In the 17th and 18th centuries in Britain, among the young scions of aristocratic families, there was a tradition to go on a big tour of Europe in search of useful knowledge and for life experience. After 200 years, this tradition has found its continuation in the name of the Gran Turismo class. Gran Turismo models combine breathtaking performance and comfort, able to cover even the longest distances with ease and make every journey unforgettable.
Combining performance and luxury is Bentley's motto, so it's no surprise that our cars have led the Gran Turismo class for almost a century. From the original Bentley
to the new Continental GT, these cars have become faithful companions of several generations of fans to make modern "grand tours" and continue to be so.
The first Bentley of the Gran Turismo class
Developed by W.O. Bentley in 1919, the year Bentley Motors was founded, the 3 Liter entered
for sale in 1921. The use of metric units in its name hinted at the fact that this car was created for traveling around the world. express roads continental Europe. Innovative design for that time - cylinder head
with diametrically opposed valves, two spark plugs per cylinder and two carburetors - provided the 3 Liter with excellent dynamics, which brought victories in. In 1924, John Duff with Frank Clement took first place, and in 1927 their success was repeated by Dr. Benjafeld "Benji" (Dr 'Benjy' Benjafield) with Sammy Davis (Sammy Davis). Their running characteristics
praised by The Autocar magazine, noting the exceptional "obedience in the traffic flow
and extraordinary speed potential on the roads common use". The tradition of Gran Turismo has become the style of Bentley.
Power without effort
1926 Bentley 6 ½ Liter
from six cylinder engine intended
to accommodate the heavier sedan bodies favored by some customers. But this car, called Speed Six, equipped with a 200-horsepower engine, showed an easy and smooth acceleration, which became a new benchmark for car dynamics, thanks to which Sir Tim Birkin () won the Le Mans race in 1929. In 1930, Barnato and Glen Kidston took first place, and Frank Clement with Dick Watney came second. installed a mesh grille on the front of his first cars to protect against stones. Its features can still be traced in the design of the car radiator grille to this day.
Bentley 8 Liter
In 1930, Bentley created the 8 Litre, so powerful that the company claimed it could reach speeds in excess of 160 km/h, regardless of the type of body chosen by the customer. W.O. considered this car his best creation, and many agreed with him. Capt. W. Gordon Aston
in his review of the Bentley 8 Liter for The Tatler magazine noted: “Never in my life have I seen a car that
which combines such incredible dynamics with such a smooth and quiet ride. This combination of speed and silence made traveling even more enjoyable.
Unfortunately, the release of the model was stopped due to
with the crash on Wall Street and the Great Depression that followed. They managed to release only 100 copies of this unique car. .
In honor of the 8 Liter model created by W.O., a limited edition Mulsanne models. .
Bentley Derby
Due to financial difficulties Bentley was sold in 1931 to former competitor Rolls-Royce and production moved to Derby. The Bentley Derby was the first car produced here, first in 3 ½ Liter and later in 4 ¼ Liter. Six-cylinder engine worked smoothly and quietly, developing a power of about 120 hp. With. - Very impressive feature power for that time. Under the new owner, the quality of the cars remained the highest: they were stylish, refined, with elegant proportions, fast and easy to drive.
Bentley Embiricos
In 1938, wealthy Greek racing driver André Embiricos, living in Paris, ordered a Bentley 4 ½ Liter with a streamlined, aerodynamic body made of duralumin, a lightweight aluminum alloy. This car had the ideal qualities for a Gran Turismo model: it developed an unusually high top speed (it kept the speed of 183.4 km / h for more than an hour on the Brooklands track) and at the same time it was quite suitable for traveling on public roads. Bentley was so inspired by this piece that he decided to use these advantages in the coming years to create cars for the general public.
R-Type Continental
Bentley Embiricos inspired Bentley to experiment
with a streamlined silhouette, which he was able to implement after the Second World War. So in 1952, the famous R-Type Continental line was born. Thanks to a squat, elongated and graceful body, a smoothly descending roofline and "fins"
on the hind wings, which increased stability, he could develop a cruising speed never seen before
160 km / h, when there were four people in the cabin. At that time, there were no motorways in Britain, and the real sensations of long-distance travel could only be obtained in continental Europe, which is why the model was called the Continental. The Autocar magazine described the R-Type as "a modern flying carpet that travels long distances without causing fatigue during the ride." It was the best accolade for a Gran Turismo car. Its revolutionary design, including its expressive power line, is still reflected in Bentley's Gran Turismo models to this day.
