."^[1]

After World War II, production of Rolls-Royce and Bentley cars was moved to an ex-wartime engine factory in Crewe, Cheshire. Bentleys became increasingly a Rolls-Royce without the distinctive grille and with a lower price tag and by the 1970s and early 1980s sales had fallen badly with at one time less than 5% of production carrying the Bentley badge.^[1]

The parent company failed in 1970 following problems with aero engine development and the car division was floated off to become Rolls-Royce Motors Ltd and remained independent until bought by Vickers in August 1980.

In the 1980s Bentley became a separate, high performance car line once again typified by the 1980 Mulsanne. The new sporting image created a new interest in the name and sales as a proportion of output started to rise. In 1986 the Rolls-Royce:Bentley ratio was 60:40 and in 1991 50:50 ^[1].

The Bentley factory in Crewe, Cheshire, is still known in the town by the name "Royce's". For more on Bentley Motors from 1931 to 1998, see Rolls-Royce and Rolls-Royce Motors.

[edit] Car models

1933–1937 3½ Litre
- 1936–1939 4¼ Litre
1939–1941 Mark V
- 1939 Mark V
1946–1952 Mark VI
1952–1955 R Type and Continental
1955–1959 S1 and Continental
1959–1962 S2 and Continental
1962–1965 S3 and Continental
1965–1980 T-series
- 1965–1977 T1
- 1977–1980 T2
1971–1984 Corniche
- 1984–1995 Continental — convertible
  - 1992–1995 Continental Turbo
1975–1986 Camargue
1980–1987 Mulsanne
- 1984–1988 Mulsanne L limousine
- 1982–1985 Mulsanne Turbo
- 1987–1992 Mulsanne S
- 1984–1992 Eight — lower-priced model
- 1985–1995 Turbo R — turbocharged performance version
- 1991–2002 Continental R — turbocharged 2-door model
  - 1999–2003 Continental R Mulliner — performance model
  - 1994–1995 Continental S — intercooled
- 1992–1998 Brooklands — improved Eight
  - 1996–1998 Brooklands R — performance Brooklands
- 1994–1995 Turbo S — limited-edition sports model
- 1995–1997 Turbo R — updated Turbo R
  - 1996 Turbo R Sport — limited-edition sports model
- 1995–2003 Azure — convertible Continental R
  - 1999–2002 Azure Mulliner — performance model
- 1996–2002 Continental T — short wheelbase performance model
  - 1999 Continental T Mulliner — firmer suspension
- 1997–1998 Bentley Turbo RT — replacement for the Turbo R

[edit] Volkswagen Group ownership

2003 Bentley Azure Mulliner Final Series

In 1998, Rolls-Royce and Bentley Motors were purchased from Vickers (its owner since 1980) by Volkswagen Group for £430 million, after bidding against BMW. BMW had recently started supplying components for the new range of cars, notably V8 engines for the Bentley Arnage and V12 engines for the Rolls-Royce Silver Seraph. The Rolls-Royce name was not included in VW's purchase; it was instead licensed to BMW (for £40 million) by the Rolls-Royce aero engine company.

BMW and Volkswagen came to an agreement whereby Volkswagen would manufacture both Bentley and Rolls-Royce cars until the end of 2002, whereupon the right to build Rolls-Royce cars would be BMW's alone. During this period, Volkswagen reduced its reliance on BMW as a supplier: as of 2003, BMW engines are no longer used in Bentley cars.

[edit] Modern Bentleys

The current Bentley lineup (L–R): Flying Spur, Continental GT, and Arnage

Queen Elizabeth II's Bentley State Limousine

In 2002, Bentley presented Queen Elizabeth II with an official State Limousine to celebrate the Golden Jubilee. In 2003, Bentley's 2-door convertible, the Bentley Azure, ceased production, and the company introduced the Bentley Continental GT, a large luxury coupe. The car is powered by a version of VW's W-12 engine.

Demand had been so great that the factory at Crewe, Cheshire, was unable to meet orders despite an installed capacity of approximately 9500 vehicles per year. There was a waiting list of over a year for new cars to be delivered. Consequently, production of the new Flying Spur, a four-door version of the Continental GT, was assigned to the Transparent Factory, where the VW Phaeton luxury car is also assembled. This arrangement ceased at the end of 2006, and all car production reverted to the Crewe plant.

In April 2005, Bentley confirmed plans to produce a 4-seat convertible model, the Azure, derived from the Arnage Drophead Coupe prototype, at Crewe beginning in 2006. By the autumn of 2005, the convertible version of the successful Continental GT, the Continental GTC was also presented. These two models were successfully launched in late 2006.

Bentley sales continued to increase and in 2005 were 8,627 sold worldwide, 3,654 of which were sold in the United States. In 2007, with sales of 10,014, the 10,000 cars per year threshold was broken for the first time in the companies history. For 2007 a record profit of €155 million was also announced. ^[2]

The current Board of Management consists of Dr. Franz-Josef Paefgen, Chairman and Chief-Executive, Dr. Ulrich Eichhorn, Engineering, Stuart J. McCullough, Sales & Marketing, Douglas G. Dickson, Manufacturing, Christine A. Gaskell, Personnel and Juergen Hoffmann Finance.

[edit] Current Bentley Racing

In 2001-2003, the Bentley Speed 8 enjoyed a successful racing streak in the Le Mans series.

