Craftsmanship Passed Down Through Generations

Approximately 400km northwest of London. To put it simply, it's somewhere between Birmingham and Manchester.

The town of Crewe, where Bentley is headquartered, is a quiet, old place with little other industry to speak of. Their factory is nestled within this tranquility. Built in '49, it might be called charming in Japan, but to the eyes of the British accustomed to such buildings, it may appear somewhat unsophisticated.

Bentley, having spent most of its history in this town, must have faced significant decisions in 1998 when it came under the Volkswagen umbrella. Among these would have been the option to leave this location, centered around the factory, and relocate to a modern, convenient industrial area with dedicated administrative support. Yet, Bentley remained in Crewe. This decision likely stemmed from the recognition that the history embedded in this place and the artisans living and working in the surrounding community were their greatest assets. The term 'handcrafted,' invariably associated with Bentley products, cannot be discussed without acknowledging the skills of these artisans. In essence, it represents an immense value akin to fine crafts and folk art, a crucial factor that customers seek from a Bentley.

The Crewe factory has been modernized to an astonishing degree through Volkswagen's substantial and understanding investment. It feels like a secret base from a novel, hidden away for clandestine operations. The adjacent headquarters for administrative staff is decorated in a distinctly British modern style. However, nearly half of the facility is occupied by skilled artisans, likely more than half of the workforce, who quietly continue their manual work, sewing leather and shaping and polishing metal and wood. Witnessing them at work transcends the feeling of awe inspired by the finished product, creating an intimacy that makes you want to appreciate it with your own hands. It's a warmth that lies beyond the worldly measures of price and status, perhaps an indispensable value of Bentley that is rarely spoken of.

A New Form Expressing the Enduring Appeal of the Continental GT

It was last summer, by the side of the Crewe factory, that I first saw the new Continental GT. This is, of course, a full model change for the car that dramatically increased Bentley's total production volume tenfold, providing them with a passport to the 21st century. I expected surprises, but what appeared was a model that calmly refined the image of the first generation, both in its exterior and interior.

'Over 80% of our customers did not want a radical change for the Continental GT. That aligned with our intentions.'

While affirming this, the marketing director of the new Continental GT explained, referencing the Porsche 911, to my somewhat skeptical expression. The brand's enduring appeal is undeniable, but the Continental GT's journey as a product has just begun. While it is the most speed-oriented product in Bentley's history, they are approaching it with the same steadfastness as before. Although it was as expected, their composure was reassuring.

Mechanisms Refined Down to the Last Detail

Naturally, the changes more than compensate in drivability. While the chassis and engine have not been completely overhauled, every effort has been made to catch up with surrounding advancements and build further advantages.

With a suspension redesigned within the same format, a W12 engine with meticulous attention to moving parts, and further weight reduction, these refinements have re-established the new Continental GT as the benchmark for high-end coupés.

The ride of the new Continental GT can be described as having gained a welcome lightness and precision alongside the grandeur emanating from its substantial presence. The car's mass, which initially felt somewhat overwhelming at the debut of the first generation, has become more integrated with each refinement, as if the car itself was becoming more compact. The Continental Supersports, likely the most spartanly tuned in Bentley's history, represents the pinnacle of this evolution.

The Ideal Form of British Contemporary

It is safe to say that the new Continental GT possesses the drivability of the Supersports at its core. In other words, it significantly surpasses its predecessor in terms of the synchronicity between driver input and car response, the density of transmitted information, and the agility of its behavior. Built upon this drivability, it adds a sense of stability and supple ride comfort befitting a luxury coupé.

Maintaining speeds of over 200 km/h with apparent ease, and navigating tight corners with agility that belies its size, are child's play for the new Continental GT. During a test drive in Oman, where it was given free rein, my perception of the car's potential was once again broadened. Yet, as I experienced this, the interior exuded a meticulous craftsmanship that undeniably evokes the noble tradition of British automotive manufacturing.

The pursuit of ultimate industrial products by German engineering and the staunch preservation of ultimate craftsmanship by British manufacturing coexist seamlessly in the current Bentley Continental. This is perhaps the ideal form of British contemporary, adapted to a world where distances are rapidly shrinking.

