Bentley

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

For other uses, see Bentley (disambiguation).

Bentley Motors Limited

Type

Subsidiary

Industry

Engineering

Manufacturing

Distribution

Fate
Acquired by Rolls-Royce Limited (1931)

Acquired by Volkswagen Group (1998)

[1]

Predecessor

Rolls-Royce Motors

Founded

18 January 1919

Founder
H. M. Bentley

W. O. Bentley

Headquarters

Crewe, England, United Kingdom [2]

Area served

Worldwide

Key people
Wolfgang Drheimer (Chairman, CEO)[3]

Woolf Barnato (Chairman 19221929)

Products
Continental Flying Spur

Continental GT

Mulsanne
[4]

Production output
9,107 vehicles (2012)

7,593 vehicles (2011)

[5][6]

Services

Automobile customisation

Revenue
1,453 million (2012)

1,119 million (2011)

[5]

Profit
8 million (2011)

-245 million (2010)

[7]

Number of employees

3,600 (2013)[8]

Parent

Volkswagen Group [9]

Website

bentleymotors.com

Footnotes / references
[10][11]

Bentley's winged "B" badge and bonnet (hood) ornament

Bentley Motors Limited (/bntli/) is a British luxury automaker, and a wholly owned subsidiary of
the German companyVolkswagen AG. Its principal activity is the design, engineering, manufacture,
and distribution of luxury automobiles sold under the Bentley marque. Based in Crewe, England,
Bentley Motors Limited was founded by W. O. Bentley on 18 January 1919 in Cricklewood near
London and was acquired by Rolls-Royce in 1931.
[12]

Bentley Motors Limited is the direct successor of Rolls-Royce Motors, which Volkswagen AG
purchased in 1998. The purchase included the vehicle designs, model nameplates, production and
administrative facilities, the Spirit of Ecstasy and Rolls-Royce grille shape trademarks, but not the
rights to the use of the Rolls-Royce name or logo, which are owned by Rolls-Royce Holdings plc and
were later licensed to BMW AG.
Bentley vehicles are sold via franchised dealers worldwide, and as of November 2012, China was
the largest individual market for Bentley automobiles. Most Bentley cars are assembled at the
company's plant in Crewe, with a small number of Continental Flying Spurs assembled at
the Transparent Factory in Dresden, Germany. Automobile bodies for the Continental model line
are produced in Zwickau, Germany. Bentley cars are largely hand-built.
[13]

[14]

Bentley cars won the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1924, 1927, 1928, 1929, 1930 and 2003. The current
Bentley production models are the Continental Flying Spur, Continental GT and Mulsanne. Notable
former Bentley production models include the Bentley 4 Litre,Bentley Speed Six, Bentley R
Type Continental, Bentley Turbo R and Bentley Arnage.
Contents
[hide]

1 Cricklewood

1.1 First major event 1922 Indianapolis 500

1.2 Barnato becomes chairman

1.3 The Bentley Boys

1.4 Car models, Cricklewood

1.5 Performance at Le Mans

1.5.1 24 hours of Le Mans Grand Prix d'Endurance

1.6 Receivership, Sale to Rolls-Royce

2 Rolls-Royce ownership Derby

2.1 Car models, Derby

3 Crewe

3.1 Post-war standard-steel saloons

3.2 Bentley Continental

3.3 Car models, Crewe

4 Vickers

4.1 Car models, Crewe Vickers

5 Volkswagen

5.1 Volkswagen AG vs. BMW AG

5.2 Car models, Crewe VW & BMW

5.3 Modern Bentleys

5.3.1 Deliveries, profits and staff

5.3.2 Production

5.4 Car models, Crewe Volkswagen

5.5 Motorsport

6 See also

7 References

8 Bibliography

9 External links

Cricklewood
Before World War I in Cricklewood near London, Walter Owen Bentley had been in partnership with
his brother Horace Millner Bentley selling French DFP cars, but he had always wanted to design and
build his own range of cars bearing his name. It was on a visit to the DFP factory in 1913 that W.O.
noticed an aluminium paperweight, and had the inspired idea of using the lightweight metal instead
of cast iron to make engine pistons. The first Bentley aluminium pistons went into service in aero
engines for the Sopwith Camel during World War I. In August 1919, Bentley Motors Ltd. was

registered, and a chassis with dummy engine was exhibited at the London Motor Show in October of
that year. An innovative 4 valves per cylinder engine designed by exRoyal Flying
Corps officer Clive Gallop was built and running by December, and orders were taken for deliveries
starting in June 1920; however, development took longer than estimated, and the first cars were not
ready until September 1921. Their durability earned widespread acclaim. Appearances were made
in hill climbs and at Brooklands.
[15]