[edit] Future Cars

Since the successful launch of the Continental GT, GTC and Flying Spur, producing a new halo model to replace the Arnage has become a priority, as against the Rolls-Royce Motor Cars and Maybach rivals the car is dated. A new Arnage would most probably be based on a chassis designed for the next generation Audi A8, due to its versatility. The new car is expected for the 2010 model year, and is said to take styling cues from the coachbuilt Bentley for the British Royal family.^{[citation needed]}

In 2008 and 2009 the Continental GTC and Flying Spur are widely expected to receive the changes already made to the Continental GT, with a new front splitter and chrome headlight surrounds among other changes.

Since Bentley's induction into the VW Group, rumours of an SUV style vehicle have repeatedly surfaced. These have been shot down by Bentley employees on the basis that the idea would not fit into their future plans and also the fact that the manufacturing facilities are already running at full capacity.

Borrowing hybrid technology developed by Bentley owners VW Group is another focal point as the trend towards hybrid cars is expanding year on year.

[edit] References

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f Georgano, N. (2000). Beaulieu Encyclopedia of the Automobile. London: HMSO. ISBN 1-57958-293-1.
^ Garlick. BENTLEY REPORTS RECORD PROFIT. Retrieved on 2008-03-18.

[edit] Further reading

Richard Feast - Kidnap of the Flying Lady: How Germany Captured Both Rolls-Royce and Bentley (Motorbooks, 2003) ISBN 0-7603-1686-4
Andrew Frankel - Bentley - the Story (Redwood Publishing, 2005) ISBN 0-9517751-9-7

[edit] External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to:

Bentley vehicles

v • d • e Volkswagen Group (Volkswagen AG) (VWAG) brands, marques, companies, and subsidiaries

Current Volkswagen Group companies, brands & subsidiaries	Volkswagen (cars) • Audi AG • quattro GmbH • SEAT, S.A. • Škoda Auto • Lamborghini S.p.A. • Bentley Motors Ltd • Bugatti Automobiles S.A.S. • Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles • Scania AB • Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. • Electronics Research Laboratory • Volkswagen do Brasil • Volkswagen Group China

Defunct Volkswagen Group brands	Auto Union (now known as Audi) • Horch • DKW • Wanderer • NSU

key people (former and current)	Heinrich Nordhoff (former Managing Director) → Dr Kurt Lotz (former Chief executive officer) → Dr Rudolf Leiding (former Chief executive officer) → Toni Schmücker (former Chief executive officer) → Dr Carl Hahn (chairman emeritus) → Ferdinand Piëch (Chairman of the Supervisory Board) → Dr Bernd Pischetsrieder (former Chief executive officer) → Prof Dr Martin Winterkorn (current Chairman of the Board of Management)

see also:	list of Volkswagen Group platforms • list of VWAG petrol engines • list of VWAG diesel engines • discontinued petrol engines • discontinued diesel engines • TDI • SDI • Pumpe Düse • FSI • BlueMotion • DSG • ETKA • VAG-COM

Founder: German Auto Association • Volkswagen Group corporate website • Autostadt

v • d • e Bentley ownership and road car timeline, 1920s–present – now a marque of the Volkswagen Group (Volkswagen AG) (VWAG)
Type	1920s		1930s	1940s		1950s		1960s		1970s		1980s		1990s				2000s
Type	Independent		Rolls-Royce														Volkswagen Group

Sports car	3 L	4½ L		WWII
Saloon		6½/Six	4L/3½ 4¼L/V		VI	R	S1/S2/S3		T1		T2	Mulsanne								CFS
Premium		8 L									Camargue						Arnage
Coupé										Corniche			Continental & C Turbo		Continental R/S/T				C GT
Convertible										Corniche			Continental & C Turbo			Azure				C GTC
Founder: Walter Owen Bentley • Bentley Motors corporate website • A marque of the VWAG group • Bentley Boys

v • d • e Bentley automobile timeline, 1980–2003 – now a marque of the Volkswagen Group (Volkswagen AG) (VWAG) – next »
Type	1980s										1990s										2000s
Type	0	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	0	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	0	1	2	3
Saloon					Eight
	Mulsanne								Mulsanne S					Brooklands					Arnage			Arnage RL/R
			Mulsanne Turbo				Turbo R											Turbo RT		Arnage Red Label			Arnage T
Coupé												Continental R
Coupé															Continental S		Continental T
Convertible	Corniche				Continental											Azure

colour code:	Silver Shadow-based								Mulsanne-based								Arnage-based
Founder: Walter Owen Bentley • Bentley Motors corporate website • A marque of the VWAG group • Bentley Boys

v • d • e « previous — Bentley automobile timeline, 1998–present – a marque of the Volkswagen Group (Volkswagen AG) (VWAG)
Type	1990s		2000s
Type	8	9	0	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9
Saloon car	Arnage							Continental Flying Spur
		Red Label			Arnage R/T
				Arnage RL
Coupé	Continental R					Continental GT
Coupé	Continental T										Brooklands Coupé
Convertible										Continental GTC
Convertible	Azure								Azure

colour code:	Mulsanne-based				Arnage-based				Continental GT-based
Founder: Walter Owen Bentley • Bentley Motors corporate website • A marque of the VWAG group • Bentley Boys • Bentley Speed 8