Tag Archives: Bentley

NEW CARS

Bentley Nicolaus Copernicus Collection Brings the Cosmos to Three Bespoke Continental GT Models

Bentley Motors has unveiled an exceptionally exclusive new collection created specifically for the Polish market, celebrating the legacy of one of history’s most influential astronomers and thinkers, Nicolaus Copernicus. Limited to just three vehicles, the Bentley Nicolaus Copernicus Collection combines Mulliner craftsmanship, bespoke design and the astronomical themes of the Sun, Earth and Moon.

Developed by Bentley’s Mulliner bespoke division in close collaboration with Bentley Warsaw, the collection is based on the sporting Continental GT S and Continental GTC S. Each car receives its own distinctive celestial-inspired colour palette, while a common astronomical design language connects all three models.

The result is a highly individual interpretation of Bentley’s grand touring philosophy, with each vehicle designed as a standalone collector’s piece.

The Copernicus Connection

The Nicolaus Copernicus Collection takes inspiration from the Polish astronomer’s revolutionary heliocentric model of the universe. Rather than treating the three cars as unrelated special editions, Bentley has created a unified design concept centred around the celestial bodies that define our solar system.

At the heart of the collection is the “Copernicus Diagram”, an eight-piece luminary motif representing Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune.

The orbital-inspired design appears throughout the three Continental GT models, including the centre console, front and rear quilting panels, welcome lamps and tonneau cover. This recurring motif gives the collection a distinctive identity while reinforcing its connection with Copernicus and his astronomical legacy.

Three Cars, Three Celestial Themes

The three vehicles represent the Sun, Earth and Moon, with Mulliner carefully selecting exterior paint, leather, stitching, veneers and trim finishes to reflect the character of each celestial body.

Although each Bentley is visually distinct, the three cars share the same fundamental design philosophy: sophisticated detailing rather than excessive visual drama.

Bentley Continental GTC S ‘Sun’

The first member of the collection is the Bentley Continental GTC S ‘Sun’, a convertible finished in bespoke Manuka Orange.

The vibrant exterior colour is complemented by a Gravity Grey secondary hide and orange main-hide elements inside the cabin. Copper Stone veneer is used for the dashboard and door waist rails, while orange stitching and matching carpet binding reinforce the warm, solar-inspired theme.

The combination is intended to represent the Sun as the centre of the solar system, giving the GTC S a particularly vivid character while retaining Bentley’s traditionally restrained approach to luxury.

With its folding roof, the GTC S also provides the most open interpretation of the collection’s celestial theme, allowing occupants to experience the car beneath the same sky that inspired the design.

Bentley Continental GT S ‘Earth’

The second car is the Bentley Continental GT S ‘Earth’, a coupe finished in bespoke Nebula Blue.

The exterior colour sets the tone for an interior built around multiple shades of blue. Imperial Blue is used as the secondary hide, while Aegean Blue forms the main hide and extends across areas including the dashboard, seat side bolsters and headrests.

Galaxy Stone veneer adds another layer of visual depth, while the chrome specification and silver contrast seat piping provide additional highlights.

The centre console is finished in satin-painted Imperial Blue, completing the monochromatic blue theme and reinforcing the connection with Earth as the collection’s central planetary reference.

Compared with the warmer Sun-themed convertible, the Earth coupe takes a cooler and more sophisticated approach, using different materials and shades to create a more understated interpretation of the astronomical concept.

Bentley Continental GT S ‘Moon’

The third vehicle, another Continental GT S coupe, is the ‘Moon’.

Its exterior is finished in bespoke Moonstruck silver, chosen to evoke the distinctive surface of Earth’s natural satellite. Inside, the colour palette moves between dark Beluga and lighter Ice leather.

Ice leather highlights the outer sections of the seats and headrests, while the same contrasting treatment is applied to the centre console, dashboard leather and door inlay stripes.

The resulting cabin has a darker, more atmospheric character than the Earth model, with the silver exterior providing the visual link to the Moon.

Mulliner Turns the Continental GT Into a Collector’s Piece

While the exterior colours immediately distinguish the three cars, much of the appeal of the Nicolaus Copernicus Collection lies in the level of detail applied to areas that are less obvious at first glance.

Each vehicle receives bespoke treadplates, an individual fragrance and a dedicated key box. Owners also receive Copernicus Collection-inspired pocket squares and scarves.

Bentley has even created a special Spotify music playlist to accompany the collection, extending the astronomical theme beyond the physical vehicle and into the overall ownership experience.