Intuition and diligence of the founder of Bentley in the history of the brand
company Bentley Motors can be safely called one of the most expensive, luxury and sophisticated English car brands, and this is fully the merit of its creator.
How it all began
Walter Owen Bentley, who became the founder of the legendary Bentley company, was born in large family. Since childhood, he has been passionate about technology. Subsequently, contemporaries noted that Walter always intuitively felt how this or that would behave in practice. engineering solution. But you won’t become a mechanic on intuitive instinct alone, and therefore sixteen-year-old Bentley enters Doncaster as an assistant at the locomotive factory, and then at King’s College London, where he studies engineering theory.
Walter retained his fanatical passion for locomotives and railways for life, but thanks to another hobby of a talented young man - motorcycles, Walter, together with his brother Horace, begins to take part in races and rallies. Realizing that the auto business is the perfect combination technical component, career and profit, the Bentley brothers acquire a license to sell French DPF cars and open Bentley & Bentley in London. Walter came up with a great marketing ploy for their cars - if a car wins in a rally, it sells well in the future.
In 2012, in a ten lap competition, a Bentley 2-litre DPF set a speed record of 66.8 mph for a car with the same engine size. A year later, thanks to the use of light metals to create pistons for aircraft engines of his own design, Walter broke his last year's record, accelerating to 82 miles per hour. After that, the name Bentley was talked about in all circles of English industrialists. The light-alloy pistons invented by Bentley revolutionized not only the automotive industry, but mostly the aircraft industry. Aviation brought Walter not only a reputation, but also money to develop new projects.
Beginnings of Bentley Motors
In 1918, Bentley decides to start producing own cars, which will be not just fast, but perfect. To do this, he creates the company Bentley Motors, which already in 1919 releases its legendary first-born - Bentley 3L. A 4-cylinder unit was installed under the hood of the car, developing a power of 65 “horses”. Each cylinder was equipped with four valves and two candles. The camshaft was at the top, and the cylinders were located along different sides. The company did not independently produce the bodies of its cars, preferring to order them in a body shop.
In the autumn of 1919, the novelty debuted at an auto show in London, and the car went on sale only two years later. It is noteworthy that the Bentley 3L offered an unprecedented five-year warranty period for those times. It cannot be said that the novelty was very popular, because between the Bentley 3L and the ordinary motorist there was an extremely high, albeit justified, price. Bentley Motors produced this model with almost no modifications until 1929. Also, several other models with the letter “B” hovering above the grille were added to the 3-liter Bentley. The novelties were even more expensive and still with ascetic interiors.
In 1925, the Bentley Big Six came out, which was very similar in appearance to the "firstborn" of the company. The car was equipped with a six-cylinder 147-horsepower engine with a volume of 6.597 liters. In 1927, the developers equipped the Bentley 3L with a 4.5-liter unit, which made the models one of the fastest and most powerful cars at that time.
Difficulties and successes in the history of Bentley Motors
It should be noted that Walter Bentley did not care at all about the design of his models. His task was to create strong cars, which will be the winners of the races, and therefore the emphasis was on the technical component. Winning car races provided good publicity and attracted customers, but, nevertheless, big sales the company did not have. By 1931, Bentley Motors produced a little more than 3 thousand cars, of which the Benltey 3L model occupied a large share. The company teetered on the brink between profit and loss, and in the early 30s, "dark times" came for the company.
The crisis overtook Bentley after the failed production of the expensive Bentley 8L model. In the face of fierce competition and declining demand for expensive cars, Bentley cars have become uninteresting even to regular customers.
The weakened company was taken over by a powerful concern in 1931 Rolls Royce. After that, the brand began to slowly increase its production capacity. With Walter Bentley signed a contract for 4 years, after which he still left the company. Since that time, the history of the brand has taken a different path. Rolls-Royce executives have made the decision to no longer participate in auto racing, but at the same time retain the sports component of the Bentley brand. For these purposes, Bentley models began to be positioned as cars for wealthy motorists who do not need a personal driver.
Under the control of Rolls Royce, the first Bentley 3.5L model was released, which gave rise to the SS Cars lineup, which means “quiet, sports car”. The novelty was equipped with a 3.699-liter 6-cylinder engine, which allowed the car to accelerate to 150 km / h. A similar model called the Bentley 4.5L began to be produced in 1936.