[15]

[citation needed]

First major event 1922 Indianapolis 500

Bentley entered the 1922 Indianapolis 500 mile race as their "first major event", sending one car with
works driver Douglas Hawkes and riding mechanic H. S. "Bertie" Browning. In a race dominated by
specialized cars with Duesenberg racing chassis, Hawkes completed the full 500 miles in a modified
road car, finishing 13th with an average speed of 74.95 mph after starting in 19th position. The
team was then rushed back to England to compete in the 1922 RAC Tourist Trophy.
[16]

[17]

[16][18]

Barnato becomes chairman

Woolf Barnato acquired his first Bentley (a 3-litre) in 1925, just 12 months before he also acquired
the business itself. With this car he won numerous Brooklands races. He was a member of a social
set of wealthy British motorists known as the "Bentley Boys" who favoured the cars of W. O. Bentley.
Many were independently wealthy, often with a background in military service. Barnato
was nicknamed "Babe", in ironic deference to his heavyweight boxer's stature.
The Bentley enterprise was always underfunded, but inspired by the 1924 Le Mans win by John
Duff and Frank Clement, Barnato agreed to finance Bentley's business. Barnato had
incorporated Baromans Ltd in 1922, which existed as his finance and investment vehicle. Via
Baromans, Barnato initially invested in excess of 100,000, saving the business and its workforce. A
financial reorganisation of the original Bentley company was carried out and all existing creditors
paid off for 75,000. Existing shares were devalued from 1 each to just 1 shilling, or 5% or their
original value. Barnato held 149,500 of the new shares giving him control of the company and he
became chairman. Barnato injected further cash into the business: 35,000 secured by debenture in
July 1927; 40,000 in 1928; 25,000 in 1929. With renewed financial input, W. O. Bentley was able
to design another generation of cars.

The Bentley Boys

Main articles: Bentley Boys and Blue Train Races

1929 4 litre "Blower" Bentley

developed in Welwyn Garden City by "Tim" Birkin and pushed over W.O. to market before it was reliable

A group of wealthy British motorists known as the "Bentley Boys"Woolf Barnato, Sir Henry "Tim"
Birkin, steeplechaser George Duller,aviator Glen Kidston, automotive journalist S.C.H. "Sammy"
Davis, and Dr Dudley Benjafield among themkept the marque's reputation for high performance
alive. Bentley, located at Cricklewood, north London, was noted for its four consecutive victories at
the 24 Hours of Le Mans from 1927 to 1930.

In 1929, Birkin had developed the lightweight Blower Bentley, including five racing specials that
started with the Brooklands racing designedBentley Blower No.1.
In March 1930, during the Blue Train Races, Woolf Barnato raised the stakes on Rover and its Rover
Light Six, having raced and beatenLe Train Bleu for the first time, to better that record with his 6litre Bentley Speed Six on a bet of 100. He drove against the train fromCannes to Calais, then by
ferry to Dover, and finally London, travelling on public highways, and won.
Barnato drove his H.J. Mullinerbodied formal saloon in the race against the Blue Train. Two months
later, on 21 May 1930, he took delivery of a Speed Six with streamlined fastback "Sportsman Coup"
by Gurney Nutting. Both cars became known as the "Blue Train Bentleys"; the latter is regularly
mistaken for, or erroneously referred to as being, the car that raced the Blue Train, while in fact
Barnato named it in memory of his race. A painting by Terence Cuneo depicts the Gurney Nutting
coup racing along a road parallel to the Blue Train, which scenario never occurred as the road and
railway did not follow the same route.
[19][20]

Car models, Cricklewood

Bentley 8 Litre 4-door sports saloon

192129 3-litre

192630 4-litre & "Blower Bentley"

192630 6-litre

192830 6-litre Speed Six

193031 8-litre

1931 4-litre

The original model was the 3-litre, but as customers put heavier bodies on the chassis, a larger 4litre model followed. Perhaps the most iconic model of the period is the 4-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 6-litre was, though in 1930 Birkin
remarkably finished second in the French Grand Prix at Pau in a stripped-down racing version of the
"Blower Bentley", behind Philippe Etancelin in a Bugatti Type 35.
The 4-litre model later became famous in popular media as the vehicle of choice of James Bond in
the original novels, but this has been seen only briefly in the films. John Steedin the television
series The Avengers also drove a Bentley.

