Bentley

Bentley Motors Limited is a British manufacturer of luxury automobiles. W.O. Bentley founded the company in 1919 in Cricklewood, North London, and it quickly gained fame for its sporting successes. Bentley dominated the 24 Hours of Le Mans in its early years, winning in 1924, 1927, 1928, 1929, and 1930. These victories cemented Bentley's reputation for both performance and engineering excellence. Financial difficulties forced Bentley to be acquired by Rolls-Royce in 1931.

Under Rolls-Royce ownership, Bentley became largely a badge-engineered version of Rolls-Royce vehicles, sharing platforms and components. It wasn't until the late 20th century, particularly after the acquisition by the Volkswagen Group in 1998, that Bentley began to re-establish its own distinct identity. Volkswagen invested heavily in Bentley, enabling the development of new models with unique styling, performance characteristics, and technological advancements. Today, Bentley is known for blending handcrafted luxury with high performance, competing at the very top end of the automotive market.