1930s-1980s: It was basically a Rolls Royce with a new label.
Bentley can hold hands with Rolls-Royce and has a leading edge. During the First World War, Payne Interest Group developed aero-engines at Rolls-Royce Derby Factory. After Bentley joined Rolls-Royce, he devoted his life to Rolls-Royce and Bentley brand cars until 197 1 died.
193 1 year, Bentley's debt reached more than 654.38+million pounds, and it was impossible to continue production, so it was declared bankrupt. Britain's Central Fair Trust Co., Ltd. became the owner of Bentley Motor Co., Ltd., ironically, the company actually represented Rolls-Royce Motor Company. W.O. Bentley became an employee of Rolls-Royce. In the same year, New Bentley Automobile Co., Ltd. was established. At this time, Bentley is already a subsidiary of Rolls-Royce. For a period of time, "Rolls Royce" and "Bentley" were actually the same car. Since then, Bentley, a racing pedigree, has gradually become a Rolls-Royce luxury car.
1933, the 1 Bentley car designed by Bentley and produced by Rolls-Royce came out and was named "Bentley 3.5". This car obviously has the style of Rolls-Royce, which was very popular in 1930s, but its sports performance is not excellent. However, for Bentley, who once returned to the rivers and lakes after depression, this has been a success. Later, the power of this model was upgraded to 4.5L in 1939, and World War II broke out. Even so, the development of Bentley did not stop at the beginning of the war. 1939, Bentley released the second model built by Rolls-Royce-Bentley Mark V, which still has a strong Rolls-Royce style, with power of 3.5L and 4.5l..
1946 At the end of World War II, Bentley's automobile production line moved to Crewe County, England. At this point, Rolls-Royce and Bentley have been divided into two independent brands. In this year, Bentley launched the Bentley Mark VI sedan designed by designer Ivan Avonden. It was a great success in the market, with a sales volume of only 65,438+0,952 reaching 5,200 vehicles, making it one of the best-selling models in Bentley's history.
1952 Bentley R model came out, replacing Mark VI. It is equipped with a 4.6L straight six gasoline engine, cast iron cylinder block and aluminum alloy cylinder head, matched with a four-speed manual gearbox, with a top speed of 163km/h and a 60-mile acceleration time of13.1s. The fuel consumption per 100 kilometers 18.2L became the four fastest cars recognized at that time, and was awarded the title of "modern pet car" by British automobile magazine autocar.
With the integration of Rolls-Royce and Bentley, they stick together more closely. In fact, since 1939, the research and development of Rolls-Royce and Bentley have been tied together. In the following decades, Bentley successively launched several models, such as S-series, T-series, Corniche, Camargue, Mulsanne Mu Shang, etc. In fact, almost all Bentley models produced during this period were copies of Rolls-Royce. For example, the Bentley S launched by 1955, except for the hood and logo, is exactly the same as Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud, equipped with a 4.9-liter six-cylinder engine and 4-speed power. This model has also been upgraded and redesigned in 1959 and 1962, named S2 and S3 respectively, in which S2 is mainly replaced by a 6.2L 8-cylinder engine, while S3 is mainly replaced by S2 in appearance and interior, with no change in power.
1965 Bentley launched T series products, which is the successor of S series products. Similarly, this car is a replica of Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow. It is equipped with 6.2L 8-cylinder engine and 6.75L 8-cylinder engine. By 1977, T 1 product was upgraded to T2, and the upgraded T2 mainly improved the steering system, air conditioner and air intake grille. As the successor of T series products, Bentley Marcin Mu Shang was listed on 1980. The car was produced to 1992 and equipped with a 6.75L Rolls-Royce V8 engine. By 1982, Mulsanne also introduced a version of Mulsanne Tubro, adding a 6.75L engine after the turbocharger. The power is increased by 50%, the maximum power reaches 298 HP, the maximum torque is 450 Nm, and the maximum speed reaches 135 mph (about 2 17 km/h).
Mulsanne S was launched at 1987. The design of this car is basically the same as Mulsanne Tubro except that there is no turbocharging, and it belongs to the successor products of Mulsanne and Mulsanne Tubro. In terms of sales volume, Mulsanne's 12 Zhong Yi * * * sold about 2,000 units.
In addition to the above models, Bentley Corniche and Camargue (actually Bentley versions of Rolls-Royce Corniche and Rolls-Royce Camargue) were introduced in the 1980s. These two models were improved by Rolls-Royce Sliver Shadow, with the convertible named Corniche and the coupe named Camargue. Among them, Corniche sold 140 sets during the sales period of1971-kloc-0/982, and Camargue sold 42 1 995 during the sales period of1984.