The new 8-litre was such a success that when Barnato's money seemed to run out in 1931 and
Napier was planning to buy Bentley's business, Rolls-Royce purchased Bentley Motors to prevent it
competing with their most expensive model, Phantom II.

Performance at Le Mans

Bentley Speed Six

24 hours of Le Mans Grand Prix d'Endurance

1923 4th (private entry) (3-Litre)

1924 1st (3-Litre)

1925 did not finish

1926 did not finish

1927 1st 15th 17th (3-Litre)

1928 1st 5th (4-litre)

1929 1st (Speed Six); 2nd 3rd 4th: (4-litre)

1930 1st 2nd (Speed Six)

Bentley withdrew from motor racing just after winning at Le Mans in 1930, claiming that they had
learned enough about speed and reliability.
[21]

Receivership, Sale to Rolls-Royce

The Wall Street Crash of 1929 affected the Bentley business greatly, with the Great
Depression reducing demand for its expensive products. In July 1931, two mortgage payments on
the firm that were guaranteed by Barnato fell due, and he advised the lenders that he was "unable to
meet these debts". On 10 July, on the application of the mortgagee, the court appointed
a Receiver to Bentley Motors Limited.
[22]

The Press Association understands that Messrs Napier and Son, aero-engine builders, have reached an agreement to take over Bentley Motors Limited which is in
voluntary liquidation. It is expected that the matter will come before the Court within the next few days.
Press Association, "Napier To Absorb Bentley Motors", The Times, Saturday, Oct 24, 1931; pg. 18; Issue 45962

Napier & Son negotiated with Bentley's receiver to buy the company, with the takeover expected to
be made final in November 1931. Instead, a competitor named British Central Equitable Trust
offered a counter-proposal and with an offer of 125,000 outbid Napier in a sealed bid auction.
British Central Equitable Trust later proved to be a front forRolls-Royce Limited. Not even Bentley
himself knew the true identity of the purchaser until the deal was completed.
[23]

[24]

[15]

Barnato received around 42,000 in return for his shares in Bentley Motors, having bought a
sizeable stake in Rolls-Royce not long before Bentley Motors was liquidated.
By 1934 he was
appointed to the board of the new Bentley Motors (1931) Ltd.
[citation needed]

[25]

This attempted total obliteration of Bentley Motors and its founder was one outcome of a highly
personal "vendetta" between the two engineers, Hives and Bentley, two men of quite different
natures, begun in 1914 when Bentley was made official liaison between Government and aero
engine manufacturers.
Bentley's abiding weaknesses were in sometimes poor personal
relationships combined with his apparent inability to curb spending on development. The 8-Litre was
acknowledged
to be the better if more expensive car. Bentley may have been the better
engineer.
He accepted the position of patron of the Bentley Drivers' Club just before the end of
Woolf Barnato's term as its president.
[citation needed]

[by whom?]

[citation needed]

Rolls-Royce ownership Derby

"The silent sports car"

1935 3-litre Cabriolet by

Rolls-Royce took over the assets of Bentley Motors (1919) Ltd and formed a new wholly owned
company called Bentley Motors (1931) Ltd. Rolls-Royce had acquired the Bentley showrooms in
Cork Street, the service station at Kingsbury, the whole establishment at Cricklewood and Bentley
himself. This last was disputed by Napier in court without success. The old business had not
troubled to register their Bentley trademark. Rolls-Royce took immediate steps to remedy that.
The Cricklewood factory was closed during 1932 and sold. Production stopped for two years,
before resuming at the Rolls-Royce works in Derby. Unhappy with his role at Rolls-Royce, when
his contract expired at the end of April 1935 W. O. Bentley left to join Lagonda.
[26]

When the new Bentley 3 litre appeared in 1933, it was a sporting variant of the Rolls-Royce 20/25,
which disappointed some traditional customers yet was well received by many others. W. O. Bentley
was reported as saying, "Taking all things into consideration, I would rather own this Bentley than
any other car produced under that name". Rolls-Royce's advertisements for the 3 Litre called it
"the silent sports car", a slogan Rolls-Royce continued to use for Bentley cars until the 1950s.
[15]

[27]

[28]

All Bentleys produced from 1931 to 2004 used inherited or shared Rolls-Royce chassis, and adapted
Rolls-Royce engines, and are described by critics as badge-engineeredRolls-Royces.
[29]

Car models, Derby

193337 3-litre

193639 4-litre
193941 Mark V

1939 Mark V

Crewe
A 60 acre site was acquired for Rolls-Royce by the British government on the western side
of Crewe, Cheshire in May 1938 in order to support the company's work for the anticipated war.
During the war more than 25,000 "Merlin" aircraft engines were produced at the new factory. After
World War II, Rolls-Royce chose to focus its aero-engine production on Derby. Production of
motorcars was moved to the ex-wartime shadow factory in Crewe.
[30]

[30]

[30]

[30]

Post-war standard-steel saloons

Bentley Mark VI standard steel saloon, the first Bentley supplied by Rolls-Royce with a standard body.