But in the future, Bentley Motors went into the shadow of its owner, and although the auto companies found admirers around the world, they, in fact, were “cloned” Rolls-Royce models, albeit with sports performance, as well as for more affordable price. Bentleys have become cars for those who want to drive fast but comfortably.
1965 was marked by the appearance brand Bentley T, which gave rise to the creation of cars with turbocharged engines. For the next decade and a half, the company under the new trademark produces sedans from the Turbo R and Mulsanne series.
In 1980, Rolls-Royce Motors Ltd was acquired by Vikers, after which Bentley was slowly reborn. Since that time, the modern model range of the company begins to form.
The subsequent history of the brand is rich in significant events and significant models. In 1998 volkswagen and BMW signed an agreement on the “sharing of the legacy” of Rolls-Royce, as a result, from the end of 2012, the German automobile concern Volkswagen, which still owns the brainchild of Walter Bentley. At that time, many doubted the result of this agreement, which was successful for the Bentley brand, but today all doubts have been dispelled. Bentley has taken a strong position in the elite segment of premium cars and despite the far from the most favorable trends in this niche, the company's sales continue to grow steadily. Sometimes it seems that Walter Owen Bentley invisibly protects the Bentley brand from various market troubles and attracts new fans to it.
Childhood and youth…
Walter Bentley was born in 1888 in London. The father of a large family was a wealthy businessman. Walter from childhood was fond of various gears and mechanisms, he felt his calling to be an engineer. Thanks to the good financial condition of his father, all the children in the family received a good education, so Walter was sent to study engineering at Clifton College in Bristol. Upon receiving a primary technical education at the age of 16, Walter Bentley got a job as an assistant mechanic on a railroad in Yorkshire. However, he does not stop improving his qualifications, in parallel with his work, Walter attends classes at the Royal College.
Walter Bentley had excellent intuition and always foresaw the most optimal technical solution in a given issue.
The end of the 19th century took place with a stormy interest in the development of new types of engines. internal combustion. As a child, Walter was bought a bicycle, and later he bought his first motorcycle. Almost all of his free time, he spent in the garage with his vehicle. He was preparing for his first races. Competitions were quite successful for Bentley, the debut in the London-Edinburgh race brought him his first gold medal.
It was with the Rex motorcycle that Walter began his first acquaintance with the world of internal combustion engines.
It was then that he began to master the Brooklands race track on his motorcycle, which, by the way, had a power of only 5 Horse power. It's hard to say what brought Walter more pleasure - the sweetness of victories or the work of modernizing his motorcycles. It is also very pleasant to see the superiority of your technical thought over competitors. Over time, the music of internal combustion engines begins to displace the sounds of more familiar sounds from steam engines locomotives.
Soon, in the summer of 1910, Walter Bentley's work on the railway as an assistant mechanic ends, but he is not going to continue his career here, although with all the knowledge gained, it would not be difficult for him to become the chief engineer of the railway depot. However, this was not interesting to young Walter, at 22 he was only interested in engines. Only now, automobile, and not motorcycle, after all, Walter grew out of the age when he likes motorcycles.
It was also expected that Walter would buy a car for himself. Bentley preferred the "Sizaire-Naudin" brand.
Choice of life path.
"Having finished with steam locomotives", Walter got a job at the National Motor Cab Company taxi company, where an entire maintenance and repair division was transferred under his leadership. official cars. It was then that he gets his first car - Riley V Twin, which is designed for two people. But which he very soon changes to the French Sizaire-Naudin with one cylinder, which he took very good care of and was kind to him. Eventually, Walter Bentley decides to start his own car company.
The photo shows a DFP - sport car from France, Bentley improved his engine by replacing the cast iron pistons with aluminum-copper alloy pistons.
First successes.
In 1912, Walter and his brother Horace unite and buy a small company with the family's savings. The company was engaged in importing French DFP brand sports cars. The company was named simply, but logically - Bentley & Bentley. But Walter was not interested in business at all, he was mainly engaged in design activities, improving the engines of cars sold. In his opinion, they were too slow.