◆ 1990s: Rolls-Royce began to attach importance to Bentley brand.
After 1990, Rolls-Royce decided to strengthen the Bentley brand because they found that Bentley had a better market. At that time, Bentley had accounted for 52% of Rolls-Royce's sales share, so the 1990s was also the year when Bentley launched the most new cars under Rolls-Royce, with 65,438+00. 199 1 year, Bentley continental r coupe went on the market. 1992, brookline introduced brookline car to replace Mu Shang car of Marsani; 1994 introduced the limited edition Turbo S sedan and Continental S sedan; Bentley sky blue; Launched on 1995; 1996 launched a limited edition Turbo R sports car; Turbo RL was introduced by 1997; Turbo RT was launched on 1998.
Bentley continental r continental R coupe is a Bentley top coupe produced by Bentley1991-in 2002. It is equipped with a 6.75L turbocharged V8 engine with a maximum power of 242kW (325mp) and a maximum torque of 6 10Nm. With GM 4L80-E automatic gearbox, it can reach the top speed. Starting from this model, Bentley's new car no longer uses the trapeze logo similar to Rolls-Royce, and this model is also the first model not produced on Rolls-Royce platform.
Bentley brookline S brookline was launched on 1992 as a substitute product of Marsanne S Mu Shang, and discontinued on 1998. In terms of power, it is still equipped with a 6.75L Rolls-Royce V8 engine and a 4-speed automatic transmission. In terms of overall dimensions, the length, width and height of this model have reached 5370 mm/2 1 1 mm respectively.
1995 introduced Bentley Azure Yajun is actually a convertible version of Bentley Continental, with the same displacement as Bentley Continental R, which is 6.75 liters. However, in terms of power, its twin-turbo engine has a maximum power of 400 HP (298 kW) and a maximum torque of 875 Nm. Matching it is a 4-speed automatic transmission, and the acceleration time from 0 to 60 miles is only 6.65438.
In addition, the Bentley turbo R series introduced by 1995 is the successor of the Marsonny Mu Shang turbo discontinued by 1985, in which Turbo S and Turbo R Sport are limited edition models, while Turbo RL and rt are the successors of Turbo R. In fact, Turbo R began to be produced as early as 1985 when the Marsonny Mu Shang Turbo was discontinued. However, the model introduced by 1995 is only a modified model of Turbo R. The changes of the new car include the improvement of fuel injection system and the modification of appearance. In addition, a 6.75L small turbine version with a maximum power of 385 HP (287 kW) was introduced.
By 1998, Bentley was acquired by Volkswagen. For the 67 years after Rolls-Royce took over the Bentley brand at that time, whether Bentley had more advantages than disadvantages or disadvantages than advantages, it is still difficult for us to objectively comment, because in the years when Rolls-Royce was produced, basically more than half of Bentley's models were copied from Rolls-Royce's products, and there was not much independent innovation. But then again, if it weren't for Rolls-Royce, Bentley would probably fall into the torrent of the car world like many other once very popular sports car brands in the early 20th century.
◆ Volkswagen wins Bentley and BMW wins Rolls-Royce.
At the end of 1990s, British car factories with a long history and authentic racing tradition closed down one after another like a plague, and the British automobile industry, which held up half the sky in the 20th century, was particularly embarrassed at that time. But because of this, in 1998, when the two trump cards of the British car factory, Rolls-Royce and Bentley, also became Germans, Bentley seemed to suddenly turn around again. Because at this time, these two long-term loss-making top British brands suddenly became hot items, and people including audi ag, BMW and even Daimler, the largest in Europe, expressed strong interest in them.
As early as 1990, BMW took control of Rolls-Royce Aircraft Engine Company. It seems that BMW is the most likely buyer. 1At the end of April, 1998, the Vexcor Group officially accepted BMW's offer of $575 million, but at this time, Volkswagen broke out halfway and announced that it would buy Rolls-Royce at a higher price, with an astonishing offer of $795 million, and promised not to take Rolls-Royce out of the UK and maintain its British management model. Sure enough, Volkswagen's move achieved miraculous results. The shareholders of Vexcor Group began to express dissatisfaction with the sale of Rolls-Royce to BMW, so Vexcor Group turned to BMW to raise its offer, but it was resolutely rejected by the latter. After a heated discussion in the board of directors, Vickers turned to accept the offer from the public. 1On July 3, 1998, Vexcor Group announced that it would sell Rolls-Royce to Volkswagen for144 billion mark, and BMW was kicked out.
