Manufacturer of fine autos Bentley agrees driving satisfaction and passenger comfort come first. This has always been the case since it was founded in Crewe, England in 1919. Spitfire pilots enthused over their fighter aircraft engines in World War 2. However, crews in Centurion tanks did find the metal seats a tad hard.
Their Earlier Years Were Their Finest
Bentley’s historic sports cars continue to populate dreams and fantasies. Between 1927 and 1931, a bunch of wealthy ex-servicemen formed the Bentley Boys club. South African mining magnate Barney Barnato raced the Le Train Blue Calais-Mediterranée Express from Cannes to Calais on public roads.
Then he loaded the 6.6 liter, 11-foot saloon onto a ferry to Dover and then drove to London. Naturally, he won. Bentley, the car of superlatives never doubted it for a minute. Since then, the famous marque has had its ups and downs whether or not Bentley agrees. Volkswagen currently owns it, and makes some of the body parts in Germany. But then it also produces finished Rolls Royce body shells for UK assembly.
Through Thick and Thin, Bentley Still Wants to Be Best
Bentley currently manufactures super cars for the filthy rich who frankly ‘don’t give a damn’ what they cost. Its 2018 Bentayga Hybrid costs $190,000 if you have the patience to stand in a queue.
The massively powerful motor features the quirky addition of a 13 kWh twin-string battery. This enables it to travel smoothly and silently for up to 31 miles on electric power alone. Handy when sneaking back home late at night from the London club, we suppose. But nobody in Bentley agrees they are ready for a full blown electric car yet.
“The problem is the size of our vehicles and the frontal area we push through,” CEO Adrian Hallmark explains. “Current battery power density limits the size of the car we can offer with credible driving range.” And Bentley as we know only wants to be best in class.
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Preview Image: Bentley Winged “B” Badge Hood Ornament
