When Bentley decided to redesign its most exclusive coupe, designers took inspiration from the famous Brooklands racetrack in Surrey, England where Bentley saw countless victories in the 1920's. This new coupe, a hardtop version of the Azure convertible, borrows that name to evoke memories of a dominant era in the brand's history.
Like the Continental R Coupe that came before it, the Brooklands is absolutely massive. And in order to transport four occupants in complete and total luxury, shouldn't it be? The Brooklands is certainly an impressive looking machine, if not stunningly beautiful. Its traditional-for-Bentley-coupes long rear overhangs suggest huge power -- or perhaps promise it. Notice its ability to visually reduce the size of the twenty-inch wheels.
While inspiration for the car dates to the 1920s, engine architecture goes back to a relatively recent 1959. That was the year that Crewe's hand-built V-8 was first used in a Bentley, producing nearly 200 hp and 300 lb-ft of torque. In the Brooklands however, the engine uses two turbochargers, and the numbers are truly monumental: 530 hp and 775 lb-ft of torque. That should be more than "adequate". In fact, this engine is the most powerful Bentley V-8 ever. Expect effortless acceleration anytime, anywhere, anyhow.
Bentley will guarantee exclusivity by assembling just 550 Brooklands coupes over the course of its model run. Delivery of the first cars should occur in early 2008.