In the face of Vickers' promise, the angry BMW immediately countered and announced that it would suspend the supply of engines for Rolls-Royce. This reaction is still very strong. Rolls-Royce Aircraft Engine Company, which owns the Rolls-Royce trademark, has become an ally of BMW. It announced that it did not agree with Volkswagen to use the brand name of Rolls-Royce, but would authorize the name right and trademark right to BMW. All this makes Volkswagen, which has just reached an agreement to acquire Rolls-Royce, extremely embarrassed, and a takeover battle is therefore deadlocked: Volkswagen bought the logo of "Flying Goddess" and the right to use the water tank grille, but there is no way to manufacture Rolls-Royce cars; Similarly, BMW got the name of Rolls-Royce, but it has no right to use the logo and the grille of the water tank.
1June, 998, BMW lost to Volkswagen in its bid for Rolls-Royce Motor Company. On July 28th, BMW bought the trademark and logo of Rolls-Royce for 40 million pounds. And signed an agreement with Volkswagen, stipulating that BMW will start producing Rolls-Royce cars in 2003, and Volkswagen will still produce Bentley luxury cars in the Crewe factory from 2003. So Bentley is officially owned by the public. Crewe has more than 50 years of history and experience in manufacturing special vehicles for the British royal family.
Since 2002, Bentley has replaced Rolls-Royce as the only car brand designated by the British royal family and became the car for the celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Queen's accession to the throne.
1In August 1998, Graham Morris, the chairman of Rolls-Royce, was forced to resign. Finally, Volkswagen, BMW, Rolls-Royce and Vexcor settled the dispute through negotiation. BMW obtained the right to use the name and logo of Rolls-Royce for 68 million dollars, but allowed the public to use its name until the end of 2002. Volkswagen bought the Bentley brand, but it can produce Rolls-Royce Silver Seraphim and Bentley Elegant in Crewe County, England, until 65438+February 3, 20021. After that, the production right of Silver Seraphim was transferred to BMW, and BMW agreed to abide by a series of contracts signed with Cosworth Engine Company controlled by Volkswagen.
◆ The road to the revival of Bentley brand: the sales volume has increased substantially.
At the early stage of its integration into the public, Bentley mainly produced Bentley Continental and Arnage elegant series, but at this time, Bentley faced the task of actually competing with its original compatriot Rolls-Royce. Before the separation, they were the only super-luxury car group in the world. After the separation, they were almost equal opponents in martial arts. Bentley won the first round. Due to the intervention of the German public, the handicraft factory with British descent was completely inherited by Bentley brand, so the British royal family chose Bentley brand instead of the traditional Rolls-Royce in the celebration of the 50th anniversary of Queen Elizabeth's accession to the throne in 2002. The Bentley brand was identified as the only exclusive royal brand.
In 2002, Bentley presented the Bentley State Limousine to Queen Elizabeth II, which was equipped with the same 6.75L twin-turbo engine as the elegant Arnage model (successor of Bentley Turbo R), with a maximum power of 400 HP, a maximum torque of 835 Nm and a top speed of 265,438+00 km/h.
In 2003, Bentley's two-door GT car Azure Yajun was discontinued. Bentley Continental GT released, this two-door GT sports car is Bentley's masterpiece after entering the public. The engine is a 6.0-liter W 12 engine used in conjunction with Audi A8 and Volkswagen Phaeton 6.0 * *, but with the addition of twin turbines, the horsepower is as high as 552 HP and the speed is as high as 320 km/h. The 6-speed Tiptronics gearbox and 4Motion four-wheel drive system on this car are technologies that Volkswagen is proud of. This car has also become the main sales model of Bentley today.
In 2005, Volkswagen released the Continental Flying Spur, a 5.3-meter-long luxury car with the same power as the Continental GT. The chassis and Volkswagen Phaeton * * * adopt the exclusive Phaeton production line in Wolfsburg, Germany, which can be described as Phaeton. In 2006, the convertible Continental GT was released, and the public expected to increase the overall sales through the Continental series. Azure, which was discontinued in 2003, also resumed its sales, but only a convertible two-door version with an early twin-turbocharged 6.75-liter V8 engine. Bentley officially announced at the Geneva Motor Show in March, 20 13 that Feichi would be separated from the original European series to strengthen the positioning of Feichi four-door high-performance luxury car.