Boadicea the Victorious

19

► 100 Extraordinary Years

In 1919, W.O. Bentley applied the expertise he had gained from building powerful aircraft engines into the world of motoring. “The policy was simple,” he later recalled, “we were going to make a fast car, a good car, the best in its class.”

His unique combination of performance and luxury, still found in every Bentley a century later, soon attracted the attention of a group of wealthy, adventurous customers who became known as the Bentley Boys and Girls. Their love of racing encouraged W.O. to push the boundaries of engineering ever further, resulting in a string of thrilling victories at Le Mans in the 1920s. That belief in collaborating with remarkable customers to create remarkable cars still guides Bentley Motors to this day, helping to ensure a relentless drive for innovation that makes every vehicle more astonishing than the last. It has seen Bentley reinvent the grand tourer again and again, the adventurous spirit of the 1921 3 Litre inspiring the innovative R-Type Continental of 1952, whose sleek lines in turn influenced the first Continental GT in 2003. Now, the new Continental GT (below right, WLTP drive cycle: fuel consumption, mpg (l/100km) – Combined 20.2 (14.0). Combined CO2 – 317 g/ km) and the new Continental GT Convertible (opposite, WLTP drive cycle: fuel consumption, mpg (l/100km) – Combined 20.8 (13.6.). Combined CO2 – 308 g/km) raise the bar once more, adding cutting-edge automotive technology, a new Bentley design language and levels of handcrafted detail never seen before, with its 6.0 litre, twin-turbocharged W12 engine and eight-speed dualclutch transmission system delivering a drive unlike any other car. Bentley has also reshaped the SUV sector with the introduction of Bentayga, the world’s first luxury SUV. Created to enable customers to explore new landscapes in absolute comfort. It is a vehicle in which technology, speed and power are combined with the last word in handcrafted refinement to offer an unrivalled driving experience. Available as an exceptionally powerful W12, an exhilarating V8, and its latest incarnation, Bentayga Hybrid*, whose effortless and intelligent performance, and exquisite craftsmanship redefine what a hybrid can be. This is Bentley’s first step on a journey towards an electric future, one which promises to redefine the luxury motoring world once again. Bentley also offers cutting-edge in-car connectivity, seamlessly connecting the car and the driver to the internet to make travelling safer, smarter and more convenient. This includes Real Time Traffic Information, Wi-Fi Hotspot and Roadside Assistance. With many more exciting new releases planned over the next few years, as well as continued success on the racetrack, Bentley’s second century promises to be just as extraordinary as the first.

Opposite ► The new Continental GT Convertible brings together the best of interior and exterior car design.

Above ► Brand marque to celebrate the centenary.

Below, left ► Bentayga Hybrid features connected technology designed for today’s modern lifestyles.*

Below ► The new Continental GT is the ultimate modern grand tourer.

* Bentayga Hybrid is available to order in selected markets in 2019. Please contact Bentley retailers for further information.

Bentley Motors