Until some time after World War II, most high-end motorcar manufacturers like Bentley and RollsRoyce did not supply complete cars. They sold rolling chassis, near-complete from the instrument
panel forward. Each chassis was delivered to the coachbuilder of the buyer's choice. The biggest
specialist car dealerships had coachbuilders build standard designs for them which were held in
stock awaiting potential buyers.

The assembled pressings from Pressed Steel

To meet post-war demand, particularly UK Government pressure to export and earn overseas
currency, Rolls-Royce developed an all steel body using pressings made by Pressed Steel to create
a "standard" ready-to-drive complete saloon car. The first steel-bodied model produced was
the Bentley Mark VI: these started to emerge from the newly reconfigured Crewe factory early in
1946. Some years later, initially only for export, the Rolls-Royce Silver Dawn was introduced, a
standard steel Bentley but with a Rolls-Royce radiator grille for a small extra charge, and this
convention continued.
[30][31]

Chassis remained available to coachbuilders until the end of production of the Bentley S3, which
was replaced for October 1965 by the chassis-less monocoque construction T series.

Bentley Continental

Bentley Continental, fastback coup body by H J Mulliner

The Continental fastback coup was produced principally for the domestic home market, the majority
of cars produced (165, including aprototype) being right-hand drive. The chassis was produced at
the Crewe factory and shared many components with the standard R type. Other than the R-Type
standard steel saloon, R-Type Continentals were delivered as rolling chassis to the coachbuilder of
choice. Coachwork for most of these cars was completed by H. J. Mulliner & Co. who mainly built
them in fastback coupe form. Other coachwork came from Park Ward (London) who built six, later
including a drophead coupe version. Franay (Paris) built five, Graber (Wichtrach, Switzerland) built
three, one of them later altered by Kng (Basel, Switzerland), and Pininfarina made one. James
Young (London) built in 1954 a Sports Saloon for the owner of James Young's, James Barclay.
The early R Type Continental has essentially the same engine as the standard R Type, but with
modified carburation, induction and exhaust manifolds along with higher gear ratios. After July 1954
the car was fitted with an engine, having now a larger bore of 94.62 mm (3.7 in) with a total
displacement of 4,887 cc (4.9 L; 298.2 cu in). The compression ratio was raised to 7.25:1.
[32]

Car models, Crewe

Bentleys made by Rolls-Royce Ltd. in Crewe

"The silent sports car"

1952 4-litre 2-door by H J Mulliner

Bentley S-series Standard Saloon

Bentley T-series Standard Saloon

(l.w.b.)

Standard-steel saloon

194652 Mark VI

195255 R Type

Continental

195255 R Type Continental

S-series

195559 S1 and Continental

195962 S2 and Continental

196265 S3 and Continental

T-series

196577 T1

197780 T2

197184 Corniche

197586 Camargue

Vickers

The Bentley logo on a 1998 Arnage

The problems of Bentley's owner with Rolls-Royce aero engine development, the RB211, brought
about the financial collapse of its business in 1970.
The motorcar division was made a separate business, Rolls-Royce Motors Limited, which remained
independent until bought by Vickers plc in August 1980. By the 1970s and early 1980s Bentley sales
had fallen badly; at one point less than 5% of combined production carried the Bentley badge.
Under Vickers, Bentley set about regaining its high-performance heritage, typified by the
1980 Mulsanne. Bentley's restored sporting image created a renewed interest in the name and
Bentley sales as a proportion of output began to rise. By 1986 the Bentley:Rolls-Royce ratio had
reached 40:60; by 1991 it achieved parity.
[15]

[15]

Car models, Crewe Vickers

1984 Bentley Mulsanne Turbo

Bentley Brooklands

198495 Continental: convertible

199295 Continental Turbo

198092 Bentley Mulsanne

198488 Mulsanne L: limousine

198285 Mulsanne Turbo

198792 Mulsanne S

198492 Eight: basic model

198595 Turbo R: turbocharged performance version

19912002 Continental R: turbocharged 2-door model

199495 Continental S: intercooled

19962002 Continental T

19992003 Continental R Mulliner: performance model

199298 Brooklands: improved Eight

199698 Brooklands R: performance Brooklands

199495 Turbo S: limited-edition sports model

199495 Continental S: to order only version of Continental R with features of Turbo S

incorporated

199597 New Turbo R: updated 96MY Turbo R with revised bumpers, single front door
glazing, new door mirrors, spare in trunk, engine cover, new seat design, auto lights, auto wipers
etc.