This approach reflects the role of Mulliner within Bentley. Rather than simply applying a different colour or adding a badge, the bespoke division creates highly personalised vehicles where the exterior, interior, materials and accessories are conceived as one complete design.

671-HP Twin-Turbo V8 Hybrid Powertrain

Despite their highly bespoke appearance, the three Nicolaus Copernicus Collection models are not merely static luxury objects.

All three are powered by Bentley’s 4.0-litre twin-turbocharged V8 hybrid powertrain, producing a combined 671 bhp.

The performance-oriented specification is complemented by a titanium sports exhaust, giving the cars a more distinctive soundtrack than a conventional luxury grand tourer.

Bentley has also equipped the collection with an active chassis, 22-inch Ten Swept Spoke wheels finished in gloss black and carbon-ceramic brakes.

The combination of active chassis technology, large performance wheels and carbon-ceramic braking hardware gives the three cars the dynamic hardware expected from Bentley’s sporting Continental GT S family.

Luxury Meets Grand Touring Performance

The Nicolaus Copernicus Collection illustrates the increasingly important role of bespoke personalisation in the ultra-luxury automotive market.

The Continental GT platform provides the performance and technology, while Mulliner allows Bentley to transform the cars into highly individual commissions with a narrative extending across every element of the vehicle.

In this case, that narrative is particularly appropriate for Poland. Nicolaus Copernicus was born in Toruń and is widely associated with the development of the heliocentric model that placed the Sun rather than Earth at the centre of the planetary system.

Bentley has translated that scientific legacy into three automotive interpretations: the Sun, Earth and Moon.

A Celebration of Bentley Mulliner

Richard Leopold, Regional Director EMEA of Bentley Motors, highlighted the collaboration between Mulliner and Bentley’s European retailer network as an important part of the collection.

According to Bentley, understanding customer preferences, offering extensive personalisation possibilities and maintaining handcrafted British craftsmanship remain fundamental elements of the brand’s identity.

The Nicolaus Copernicus Collection provides a particularly clear demonstration of those capabilities.

With only three vehicles produced for Poland, the collection is unlikely to be defined by conventional performance statistics or outright exclusivity alone. Its appeal comes from the combination of a recognisable Continental GT platform, an elaborate astronomical theme and the ability to create three cars that are visually connected yet individually distinct.

The Bentley Nicolaus Copernicus Collection at a Glance

  • Models: Three bespoke Bentley Continental GT family vehicles
  • Themes: Sun, Earth and Moon
  • Body styles: Continental GTC S convertible and Continental GT S coupe
  • Powertrain: 4.0-litre twin-turbocharged V8 hybrid
  • System output: 671 bhp
  • Exhaust: Titanium sports exhaust
  • Chassis: Active chassis
  • Wheels: 22-inch Ten Swept Spoke, gloss black
  • Brakes: Carbon Ceramic Brakes
  • Design division: Bentley Mulliner
  • Market: Poland
  • Production: Three vehicles

Source: Bentley

News

Bentley Celebrates 80 Years of Crewe Production With Heritage-Inspired Continental GT Azure

Bentley is celebrating 80 years of automobile production at its legendary Crewe factory with a special tribute that brings together the past and present. At the British Motor Museum on August 29, members of the RREC—the International Club for Rolls-Royce and Bentley enthusiasts—will mark the milestone with a display of significant Bentley models spanning eight decades, from the 1946 Mark VI to the latest Continental GT.

At the center of the celebration will be two cars separated by 80 years but connected by the same philosophy: a heritage-collection Bentley Mark VI and a one-off Continental GT Azure created by Mulliner specifically to honor its historic predecessor.

The pairing offers a striking illustration of how Bentley’s interpretation of luxury has evolved since production began at Crewe in 1946.

Bentley Marks 80 Years of Production at Crewe

The story of modern Bentley production at Crewe began in the aftermath of World War II. The Pyms Lane factory was originally constructed in 1938 to manufacture Rolls-Royce Merlin aero engines, but in 1946 it took on a new role as a car manufacturing facility.

The first Bentley to emerge from the Crewe production line was the Mark VI.

That makes the 1946 Bentley Mark VI more than simply another model in the company’s history. It represents the beginning of an era that continues today, with every modern Bentley produced at the historic Crewe site.

For the 80th anniversary celebration, Bentley and Mulliner have chosen one particular Mark VI as the inspiration for a contemporary Continental GT Azure. The result is a modern grand tourer that deliberately avoids chasing contemporary styling trends and instead looks back to one of the most elegant Bentleys in the company’s Heritage Collection.

