Bentley Continental refers to several models of cars produced by Bentley Motors. Originally, it referred to a special chassis for engines more powerful than the usual offering, supplied to a selected number of coachbuilders for the fitting of very light-weight coachwork designed under Rolls-Royce supervision. The model name Continental had already been used by Rolls-Royce for models intended and geared for long-distance, high-speed touring on roads and of a style then only available in continental Europe. 1930s to 1950s advertising for even the Standard Steel Bentley saloons carried the slogan ''the Silent Sports Car''. The Continental model was a lighter, faster, more nimble high-performance version, for high-speed travel in great comfort. The Continental name has since been re-used by Bentley for unrelated automobiles from 1984 onward. __TOC__

1952 to 1965

Bentley 'Embiricos' Pourtout - Concours d'Elégance Bagatelle

Following the break brought about by the

Second World War World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposi ...

, Bentley resumed production of civilian automobiles, relocating its plant from

Derby Derby ( ) is a city and unitary authority area in Derbyshire, England. It lies on the banks of the River Derwent in the south of Derbyshire, which is in the East Midlands Region. It was traditionally the county town of Derbyshire. Derby g ...

to Crewe. There, Bentley engineers produced R-Type Continentals for three years, from June 1952 to April 1955. These cars were derivatives of the Standard Steel R-Type, the second series in Bentley's postwar luxury lineup. The R-Type Continental's chassis was specially built incorporating special components, including a high-performance engine, and fitted with very special light-weight bodies designed and built under the close supervision of Rolls-Royce. One of the world's most expensive automobiles, only about 208 R-Type Continentals were built in total. In 2015, a 1952 R-Type Continental, in unrestored condition, sold for over US$1 million. After the R-Type Continental, the Continental S1 (1955–1959), S2 (1959–1962), and S3 (1962–1965) were delivered, beginning in March 1955. The first S1 was well received, and 49 were built. The S2 was delivered from July 1959, and it debuted with a new L Series V-8 engine.. It also incorporated previously optional amenities, such as air conditioning and power steering. The S3, delivered from September 1962, was distinguishable principally by having four headlamps instead of two in the front wings. This series of the Continental ended with deliveries in November 1965, after the September 1965 introduction of the unitary construction T-series.

Production timeline

Grand Touring cars: * 1952–1955 Bentley R-Type Continental * 1955–1959 Bentley S1 Continental * 1959–1962 Bentley S2 Continental * 1962–1965

Bentley S3 Continental The Bentley S3 is a four-door luxury car produced by Bentley from late 1962 until 1965. The S3 was very similar to the S2, with the most-visible exterior difference being a four-headlamp layout reflecting that introduced on the Rolls-Royce Si ...

Production closed with the introduction of the unitary construction Bentley T-series. Bentley S1 Continental in New Zealand in the 1960's.jpg, Bentley S1 RREC Annual Rally 2006 4846433986.jpg, SC06 1962 Bentley S2 Continental Flying Spur.jpg,

1984 to 2002

The Continental nameplate was revived in 1984. The following cars with non-standard and distinctive bodywork were produced until 2002: * 1984–1995

Bentley Continental Bentley Continental refers to several models of cars produced by Bentley Motors. Originally, it referred to a special chassis for engines more powerful than the usual offering, supplied to a selected number of coachbuilders for the fitting of v ...

* 1991–2002

Bentley Continental R The Bentley Continental R is a luxury coupé manufactured by British automobile manufacturer Bentley Motors from 1991 to 2003. It was the first Bentley to feature a body not shared with a Rolls-Royce model since the 1965 S3 Continental and wa ...

* 1994–1995 Bentley Continental S * 1996–2002

Bentley Continental T Bentley Motors Limited is a British designer, manufacturer and marketer of luxury cars and SUVs. Headquartered in Crewe, England, the company was founded as Bentley Motors Limited by W. O. Bentley (1888–1971) in 1919 in Cricklewood, North ...

Bentley Continental (1988) 26-SF-SN p1.JPG, Continental_R.JPG, 2000 Bentley Continental R.jpg,

2003 to present

Three versions of the Continental have been sold following Vickers' sale of Bentley to

Volkswagen Volkswagen (),English: , . abbreviated as VW (), is a German motor vehicle manufacturer headquartered in Wolfsburg, Lower Saxony, Germany. Founded in 1937 by the German Labour Front under the Nazi Party and revived into a global brand post-W ...

: * 2003–present

Bentley Continental GT The Bentley Continental GT is a grand tourer manufactured and marketed by British automaker Bentley Motors since 2003. It was the first car released by Bentley under Volkswagen AG management, after the company's acquisition in 1998, and the fi ...

* 2006–2018

Bentley Continental GTC Bentley Motors Limited is a British designer, manufacturer and marketer of luxury cars and SUVs. Headquartered in Crewe, England, the company was founded as Bentley Motors Limited by W. O. Bentley (1888–1971) in 1919 in Cricklewood, North ...

* 2005–2013 Bentley Continental Flying Spur The next-generation Bentley Continental is scheduled for 2018, and it will include a plug-in hybrid variant. Bentley will borrow the plug-in hybrid powertrain from the

Porsche Cayenne S E-Hybrid The Porsche Cayenne is a series of mid-size luxury crossover sport utility vehicles manufactured by the German automaker Porsche since 2002 (Type 9PA or E1), with North American sales beginning in 2003. It is the first V8-engined vehicle built ...

. Components for Bentley Continental will be sourced from Volkswagen's plants in Germany and Slovakia, with stampings from Volkswagen's factory in Bratislava. Porsche's plant in Leipzig will be responsible for assembling bodies-in-white, alongside Porsche's

Panamera The Porsche Panamera is a Mid-size car, mid/full-sized luxury car (E-segment/F-segment in Europe) manufactured and marketed by Germany, German automobile manufacturer Porsche across two generations using a front-engine design, front-engine, rear ...

. Bentley's factory in Crewe will carry out final assembly. 2005 Bentley Continental GT - Flickr - The Car Spy (28).jpg,

References

External links

{{Bentley timeline 1998 to date

Continental Continental may refer to: Places * Continent, the major landmasses of Earth * Continental, Arizona, a small community in Pima County, Arizona, US * Continental, Ohio, a small town in Putnam County, US Arts and entertainment * ''Continental'' ( ...

Cars introduced in 1952 Cars introduced in 1984