19952003 Azure: convertible Continental R

19962002 Continental T: short-wheelbase performance model

199798 Turbo RL: "new" Turbo R LWB (Long Wheel Base)

199798 Bentley Turbo RT: replacement for the Turbo RL

199798 RT Mulliner: Ultra exclusive performance model

Volkswagen
This section does not cite any references or sources. Please help improve this section by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced
material may be challenged and removed. (September 2010)

Volkswagen AG vs. BMW AG

In October 1997, Vickers announced that it had decided to sell Rolls-Royce Motors. BMW
AG seemed to be a logical purchaser because BMW already supplied engines and other
components for Bentley and Rolls-Royce branded cars and because of BMW and Vickers joint
efforts in building aircraft engines. BMW made a final offer of 340m, but was outbid by Volkswagen
AG, which offered 430m. Volkswagen AG acquired the vehicle designs, model nameplates,
production and administrative facilities, the Spirit of Ecstasy and Rolls-Royce grille shape
trademarks, but not the rights to the use of the Rolls-Royce name or logo, which are owned by RollsRoyce Holdings plc. In 1998, BMW started supplying components for the new range of Rolls-Royce
and Bentley carsnotably V8 engines for the Bentley Arnage and V12 engines for the Rolls-Royce
Silver Seraph, however, the supply contract allowed BMW to terminate its supply deal with RollsRoyce with 12 months' notice, which would not be enough time for Volkswagen to re-engineer the
cars.

Bentley Azure Mulliner 2003 Final Series

BMW paid Rolls-Royce plc 40m to license the Rolls-Royce name and logo. After negotiations,
BMW and Volkswagen AG agreed that, from 1998 to 2002, BMW would continue to supply engines
and components and would allow Volkswagen temporary use of the Rolls-Royce name and logo. All
BMW engine supply ended in 2003 with the end of Silver Seraph production.
From 1 January 2003 forward, Volkswagen AG would be the sole provider of cars with the "Bentley"
marque. BMW established a new legal entity, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Limited, and built a new
administrative headquarters and production facility for Rolls-Royce branded vehicles in Goodwood,
West Sussex, England.

Car models, Crewe VW & BMW

19992002 Azure Mullinerperformance model

1999 Continental T Mullinerfirmer suspension

Modern Bentleys

The Bentley line-up from late 2000s (from left): Flying Spur, Continental GT, and Arnage

Queen Elizabeth II's Bentley State Limousine

After acquiring the business, Volkswagen spent GBP500 million (about US$845 million) to
modernise the Crewe factory and increase production capacity. As of early 2010, there are about
3,500 working at Crewe, compared with about 1,500 in 1998 before being taken over by
Volkswagen. It was reported that Volkswagen invested a total of nearly US$2 billion in Bentley and
its revival. As a result of upgrading facilities at Crewe the bodywork now arrives fully painted at the
Crewe facility for final assembly, with the parts coming from Germanysimilarly Rolls-Royce body
shells are painted and shipped to the UK for assembly only.
[33]

[34]

[35]