In order to improve engine performance, Bentley decided to replace the cast iron pistons with aluminum-copper alloy pistons. Has also been reworked camshaft, now it was more suitable for installation on sports cars. These innovations were applied in the world for the first time and immediately showed their importance and superiority over other solutions. Thanks to these innovations, cars have significantly lost weight, managed to set a record, for this class, speed - 145 km / h. No wonder that car brand DFP has managed to win a wide variety of awards and titles. Walter Bentley managed to agree on the introduction of his solutions into mass production, however, due to the outbreak of the First World War, the plans could not be realized.
First World War served as a kind of career ladder for Walter Bentley. His innovations are actively used to lighten the engines of Sopwith Camel aircraft.
War is like a career ladder.
During the war, Bentley served as a captain in the Royal Navy. Walter Bentley brought his advances in technology to the military industrial complex. Walter improved the Anglo-French Clerger aircraft engines installed on the famous Sopwith Snipe and Sopwith Camel fighters. For this impressive contribution to the development of military affairs, Walter was financially encouraged, and the engines were named after him.
For his services in the First World War, Walter Bentley was awarded the Order of the British Empire, as well as encouraged by 8,000 pounds sterling. The allied forces won a victory largely due to the innovations of the designer.
At the end of the war, Bentley returns to his company and, together with his brother, continues his car resale business. But soon he gets bored with it, remembering military successes, he wants more. And so, in the summer of 1919, when Bentley was almost 31 years old, he opens new company- Bentley Motors Ltd, which still exists today. In his company, Bentley immediately invites acquaintances from the war - highly qualified engineers. And together they begin work on a new car.
Bentley along with his military engineer friends. In 1919, it was they who had the opportunity to found Bentley Motors Ltd.
Opening your own company.
Thanks to the experience in designing engines that Bentley received in the war, the first car produced by Bentley Motors attracted the attention of the public. The engine was especially striking. The "heart" of the car was a four-cylinder, with four valves and two spark plugs per cylinder. Power was 70 hp. with a working volume of 4 liters. The car easily accelerated to 130 km / h. Without exaggeration, we can say that this model became a highlight at the London Exhibition of 1919.
Bentley named his car in a special way - Bentley 3L, it is he who is shown in the photographs.
The first Bentley model differed from other cars even in its name. The power marking, familiar for that time, was replaced by Bentley with engine size. And all due to the fact that the engine power at that time was calculated according to special tables in which it was possible to find the parameters of all produced engines. Due to the huge number of innovations that Bentley embodied in his first car, she clearly did not fit this table. In tabular recalculation, the power of the model was only 16 hp. So, mentioning its power in hp in the name of the car. it would be a very stupid thing to do. That's why the first Bentley was called the 3L. Strange, but such a system of expressing power is still used today.
Bentley 3L was produced in three versions, each with its own color. The main model was of blue color, speed model- red, and sports - green.
Although the 3L model was introduced in 1919, it was launched into production only a couple of years later. During this time, Walter fixed problems and spent various tests samples. The first car was sold in 1921 for £1,150. It is worth saying that Bentley focused on the rich and wealthy people and was engaged in the production of only sports cars, not at all puzzled by their appearance.
Bentley bodies were indirectly interested, he had previously considered their reliability and simplicity, and in this regard he had several partners - bodywork studios. Among the colors, blue, red and green prevailed. Despite the uncouth body shapes, the cars turned out to be very reliable. So reliable that they were given a guarantee for five years, none of the competitors could offer anything like that. To finally dispel doubts about their cars, Bentley presents their cars in racing competitions.
The Bentley 3L didn't let Walter down. In the 1920s, the car won four times on the incredibly confusing 24 Hours of Le Mans race track. He also showed himself excellently at the competitions held at the Brooklands and Indianapolis circuits. Bentley loved speed, and produced exclusively expensive and racing cars, not realizing that market trends could change dramatically and demand for his products would disappear. However, while Bentley managed to win prizes in competitions, he confirmed his impeccable reputation. There was definitely no end to buyers. It is noteworthy that most of the buyers personally took part in the races, for which they were nicknamed the "Bentley Boys".
By the mid-1920s, Bentley Motors had successfully sold over seven hundred vehicles.
This car was designed at the request of Wolfe Barnato, but even with a powerful turbocharged engine, it did not gain popularity.
All difficulties are on our shoulders.