A Modern Bentley Inspired by a 1950 Mark VI

The inspiration for the anniversary Continental GT Azure is a two-tone green-and-black Bentley Mark VI with coachwork by H.J. Mulliner.

The historic Bentley is one of just 241 coachbuilt four-door, six-light saloons produced by H.J. Mulliner, which at the time operated as an independent coachbuilder.

Delivered in January 1950 to its first owner, William Lount of Alabastine Co Ltd., the Mark VI eventually became part of Bentley’s Heritage Collection in 2021.

Its distinctive combination of green bodywork and black roof became the foundation for Mulliner’s design of the anniversary Continental GT Azure.

Rather than reproducing the historic car literally, Mulliner has translated its visual character into the language of a modern Bentley.

The Continental GT Azure is finished in solid Barnato Green, complemented by a Mulliner Black contrasting roof. The combination immediately recalls the 1950 Mark VI while giving the contemporary Continental GT a distinctly traditional appearance.

Azure exterior brightware provides additional contrast, while the carbon-fibre Styling Specification adds a modern performance-oriented element.

Black-painted and bright-machined 22-inch ten-spoke wheels complete the exterior treatment. Black brake calipers and self-levelling Bentley “B” wheel badges provide the finishing touches.

The result is a Continental GT that looks contemporary at first glance but reveals its historical connection through carefully chosen details.

Bentley’s Heritage Meets Modern Luxury

If the exterior pays tribute to Bentley’s past, the interior demonstrates just how dramatically luxury-car technology has evolved over the past eight decades.

The 1946 Mark VI represented the height of British automotive luxury for its time. Its cabin featured Connolly leather, walnut veneer and wool-pile carpeting, while practical equipment such as an improved heater and demister reinforced its credentials as a long-distance grand tourer.

The modern Continental GT Azure takes those same ideas and pushes them into an entirely different technological era.

Its cabin is upholstered in rich Cricket Ball main hide combined with Beluga secondary hide. The deep red-and-black combination creates an atmosphere that deliberately recalls the classic Bentley interiors of the post-war era.

But the details are unmistakably modern.

Contrast stitching and piping, embroidered Azure emblems, diamond quilting and perforated leather demonstrate the level of craftsmanship now possible through Bentley Mulliner’s bespoke division.

These details aren’t simply decorative. They illustrate how Bentley has transformed traditional craftsmanship into a modern luxury proposition where almost every element of a vehicle can be individually specified.

Dark Walnut Veneer Connects Two Generations

One of the most effective links between the Mark VI and Continental GT Azure is found across the dashboard.

The historic Bentley’s burr walnut interior inspired the modern car’s dark stained burr walnut veneer, positioned over Grand Black piano veneer.

A chrome pinstripe separates the two materials and extends across the dashboard fascia and into the door waistrails, creating a continuous visual element throughout the cabin.

The Continental GT’s Rotating Display adds another clever connection between old and new.

At the press of a button, the driver can rotate the central dashboard section to reveal one of three configurations: a high-definition touchscreen, traditional analogue instruments or a plain veneer surface.

The analogue dials and veneer options are particularly appropriate for an anniversary car whose entire purpose is to celebrate Bentley’s history.

Bentley’s Definition of Luxury Has Changed—But Not Its Philosophy

The contrast between the two Bentleys is particularly interesting because it highlights how much the definition of luxury has changed since 1946.

The Mark VI delivered its occupants leather, wood, carpeting, improved heating and the ability to cover huge distances in comfort. The Continental GT Azure adds technologies that would have been unimaginable when the first Mark VI left Crewe.

The anniversary car features Bentley’s Front Seat Comfort and Wellness specifications, an air ioniser and a Naim for Bentley premium audio system.

In other words, the modern Bentley doesn’t abandon the principles of its predecessor. It expands them.

Comfort has become wellness technology. A high-quality radio has evolved into a concert-standard audio system. Hand-finished wood remains important, but it now shares the cabin with sophisticated digital interfaces.

That continuity is arguably the most important part of Bentley’s 80-year Crewe story.

Mulliner Shows What Bentley Bespoke Can Do

Bentley’s customers today have access to an enormous range of personalization possibilities, with almost 100 exterior paint finishes available across solid, metallic, satin, ombré and Spectraflair options.

Yet for this particular Continental GT Azure, Mulliner’s designers deliberately resisted the temptation to showcase contemporary trends.