In 2002, Bentley presented Queen Elizabeth II with an official State Limousine to celebrate
her Golden Jubilee. In 2003, Bentley's two-door convertible, the Bentley Azure, ceased production,
and Bentley introduced a second line, Bentley Continental GT, a large luxury coup powered by
a W12 engine built in Crewe.
Demand had been so great that the factory at Crewe was unable to meet orders despite an installed
capacity of approximately 9,500 vehicles per year; there was a waiting list of over a year for new
cars to be delivered. Consequently, part of the production of the newFlying Spur, a four-door version
of the Continental GT, was assigned to the Transparent Factory (Germany), where the Volkswagen
Phaeton luxury car is also assembled. This arrangement ceased at the end of 2006 after around
1,000 cars, with all car production reverting to the Crewe plant.
In April 2005, Bentley confirmed plans to produce a four-seat convertible modelthe Azure, derived
from the Arnage Drophead Coupprototypeat 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.
A limited run of a Zagato modified GT was also announced in March 2008, dubbed "GTZ".
A new version of the Bentley Continental was introduced at the 2009 Geneva Auto Show:
The Continental Supersports. This new Bentley is a supercar combining extreme power with
environmentally friendly FlexFuel technology, capable of using petrol (gasoline) and biofuel (E85
ethanol).
Bentley sales continued to increase, and in 2005 8,627 were sold worldwide, 3,654 in the United
States. In 2007, the 10,000 cars-per-year threshold was broken for the first time with sales of
10,014. For 2007, a record profit of 155 million was also announced. Bentley reported a sale of
about 7,600 units in 2008. However, its global sales plunged 50 percent to 4,616 vehicles in 2009
(with the U.S. deliveries dropped 49% to 1,433 vehicles) and it suffered an operating loss
of 194 million, compared with an operating profit of10 million in 2008. As a result of the slump in
sales, production at Crewe was shut down during March and April 2009. Though vehicle sales
increased by 11% to 5,117 in 2010, operating loss grew by 26% to 245 million. In Autumn 2010,
workers at Crewe staged a series of protests over proposal of compulsory work on Fridays and
mandatory overtime during the week.
[36]

[37]

[33][38]

[39]

[40]

[41]

Vehicle sales in 2011 rose 37% to 7,003 vehicles, with the new Continental GT accounting for over
one-third of total sales. The current workforce is about 4,000 people.
The business earned a profit in 2011 after two years of losses as a result of the following sales
results:
[42]

1998

2005

2011

Deliveries, profits and staff

Year

Profit or
loss

Total
Staf
f

deliverie
s

America
s

Chin
a

million

150
0

1998

Europ
e
exc
UK

1001

2000

1469

2001

1429

2002

1157

2003

1017

2004

7411

2005

8627

3654

500

East

Asia
Pacifi
c

Japa
n

Othe
r

36

4473

2006

+137

9387

4035

175

2024

2007

+155

10014

4196

338

2166

2008

+10

7605

2009

-194

4616

1433

489

2010

-245

5117

1525

910

2011

7003

2021

2012

100

8510

2013

176

10120

400
0

Middl
e

414

1999

350
0

UK

3153
207
9

1235

897

1797

776

982

924

1839

1187

103
1

566

249

2457

2253

1333

110
4

815

358

190

3140

2191

1480

138
1

1185

452

291

Sources Volkswagen AG Annual Reports and press releases

110

[43]

Production

Yea
r

200
0

CGT
Coup

CGT
Cabri
o

Flyin
g
Spur

Mulsan
ne

Arnag
e

1243

Brooklan
ds

Azur
e

Continent
al

Other
Bentle
y

Rolls
Royc
e

Total

131

93

469

1938

200
1

1049

205

114

61

352

1781

200
2

883

69

50

61

147

1210

62

16

200
3

107

607

200
4

6896

790

7686

200
5

4733

4271

556

9560

200
6

3611

1742

4042

464

200
7

2140

4847

2270

357

200
8

2699

2408

1813

200
9

1211

722

1358

201
0

1735

843

1914

354

201
1

3416

677

2354

1146

7593

201
2

3536

2638

1764

1169

9107

201
3

3602

2197

3960

1117

1087
6

792

177

1003
6

350

9972

277

312

165

7674

147

106

93

3637

4854

Sources Volkswagen AG Annual Reports

[43]

Unsold cars. During the years 2011 and 2012 production exceeded deliveries by 1,187 cars which is
estimated to have trebled inventory.

Car models, Crewe Volkswagen

1998: Arnage saloon

1999: Hunaudieres Concept

2002: State Limousine

2003: Continental GT coup

2005: Continental Flying Spur saloon

2006: Azure convertible

2006: Continental GT convertible

2007: Continental GT Speed coup

2008: Bentley Brooklands coup

2008: Bentley Continental Flying Spur (2005) Speed saloon

2009: Continental GTC Speed

2009: Azure T

2009: Arnage saloon, Final Series

2009: Continental Supersports

2009: Bentley Zagato GTZ

2010: Bentley Mulsanne

2011: 2nd Generation Continental GT

2013: Bentley Flying Spur

[44]

2016: Bentley Bentayga

Motorsport
A Bentley Continental GT3 entered by the M-Sport factory team won the Silverstone round of the
2014 Blancpain Endurance Series. This was Bentley's first official entry in a British race since the
1930 RAC Tourist Trophy.
[45]