BENTLEY Brooklands Models/Series Timeline, Specifications & Photos

Bentley introduced the Brooklands in 2008 as a limited, 550 units production vehicle aimed at those who asked for a luxurious and very fast grand tourer.

Almost a decade after Bentley ended up under Volkswagen's umbrella, it still relied on older technologies, and its design department still made the cars in an old-fashioned way. A way that most carmaker's customers liked, even though it didn't attract too many new buyers for it. The Brooklands was the hard-top version of the Azure, and it was also related to the Arnage. The latter was developed before the brand was bought by the German automaker.

While some thought that the Brooklands still featured an old-school design, others argued that it was a timeless vehicle. Indeed, the straight-up grille that resembled a ship's bow was not a modern-looking design, and yet it was timeless. The quad headlights, on the other hand, were neatly integrated into the front panel. But it wasn't all old-fashion; the bumper, for instance, sported an aerodynamic look, with two wide side scoops and a smaller, center one. From the profile, the swept-back greenhouse with thick C-pillars (there were no B-pillars, though) gave the impression of speed. Finally, at the back, the carmaker integrated flush taillights into the rear quarterpanels, flanking the trunk's lid.

Inside, Bentley created a harmonious interior with a mix of expensive leather, precious wood grain, and chromed trims. The instrument cluster revealed just two large dials for the speedometer and tachometer, while above the center stack, the carmaker added five additional gauges. Maybe they were not very usual for a luxury car, but they were a decisive signature for a Bentley.

Under the hood, Bentley used a twin-turbo V8 engine carried over from Rolls-Royce. It was an evolution of the 49-year-old 6.75-liter powerplant developed by the British automaker that still used a pushrod system.

While the Rolls-Royce was made for those who wanted to be chauffeured, the Bentley was made for those behind the wheel, even though it was a luxury sedan.

At the beginning of the '90s, Rolls-Royce and Bentley were in the same boat sharing their underpinnings and most of the design cues. Yet, the Bentley was slightly different and even offered a few engines that were not available for its sibling. The Brooklands, for instance, shared most of its components with the Rolls-Royce Silver Spirit. Up until 1996, the two vehicles even shared the same engines and transmissions.

From the outside, the Brooklands showed a majestic, tall, and chromed grille adorned at the top with the Flying-B badge. Unlike the Silvers Spirit, the Brooklands featured quad-round headlights and massive, corner-mounted blinkers. From its sides, the brick-like design of the vehicle created the image of an opulent car, which it was. At the back, the horizontal taillights looked modern, on par with other cars from that era.

Inside, the carmaker installed a driving post that was focused around the driver. The key-fob was mounted on the outer side (resembling Le Mans Bentleys) and a wood grain-covered dash panel. The dials were lined-up on that, with only the speedometer and the tachometer placed in front of the driver, plus a small display between them that showed the gears. On the bench in the rear, there was enough room for three passengers, although the transmission tunnel was intrusive. As usual, the car manufacturer used only expensive leather for the upholstery, door cards, and even ceiling.

Under the hood, the Brooklands started with the same 6.75-liter V8 engine hand-built by Rolls-Royce engineers. Later on, in 1996, the Flying-B received a turbocharged version that made it slightly quicker. Power went to the rear wheels via a GM-supplied four-speed automatic transmission.