Time passed, and Bentley began the first financial difficulties. By taking out a £200,000 loan to build a car factory, Walter put himself in a difficult position because he simply couldn't pay it back. Fortunately, in 1924, Wolfe Barnato, a multimillionaire, heir to gold and diamond mines in Africa, comes to his aid. You can consider him an official sponsor from the 20s to the 30s of the 20th century. Wolfe Barnato was very fond of Bentley cars, participated in all races and was a central figure in the Bentley Boys.
The photo shows Wulf Barnato sitting in the passenger seat. Sponsored by Bentley Motors for over a decade.
The collapse of the car company.
It is impossible to be at the pinnacle of glory so for a long time, especially with such conservative design views as Bentley. Its competitors have long introduced turbocharged engines into their models, but Bentley was very skeptical about them. He believed that the power of the engine can be increased only due to its volume. The compressors that Bentley loved so much are outdated and have long ceased to be reliable.
Bentley cars earned their excellent reputation exclusively by victories in prestigious competitions.
Because of what, since 1925, car row Bentley Motors Ltd is replenished with 4L, 6L and 8L models (4.5 liters, 6.5 liters and 8 liters, respectively). Bentley 8l was the most luxury car of that time, gave out 225 hp. and was produced in various body variations. This is the latest model of the still independent Bentley Motors. As a sponsor, Barnato demanded a supercharged engine, which he subsequently received.
But something happened that Walter feared so much. The car managed to set a lap speed record of 218 km / h, but left the track due to a breakdown.
The Bentley 4l and Bentley 6l models introduced by Walter in the mid-twenties.
In addition to the failure at the races, the Great Depression of the 1930s also awaited Bentley Motors. Wolf Barnato quickly relinquished his sponsorship rights and sold the company. Indeed, who will buy cars for 2000 pounds only for the chassis when the country is in crisis. The company lost even regular customers.
In the most difficult year for the company, the most expensive and illogical car for that time was presented - Bentley 8l with an 8-liter engine and 225 hp.
Job change.
Bentley Motors was taken over by Henry Royce, who immediately closed the "racing" department, effectively leaving Walter Bentley without a job. Attempts to negotiate were unsuccessful, and without hesitation, Bentley announced his resignation.
Later, Bentley realized himself in another company - Lagonda, which also took part in the races. Thanks to its design ideas, the company began to win prizes. He then moved to the Armstrong Siddeley engineering group, where he also worked on engine design.
Old age among loved ones.
Already at retirement age, Walter Bentley opened a racing club in honor of himself, where he was treated with great respect and honor.
Bentley died in the arms of his third wife, Margaret, in 1971...
Bentley Walter Owen- Outstanding English designer and entrepreneur.
Walter Owen Bentley was famous before he built his famous cars. He began his career as a representative in England of the little-known French firm DFP (DFP). Bentley was first talked about when he began to create aluminum pistons, and then star-shaped aircraft engines.
In 1912, Walter Bentley acquired Dorion Frandrin et Parant - DFP, which had a license to import cars into the UK.
In 1914, he put aluminum alloy pistons on an automobile engine, which was very successful. technical solution. This was proven by victories in the races in Brookland, and then in the Aston Clinton hill climb competition.
During the First World War, Bentley served in the naval aviation, where he was engaged in the creation and modernization of aircraft engines. Thanks to this, his name became famous.
After the end of the war in 1918, he returned to cars.
Bentley designed the first car with a 4-cylinder and 3-liter engine together with colleagues F. T. Burgess and Henry Varley, and in August 1919 he founded car company his own name - Bentley.
In the autumn of 1919, the car was already presented at the London Motor Show. He did not call for large laurels, although nothing bad was said about him. Perhaps because of the focus on the aristocratic class, which was chosen and looked at for a long time, it took time to establish production - only in 1921 the car began to be mass-produced.
Walter Bentley initially chose the strategy of targeting the wealthy, wealthy class. He was guided by this guideline when creating the first car: a 3-liter engine + 5-year warranty, which was given when buying a car, immediately attracted the attention of rich people.
Bentley never paid special attention appearance cars, here he was somewhat similar to Henry Martin Leland, the founder of the Lincoln company. Both of them were techies and above all cared about technical specifications cars, but no one really remembered about the design. But if in the case of Leland this shortcoming at one time almost ruined him, then with Bentley everything went better. Yes, he did not pay much attention to the image, but it always somehow turned out to be quite worthy by itself.
