Bentley Continental is a model name for very special chassis with 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. Their Continental was a lighter faster more nimble high performance version for high-speed travel in great comfort. The same name, without the same specification, has since been recycled twice by Bentley in 1984 and again in 2003.
From 1952 to 1965
Grand Touring Cars. Following the break brought about by the Second World War Bentley resumed production of civilian automobiles relocating its plant from Derby 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 a 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. After the R-Type Continental the Continental S1, S2, and S3 were delivered beginning in March 1955. The first was well received and 49 were built. The S2 delivered from July 1959, debuted with a new L SeriesV-8 engine,. It also incorporated previously optional amenities, 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. In 2015 a 1952 R Type Continental, in unrestored condition, sold for over $1 million USD. The second generation of the Continental ended with deliveries in November 1965 after the September 1965 introduction of the unitary construction T Series. The Continental nameplate would not be revived until 1984.
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. 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, along Porsche's Panamera. Bentley's factory in Crewe will carry out final assembly.