Instead, they went back to the Heritage Collection.

The approach is significant because it demonstrates how Bentley can use its historical archive as a source of inspiration without creating a car that feels like a retro design exercise.

The Continental GT Azure remains unmistakably modern. Its proportions, technology, materials and performance are products of the 21st century. But its color scheme, wood treatment and interior palette establish a direct visual conversation with a Bentley built in 1950.

The Mark VI That Started the Crewe Era

The original Bentley Mark VI was powered by a 4,257cc six-cylinder B60 engine.

Despite its understated appearance, the Mark VI was designed to provide both performance and reliability. Some examples were capable of covering more than 100,000 miles, or approximately 161,000 kilometers, without requiring a major engine overhaul.

That level of durability helped establish the Mark VI as a capable grand touring automobile at a time when Britain was still living through post-war austerity.

The Mark VI’s restrained appearance also suited the era. Bentley offered an understated form of luxury rather than the flamboyance associated with some of its competitors.

Production continued until 1951, with 4,001 examples built. Of those, 3,171 received Bentley’s standard steel body.

The remaining cars were supplied as rolling chassis and could be fitted with bespoke bodies from independent coachbuilders.

That coachbuilt tradition is particularly relevant to the anniversary Continental GT because the specific Mark VI that inspired it was one of those bespoke-bodied cars.

A Meeting of Two Bentleys Eight Decades Apart

The decision to display the historic Mark VI and the new Continental GT Azure together is more than a convenient anniversary photo opportunity.

It creates a visual timeline of Bentley’s evolution.

The Mark VI represents an era when luxury cars were defined by coachbuilt bodies, hand-finished wood, leather interiors and mechanical engineering designed for durability.

The Continental GT represents a world of digital displays, advanced chassis technology, sophisticated comfort systems and virtually unlimited personalization.

Yet both cars were created around the same fundamental concept: a Bentley should make long-distance travel effortless while combining performance with exceptional comfort and craftsmanship.

That philosophy has survived even as the technology surrounding it has changed almost beyond recognition.

Anniversary Details Complete the Continental GT Azure

Mulliner has also incorporated a discreet but meaningful anniversary detail into the car.

The treadplates feature graphic outlines of both the Mark VI and Continental GT, accompanied by the inscription:

“Celebrating the 80th Anniversary of production in Crewe, 1946-2026.”

It is an appropriately understated detail for a car inspired by a brand whose most enduring designs have rarely relied on excessive decoration.

Instead, the anniversary Continental GT Azure communicates its significance through craftsmanship, color, materials and historical references.

Bentley’s Past, Present and Future in One Display

The RREC event at the British Motor Museum provides an appropriate setting for Bentley’s 80th anniversary of Crewe production.

Cars brought by club members from around the world will represent Bentley’s long manufacturing history, creating a collection that stretches from the post-war Mark VI through to the newest Continental GT.

Among them, the two green-and-black Bentleys should command particular attention.

One was created at the beginning of Bentley’s Crewe era, when the Mark VI introduced a new generation of British luxury motoring. The other is a modern Continental GT Azure, created by Mulliner to celebrate the legacy of that original car.

Eight decades separate them, but the connection is unmistakable.

The 1950 Mark VI demonstrates what Bentley luxury meant in the post-war era. The new Continental GT Azure demonstrates what the same philosophy looks like in 2026.

Together, they tell a much larger story about Bentley: a company that has changed dramatically in eight decades, yet continues to place effortless performance, exceptional comfort and meticulous British craftsmanship at the heart of its automobiles.

For Bentley, the 80th anniversary of production at Crewe is therefore more than a celebration of longevity. It is a reminder that the most valuable part of the company’s heritage isn’t a particular engine, body style or design detail.

It is the ability to evolve without losing its identity.

Source: Bentley

NEW CARS

Bentley Unveils One-Off Purple Continental GTC to Celebrate 80 Years of Crewe Craftsmanship

Bentley marks 80 years at Crewe with a stunning parade of historic Bentleys, a bespoke Mulliner-built Continental GTC, and a glimpse at the brand’s electric future.

If there’s a place that qualifies as sacred ground for Bentley enthusiasts, it’s Pyms Lane in Crewe, England. This year, that historic factory turned into a rolling museum as Bentley Motors celebrated 80 years of craftsmanship in Crewe with a spectacular gathering of 107 customer-owned Bentleys spanning every major era of the marque’s history.