At the beginning of his journey, Bentley considered one of important appointments their cars - participation in various car races. Many Bentley cars were created to order, the 4.5L car deserves special attention - a 4.5-liter engine, a rotary supercharger in front of the radiator gave the car a number of advantages. It was developed for Mr. G. Birkin - the car was one of the leaders among racing cars and later brought the company not a little fame.
Development of Bentley from 1920 to 1940s.
Since 1920, Bentley 6.5L cars have been produced. Immediately after the release, a sporty version of this model appeared - 6.5L Speed six. Which within 3 years won races in Le Mans and Brookland 5 times.
In 1930, the production of the Bentley 8L began, which became the company's most expensive car.
In the 1930s, Bentley became part of the established Rolls-Royce brand. In formal terms, this is a loss of independence, but in fact this did not negatively affect either the prestige or the quality of the cars produced further. Now Bentley was called SS Cars - silent sport cars (silent sports cars).
The merger worked out well and Bentley became the leader among high-end British cars.
In 1933, the first joint Bentley Rolls-Royce car appeared - it was a 3.5L model. Three years later, in 1936, the production of the 4.5L model begins, which was designed on the basis of the Rolls-Royce 20/25hp and 25/30hp. In the 30s, Bentley had a crisis of ideas - the company released 7 models, but they all differed little in design and design.
Bentley production moved smoothly to the Rolls-Royce plant in Crewe. Almost immediately after the end of the 2nd World War, the production of the Mark-VI model was launched - it was the first car completely created under the auspices of Rolls-Royce. The Mark 6 was developed from the Rolls-Royce Silver Wraith.
The history of Bentley from 1940 to the 1980s.
Since 1955, all new models have become clones of Rolls-Royce cars, in fact, the consumer received old product with new label.
The difference between the cars was in the idea. Rolls-Royce idea: a car for a rich man who drives back seat, and his personal driver sits behind the wheel. Bentley created a car for those who will sit behind the wheel. From here, by the way, come some ergonomic differences between cars, since the designers understood that a wealthy and demanding person who loves speed is driving in a Bentley, and an ordinary worker in a Rolls-Royce.
1952 - Bentley develops a sports two-door car, the model was named - Continental. At that time, the car was considered the fastest of those that were in mass production.
In 1955, another clone was released - the “developed” Bentley S1 was a complete copy Rolls-Royce Silver Wraith.
In 1963, the production of the S3 model began, and 2 years later, the Bentley T.
The 70s were marked by technical progress- the production of Mulsanne Turbo and Turbo R began - these were turbocharged models that came out under the brand name Bentley. Many consider the Bentley Mulsanne Turbo to be one of the best sedans in a world that surpasses even the leading Mercedes models in this class.
Bentley (Bentley) in the period from 1980 to 2000.
In 1980, the year of Maslane's presentation. in 1982, a modification of this model came out with a 300 hp engine. turbocharged. In 1984, a simplified model of this car was released - eight. Further, the “90 project” was developed, according to which new models were created, they all differed in some way from the Rolls-Royce, but only the Continental could be called a truly unique car - this model has no analogues.
Continental is an expensive car, like all Bentleys in principle. This is a sports car with coupe-type body models, aimed specifically at millionaires who love both speed and comfort and want to get both. Those. They don't need a Ferrari, but a Bentley is just right.
One of latest models Bentley - Azure and Arnage - have their own distinctive features, even though the latter was based on the Rolls-Royce Silver Seraph.
Model release Bentley Continental-Azure started in 1991. In 1996, the production of Bentley Azure began.
In 1997, the Bentley turbo rt model debuted, and in 1998, Bentley Motors fluttered out from under the wing of Rolls-Royce, though it did not provide itself with full independence, because. immediately fell under the wing of Volkswagen.
In April 1998, at the Turin Motor Show, the premiere of the Arnage model, equipped with an 8-cylinder BMW engine with 2 Garrett turbochargers, took place. Bentley Arnage has 2nd basic modifications: Red label with a powerful 400 hp engine. and its less sporty brother, the Green label, with a 354 hp engine. Both versions of this luxury sedan are equipped with 2 airbags, traction-control, abs, as well as a security system that, in the event of an accident, shuts off the fuel supply, unlocks the doors and separates steering column. That is, the developers have not forgotten about security.
In 2000, the Bentley Azure cabriolet premiered at the Birmingham Motor Show.
Bentley in the 21st century.
In 2001, the Bentley ex speed 8 was presented at the Detroit Auto Show.
