Which Bentley models stand out as the most beautiful designs in the brand’s long history?
Bentley has long occupied a special place among luxury automakers, building cars for buyers who expect exceptional style, meticulous attention to detail, and an imposing road presence. Even when designed primarily for performance, Bentley models have consistently managed to combine those qualities with balanced, graceful proportions. Here are eight of the most beautiful Bentleys ever built.
Introduced in 1952, the R-Type Continental is difficult to dismiss as a car from another era. Its timeless design still looks remarkably elegant today.
The sleek, graceful fastback has near-perfect proportions, with a long, streamlined body that was as technically sophisticated as it was beautiful. The R-Type could reach 115 mph, an impressive figure for its time. It measured 17.2 feet from nose to tail, with the body flowing smoothly into the wheel arches.
That carefully shaped form was made possible in part by extensive handwork involving aluminum body panels.
The stylish sports sedan was closely related to its Rolls-Royce counterpart. With an elegant body, a lower roofline, and sophisticated engineering, the S1 Continental became a major success.
Its gray-toned interior was lavishly finished with premium materials while still providing enough room for four occupants.
Power came from a 4.9-liter inline-six producing 180 horsepower, paired with an automatic transmission and air conditioning. Just 217 Flying Spur sedans were built, and their combination of rarity and beauty has made them highly valuable at auction.
The Continental GT coupe and convertible introduced a different approach to the grand touring formula. Although much of the car continued to be assembled by hand, Bentley incorporated mass-production technology into the process.
Greater accessibility did not mean sacrificing luxury. The Bentley featured six-language voice control for the phone, natural wood, carpeting, and colorful leather throughout the cabin.
Like other Bentleys, the Continental GT combined substantial dimensions with serious performance. Beneath its long hood was a powerful 6.75-liter turbocharged V8 producing 420 horsepower. Only 11 Continental GTs were built in 2003.
Bentley spent five years developing the Mulsanne's design. The process began with three digital concepts before designers created full-size clay models by hand. The result was a sedan with an unmistakably sculpted appearance.
Assembly was performed by hand and took 16 days, involving roughly 300 employees. The traditionally imposing sedan featured a low, elongated profile, a richly finished interior, and a highly polished exterior.
Following its philosophy of giving customers more choice, Bentley updated the Continental GT with a 4.0-liter twin-turbocharged V8. The engine produced the distinctive growl that became popular with Bentley enthusiasts while delivering 500 horsepower and improved fuel economy.
The V8 version can be identified by the winged B emblem fitted to the hood, wheels, and trunk lid. The exhaust outlets are also paired at the rear and shaped like the number eight.
The Supersports earned a reputation as the fastest and most powerful Bentley ever built at the time. It was lighter than other Continental GT models while receiving a substantially more powerful engine.
Inside, Bentley replaced traditional leather and wood with carbon fiber and Alcantara to help reduce weight.
The convertible was no less capable than its coupe counterpart. Its 621-horsepower 12-cylinder engine could propel it to 199 mph.
Compared with other sports cars, the Supersports remained a large and heavy machine. Yet it could hold its own against its performance rivals, while its elegant body lines set it apart.
Limited to just 300 examples, the 2.2-ton Continental GT3-R featured a turbocharged 4.0-liter V8 producing 572 horsepower.
Its styling drew heavily from the racing Continental GT3 that Bentley campaigned in competition. The GT3-R featured an aggressive aerodynamic body and a stripped-down interior with carbon-fiber seats.
To emphasize its motorsport connection, designers fitted the road car with a splitter and a fixed carbon-fiber rear wing. Two-tone green stripes along the sides further reinforced its resemblance to the race car.
The Bentley GTC is the convertible version of the Continental GT. With the latest GT and GTC variants, Bentley has moved beyond a gasoline-only powertrain.
The current setup combines a 4.0-liter V8 with an electric motor for a total output of 771 horsepower.
Yet even as Bentley's most powerful car to date, it remains unmistakably Bentley, with high-quality leather and wood throughout the cabin. The fabric roof of this 5,732-pound luxury grand tourer can open or close in just 19 seconds, shielding occupants from the elements and the wind.