If the Continental GT represents the contemporary line, then the Mulsanne is undoubtedly the heritage line. For Bentley, which has long adhered to a 'one engine, one chassis' philosophy, this car, the rightful successor to the Arnage, is likely perceived as a sumptuously grand chauffeur-driven vehicle.

A Body Crafted Entirely by Hand

The Mulsanne's shape takes inspiration from the Brooklands, a massive two-door coupé that sold out its limited run of 550 units in 2008. The twin-round headlights evoke the 1950s, but the use of modern elements like LEDs expresses its contemporary nature. The front fenders, housing these lights, are sculpted from a single sheet of aluminum using superforming technology. With its compact glass area and short front overhang, the body, a masterful fusion of modern form and classic details, is finished entirely by hand. The paint, also applied and hand-sanded, imparts a lustrous sheen to the flowing lines, even on a sunny day.

Nevertheless, the true essence of the Mulsanne as a work of art lies in its interior. Although the time has been compressed compared to its initial development, with no strict takt time in the overall manufacturing process of 350 hours, half of that, 170 hours, is dedicated to the interior craftsmanship. The wood panels that envelop the cabin take approximately one month to dry, cut, polish, and fit. The amount of genuine leather used, stitched by both machine and hand, is equivalent to that of 15 cows. Naturally, all gleaming surfaces are made of real metal, polished and shaped by artisans... The sheer amount of labor and materials is reflected in the extraordinary opulence of the interior. One reason Bentley remains in its historic home of Crewe is to preserve the artisans and workshops that have sustained this hand-built quality. Once inside the Mulsanne, this becomes undeniably apparent.

Despite being a large four-door saloon with such exquisite furnishings, it exhibits agile handling in the mountains that belies its size. Owners gripping the steering wheel are in for a delightfully surprising experience.

Sportiness Achieved Through Continuous Refinement

While the Mulsanne has undergone period-appropriate refinements such as weight reduction using aluminum, the latest suspension technology, and the adoption of an 8-speed automatic transmission, its fundamental structure is not new. The engine, though significantly updated in the cylinder head area and incorporating environmental technologies like cylinder deactivation, is based on the 6.75-liter V8 OHV with half a century of history. Therefore, the Mulsanne's sportiness is not derived from innovative newness but from continuous refinement.

As the abundant torque of 1020Nm is poured onto the rear wheels via the accelerator pedal, the body is firmly pressed back into the supportive seats with a low, resonant hum. The quality of speed in the Mulsanne, unlike any other car, is not merely violent but is accompanied by a fittingly heavy and soft embrace.

This is also true in cornering; instead of sharp gains that jolt the body, it's a resilient motion that gently absorbs the forces shifting fore and aft, left and right, smoothly guiding the car towards the exit of the corner.

Bentley declares itself a sports car brand. However, its approach differs significantly from many others. It's not about absolute acceleration or cornering speed, but about how to provide a fulfilling driving experience while maintaining an appropriate sense of distance from the car throughout the entire journey from A to B. They have been honing this for many years. The Mulsanne is a sports saloon that purely presents this accumulated experience in the modern era, representing the pinnacle of refinement. And if time cannot be bridged by technology alone, this unique existence will likely continue to be preserved.

BENTLEY CONTINENTAL GT COUPE | BENTLEY CONTINENTAL GT COUPE
Body Size | Length 4,806 x Width 1,944 x Height 1,404mm
Wheelbase | 2,746mm
Vehicle Weight | 2,320kg
Engine | 6.0-liter W12 Twin-Turbocharged
Maximum Output | 423kW (575ps) / 6,000rpm
Maximum Torque | 700Nm / 1,700rpm
Transmission | 6-speed AT
Fuel Consumption | 16.5ℓ/100km
CO2 Emissions | 384g/km
Drivetrain | All-wheel drive
Price | 24.15 million yen

BENTLEY MULSANNE | BENTLEY MULSANNE
Body Size | Length 5,575 x Width 1,926 x Height 1,521mm
Engine | 6.75-liter V8 DOHC Twin-Turbocharged
Maximum Output | 377kW (512ps) / 4,200rpm
Maximum Torque | 1,020Nm / 1,750rpm
Fuel Consumption | 16.9ℓ/100km
CO2 Emissions | 393g/km
Drivetrain | Rear-wheel drive
Transmission | 8-speed AT
Price | 33.80 million yen