BentleyBrooklands is the name of two distinct models manufactured by British automobile manufacturerBentley Motors. The first Brooklands was a full-size luxurysaloon, launched in 1992 to replace the Bentley Mulsanne and in turn succeeded by the Bentley Arnage in 1998. Bentley resurrected the nameplate in 2007 with the Brooklands Coupé, a 2-door, 4-seater hardtop coupé version of the Azure made between 2008 and 2011 in limited numbers. These cars were named after the Brooklands bankedrace track in Surrey, where Bentley obtained some of its greatest triumphs in the 1920s and 1930s.
Brooklands (1992–1998)
The Bentley Brooklands was introduced in 1992 as a replacement for the Bentley Mulsanne S and Bentley Eight models. It was intended as a slightly cheaper alternative to the Bentley Turbo R, featuring the same styling, underpinnings and the Rolls-Royce 6.75-litre V8 engine, but initially without the more powerful model's turbocharger. A turbocharged version appeared in 1996. The Brooklands continued Bentley's relatively angular design theme, which was also used on contemporary Rolls-Royce vehicles, throughout the 1980s and early 1990s. The exterior design featured the classic Bentley waterfall grille as well as dual headlights with wraparound parking lights. As in many Bentley and Rolls-Royce vehicles, the Brooklands also featured the trademark descending bootlid and chrome B-pillars. The interior remained relatively unchanged from previous Bentley models, with more curvaceous design elements surrounding the leather-wrapped centre console. The steering wheel and interior door panels remained largely unchanged; the major change arrived in the form of relocating the gear selector to the centre console - for decades the standard practice among R-R and Bentley models utilised a steering column mounted selector. The interior continued to be surrounded by ample woodgrain which featured engraved, lighter-colored outlines on the door panels. In the U.S. prices for the Brooklands started at around $156,500.
In autumn of 1996 Brooklands received an update in a form of light-pressure turbo, boosting power output to 300 bhp.
Brooklands R
In 1998, there also was a Brooklands R derivative available, with suspension upgrade borrowed from Turbo R model and with a light-pressure turbo, that should be seen as a replacement for standard Brooklands. Cars were badged as 'Brooklands R'.
Brooklands (2008–2011)
The second Bentley Brooklands is a fixed-head version of the Bentley Azure, featuring a two-door, four-seater pillarlesshardtopcoupé body, eliminating the B-pillars. It was unveiled at the 2007 Geneva Motor Show, to be built for the 2008 model year. As a hand-assembled car made in very small numbers, employing traditional coach-building techniques and craftsmanship skills in wood and leather, the Brooklands Coupé was the true successor to the discontinued Bentley Continental R and T. Planned lifetime production was limited at 550 cars, and deliveries started in the first half of 2008.
