“A fast car, a good car, and the best in its class.” Back in 1919, that was the simple objective with which Walter Owen Bentley started the company that is now this shining symbol of luxury motoring around the world. One hundred and seven years later, each Bentley to come off the assembly line in Crewe, England, continues its tradition of creating cars that are fast, good and best in their classes. It is this single-minded focus to create incredible machines that manage to adhere to and evolve that century-old legacy over decades, that is truly and relentlessly extraordinary. The most significant proof of that is the attention to detail that defines the brand’s reputation for producing extraordinary vehicles.
Every Bentley since Mr. Bentley produced the first ever car back in 1921, have some signature elements that mark it out immediately as Bentley. Even before you notice the stately proportions, you notice that iconic radiator housing and the legendary flying B logo. The two together have been the hallmark of the brand for over a century and have always been at the foundation of what we now know as the Bentley face. Instantly recognisable around the world and irrespective of which decade the car may be from. It could be a Mark VI from the 1940s, the first models to come from the factory in Crewe, or a modern Continental GT or Flying Spur or Bentayga. You could never mistake a Bentley for anything else.
A major factor for this is also the classic proportions that contribute to creating the unmistakable Bentley silhouette. No matter the form of the car – SUV, four-door saloon or a two-door coupé. The history of this proportion is fascinating. Nearly a century ago, in 1930, Bentley’s then Managing Director, Mr. Woolf Barnato, placed a bet that he would be able to drive from London to Cannes in less time than the Le Train Bleu from Cannes to Calais. The car that won Mr. Barnato for the hundred-pound wager was the Bentley 6.5-litre Speed Six saloon. It featured a long and dominant bonnet, a low sloping roofline and a short boot and set the template for the idea of a grand tourer. The proportions were not just stylish and made the car very handsome but also gave it an aura of power, endurance and muscularity. In short, the proportions were perfect. One only needs to look at a profile picture of the new Bentley Continental GT to realise how it adheres to those classic proportions to create its low slung, muscular and powerful stance. The ratio between underbody to the shoulder line and then from the shoulder line to the roofline is what creates that sensation of a low roof, even though headroom inside any Bentley on any seat, is luxurious. The Speed Six is so important to the brand in fact that Bentley recreated the Speed Six in 2023, 93 years after it was first launched. Car zero remains with the marque while 12 customised units were offered on pre-sold to select owners worldwide.
Legacy, however, is only a part of this wonderful story. What truly makes Bentleys extraordinary cars is how Bentley brings life that legacy through modern engineering and innovation. After all, this is a brand that must carry forward the vision of Walter Owen Bentley, who himself was an engineering enthusiast. The heritage values of design, craftsmanship and performance are translated into a new digital identity, which is important because it keeps the brand relevant to a new generation of luxury motorists. This ability to present legacy in a modern form is yet another example of relentlessly extraordinary.
Just last year, Bentley’s Director of Design, Mr. Robin Page, unveiled a new and contemporary interpretation of the iconic flying B logo. This redesigned emblem, this is the fifth time in the brand’s storied history, is an introduction to a changing design vocabulary. It is inspired by Bentley’s past, no doubt, but it’s also a glimpse into the brand’s future. A future that is as richly adorned with innovation as always. The new Bentley Flying Spur for example, is built around the brand’s new Ultra Performance Hybrid. In pure EV mode, the Flying Spur has a range of close to 80 kilometres, which would be plenty if the car is confined to urban limits. Not to mention, the Carbon Dioxide emissions are up to 90 per cent lower than in the previous Flying Spur and the advantages of a silent drive through urban areas. This innovative system also allows users to retain access to exciting performance. The all-new electric architecture in Flying Spur Speed variant works with a new silky smooth 782 PS V8 PHEV to deliver an outstanding 3.5 sec from zero to 100kmph.
The entire Bentley package then brings all of that perfectness of proportion and innovation together with its combination of using the finest of materials and the best of craftsmanship. Which is so evident in a vehicle like the Bentayga with the extended wheelbase. The symmetrical pattern at the top of the seat back stretches the diamonds of the quilted seats. The doors, however, use an asymmetric pattern to highlight the length of the door and accentuate the sense of space at the back. Inside each diamond, the leather has digitally positioned perforations of less than 1mm diameter. This effect of a perfectly positioned perforation inside a diamond is achieved by first perforating the leather and then stitching the diamonds with a fine thread using a specialized embroidery machine that uses a camera to analyse the perforation pattern. The finished result is a beautiful, elegant and unique design.
The Bentley Bentayga EWB also sees the first use of metal overlay in veneer, earlier seen on Continental GT Mulliner derivatives, in the Bentayga series. The design comprises individual brushed metal badges crafted to just 0.07mm thickness. The inlay designs are photo-etched where a very fine stencil of the design is laminated onto the metal. The excess metal around this stencil is then chemically etched away leaving only the design inlay. An intricate process that instantly elevates the interior with luxury beyond the ordinary.
Bentley combines complete mastery of technique and materials to deliver incredibly striking machines. Take the fourth generation of the Bentley Continental GT Speed First Edition V8 Hybrid, for instance. It features a dark tint engine-turned aluminium veneer that contributes to its character. Engine-turning or guilloché is a technique borrowed from high-end watchmaking. It is an intricate and meticulous decorative craft where fine, repetitive patterns are engraved onto metal surfaces. By applying engine-turning to aluminium veneer with a dark tint Bentley is able to deliver a striking contrast against the rich wood and leather interiors blending classic aesthetic with a contemporary edge.
At the core of it all, however, sits the narrative framework that comes with each Bentley vehicle, because the brand doesn’t just sell you a car. What offers is a luxury grand touring lifestyle designed around sensory connections between the driver and the machine.
Every detail makes an impact. The feature explores how perfect proportions, premium materials, craftsmanship and innovation come together to create a design language that is extraordinarily Bentley. From the iconic matrix grille and sculpted surfaces to diamond quilting and mirror-matched veneers, Bentley's approach to design is rooted in precision, materiality and craftsmanship. The article examines how these defining elements continue to shape Bentley's distinctive expression of modern luxury while pushing boundaries in design and technology.