The anniversary event, which also coincided with the Bentley Drivers Club’s 90th birthday, wasn’t just another heritage celebration. It was a reminder that Bentley’s identity has always been built on a rare combination of hand craftsmanship, engineering innovation, and obsessive attention to detail—and that the company intends to carry those values into the electric age.

A Bentley Timeline on Wheels

The centerpiece of the celebration was a chronological display of Bentleys lining Pyms Lane, beginning with EXP3, the first Bentley ever delivered to a customer, and ending with a 2025 Flying Spur Speed. Between those bookends sat virtually every significant chapter in Bentley history: W.O. Bentley-era cars, Derby-built grand tourers, iconic Blowers, modern Continental GTs, Bentaygas, and the latest Crewe-built performance luxury models.

Owners traveled from around the world to return their cars to the factory where generations of Bentleys have been handcrafted since 1946. Seeing those cars parked nose-to-tail outside the very buildings where many of them were born created the sort of scene that no concours lawn could replicate.

For Bentley, the display underscored a remarkable continuity. While the company’s technology has evolved dramatically over eight decades, the idea that a Bentley should feel made by people, not merely manufactured by machines remains central to the brand.

The One-Off Bentley Continental GTC in Purple Supernova Ombre

Bentley rarely misses an opportunity to showcase the capabilities of Mulliner, its bespoke commissioning division, and this anniversary produced one of the more dramatic examples in recent memory.

To commemorate the milestone, Bentley created a unique Continental GTC finished in an exclusive Supernova Purple Ombre paint developed specifically for the occasion. The color transitions from bright Supernova Purple to a darker Supernova Purple Dark, creating a seamless gradient effect across the bodywork. A bespoke “80” side graphic with a reverse ombré treatment reinforces the anniversary theme.

Inside, the celebration continues with embroidered “80” headrests and a custom airbrushed fascia graphic depicting Bentley’s iconic Design Studio building and eight decades of car production in Crewe. The result is less a special edition than a rolling showcase of what Bentley’s paint, trim, and craftsmanship teams can accomplish when given complete creative freedom.

Bentley’s Dream Factory: Heritage Meets High Technology

Bentley now refers to its Crewe headquarters as the Dream Factory, a name that sounds marketing-heavy until you consider what happens there. Design, research and development, manufacturing, and commercial operations are all housed on a single integrated campus, allowing Bentley to maintain unusually close links between designers, engineers, and craftspeople.

The site itself predates Bentley’s car production. Originally built in 1938 to manufacture Rolls-Royce Merlin aircraft engines, it later became Bentley’s manufacturing home and has been continuously modernized ever since. The current transformation is the most ambitious yet: a digitally connected, flexible manufacturing facility designed to build both today’s combustion-powered Bentleys and tomorrow’s electric models.

Recent additions include a new Design Studio, Engineering Technical Centre, Excellence Centre for Quality and Launch, Integrated Logistics Centre, and a state-of-the-art Paint Shop. Bentley says work is also underway to convert the oldest building on site into the assembly facility for the company’s first fully electric car, scheduled to debut in September.

Bentley’s Electric Future Starts at Crewe

The anniversary celebration was as much about the future as the past. Andreas Lehe, Bentley’s Member of the Board for Manufacturing, emphasized that the company is investing heavily in advanced technologies and sustainable production while preserving the skills that have defined Bentley for generations.

That future becomes more tangible with the forthcoming launch of Bentley’s first electric vehicle, internally linked to the next-generation model program known as Torcal. For a brand whose reputation was built on large-displacement engines and effortless grand touring, the transition to EVs represents a profound change. Bentley’s challenge will be to ensure that silence and electric torque still deliver the sense of occasion customers expect from a Crewe-built luxury car.

Why This Anniversary Matters

Luxury brands celebrate anniversaries constantly, but Bentley’s 80 years in Crewe carries unusual weight. Since the first Bentley rolled off the Pyms Lane line in 1946, the factory has become inseparable from the brand’s identity. The people who stitch the leather, veneer the wood, paint the bodywork, and assemble the cars are not an accessory to the product; they are a defining feature of it.

The sight of more than a century of Bentley history gathered outside the factory gates served as a vivid reminder that heritage is most convincing when it is still alive. And with a one-off purple Continental GTC on display and an electric Bentley waiting in the wings, Crewe appears determined to prove that craftsmanship can survive even the industry’s biggest technological upheaval.

For Bentley, the message is clear: the next chapter of British luxury motoring will still be written in Crewe.

Source: Bentley