In 2006, production of the new Bentley Continental GTC convertible started.
Later, in 2008, a new gtc model line was released. Model Bentley Continental GTC Speed has become the most powerful Bentley convertible - these cars are equipped with a 600-horsepower engine and perfectly combine comfort and speed.
In April 2008, the Bentley developers announced a new generation of the Arnage model. These cars are planned to be brought to the market in 2010, at least not earlier, according to the company's management. It is planned that the car will be produced with a new diesel engine, it will also be possible to produce a modification with a turbocharged engine (version "T"). So far it has only been named estimated cost new generation car Bentley Arnage - 180 thousand euros.
In 2009, Bentley released a unique car Zagato GTZ, which was previously shown on Geneva Motor Show. The Continental gt speed was taken as the basis, but in comparison with it, the car became lower, but wider, which added stability and “tenacity”, the interior was supplemented with expensive leather interior and other luxury items. The motor in the car was left old, its power is 600 hp.
The car was planned to be released in limited quantities - only 10 pieces. But even with such a circulation and such popularity of Bentley, the price of 1 million 300 thousand euros seems prohibitive.
Later - in February, Bentley introduced the new Bentley Continental Supersports - a two-seater sports car with a 5-liter w12 engine, which "contains" 621 "horses". Max Speed car 329 km / h, the minimum acceleration time to 100 km / h is 3.9 seconds.
interesting point The technical “stuffing” of the car is the ability of the car to run on both gasoline and E85 biofuel. In Europe, the car will not be available until the fall of 2009, provided that the global economic crisis does not postpone these plans.
Today, Bentley almost manually assembles 5 models on a Rolls-Royce chassis with a V8 engine with a displacement of 6750 cm3 turbocharged and 4-speed automatic transmission American made gear.
Bentley Walter Owen (1888-1971), English automobile pioneer.
He was born on September 16, 1888 in London in a family where, besides him, there were 8 more people. He began his career on the railroad. At the beginning he worked as an apprentice in the depot of the Great North British railway, then as a stoker on the Atlantic steam locomotive, but soon became interested in racing motorcycles, and then started selling french cars in London.
After graduating from Clifton College, Walter qualified as an engineer and participated in the design aircraft engines. But his passion was cars, and more specifically racing. He even participated in several of these car races. It was probably at this time that he decided to create a car with good driving performance and at the same time combining the reliability and durability of expensive cars.
He improved his racing car. In 1914, he installed aluminum alloy pistons on an automobile engine, which turned out to be a very successful technical solution. This was proven by victories in the races in Brookland, and then in the Aston Clinton hill climb competition.
During the First World War, Bentley served in the naval aviation, where he was engaged in the development and modernization of aircraft engines. He applied his invention on the use of pistons made of aluminum alloys in the construction of aircraft engines. This gave fame and material well-being.
But he dreamed of cars. In 1918, Bentley returned to cars, and in August of the following year he established the Bentley Motor Company with a car manufacturing plant in Cricklewood.
His first car, developed jointly with F. Barges and Henry Varley, debuted at the London Motor Show in 1919 under the symbol "3L". She had four-cylinder engine volume of 3 liters and immediately became a "hit" automotive industry. Bentley gave this car an unprecedented 5-year warranty for those times. Sales of motor vehicles increased, and Bentley was already producing eight cars a week.
All Bentley cars were different high quality, comfort, reliability and competed on equal terms with the famous Rolls-Royce.
But the strongest passion in the life of Walter Bentley still remained car racing. His cars, starting in 1923, regularly participated in auto competitions. In the same 1923, in the French city of Le Mans, during the 24-hour competition, the Bentley car was fourth. A year later, Bentley was already the first. After 1927, an uninterrupted series of victories followed, until 1930. Bentley cars with a winged "B" on the radiator seemed to be invincible. But the economic crisis hit. Despite the great popularity of its models, the company found itself in a difficult financial situation.
The industrial crisis forced him to declare the bankruptcy of the company in 1931. In addition to the plant, Bentley lost all his property, including his Bentley car. The debts were paid by the Rolls-Royce company, which also hired the former designer of the Bentley company as a demonstrator of new models.
In 1935, Bentley moved to the Lagonda company, where he designed a powerful car with a twelve-cylinder Lagonda Bentley engine, which became one of the most outstanding cars 30s. Bentley died on August 3, 1971.
