Bentley Motors celebrates the 70th anniversary of the foundation of its Design department at Crewe. The first Crewe-designed Bentley was the R-Type Continental, which was unveiled back in 1951.
Andreas Mindt, Bentley’s Director of Design, comments:
Leading the next evolution of Bentley’s design DNA is a true honour, especially after so many decades of exquisite design in our studio in Crewe. There are iconic Bentleys that were created here – beautiful cars that have stood the test of time, and which inspire our styling cues to this day.
Our team of designers is now engaged with their next opportunity – creating Bentley’s first BEV, which must translate and reshape those classic forms and details to a truly future-facing design. Not only that, the car must be sustainable in more ways than just being electric – so we are exploring sustainable materials, recyclability and new ways of working to ensure the car has a low carbon footprint throughout its lifecycle. Getting this design absolutely perfect will help guarantee the next chapter in this astonishing history of Bentley Design.
The department’s key responsibilities were to communicate ideas and design proposals and share their vision with other areas of the business. This was achieved by collecting sketches and watercolor artworks, all done by hand.
The watercolor renders were then reproduced in scale or full-size technical drawings depicting side, front, rear, plan elevations, and sectional views along the body to describe to the model makers the form of the new car.
Today, designers follow a similar creation process as they did 70 years ago – in order to visualize the final result, model makers work with a metal framework is covered with a malleable material (historically wax, and more recently clay) then accurately shaped to describe the form of the new vehicle. Measurements could then be taken from the model and cross-referenced back to ensure the drawings were representative.
However, contemporary technologies aim designers to quickly assemble all the 3D models, with an accuracy down to the 100th of a millimeter.
Today’s virtual reality technologies and advanced computer systems allow sketch in a virtual world that can be experienced regardless of geographical location on screens or through headsets and augmented reality. Even with new tools and techniques, once the design has reached full maturity a full-size model will still be made, ensuring all of the fine details are perfect before release for production.
SEE ALSO: 2022 VW ID.4 earns a TOP SAFETY PICK PLUS award by the IIHS
Darren Day, Head of Interior Design – and the longest serving member of the Bentley design team, comments:
Despite the global pandemic we have had to learn to adapt and use the tools around us to continue evolving how we design. I had at least two of my design colleagues working in different locations around the world due to the pandemic travel restrictions preventing their return to Crewe. Using virtual reality we could hold design reviews, assess details, alternate texture, choose colour, swap materials and yet still make progress and achieve our deadlines.
Pyms Lane has remained the focal point for Bentley’s headquarters in Crewe since the factory was built in 1938. This focus will only accelerate Bentley’s plans to develop further areas of the site to support Bentley’s journey towards electrification. After 70 years, the business will relocate to one of the most iconic buildings on the campus for the next era, with the build of a new Design Studio in the months to come.
Bentley Motors finally announced full details of the new Mulsanne: the ultimate vehicle of the premium British automobile manufacturer. Handcrafted in Crewe, England, this vehicle is definitely the flagship of Bentley vehicles and represents brand’s never-ending desire and passion for doing even better and more refined vehicles. So, let’s waste no more time and see what this bad boy offers.
Many car debuts occur in closed-door halls with a curtain over the model in question and lots of smoke and techno music for setting up the mood. The whole reveling process has become a sort of a cliché and Bentley are well aware of that. That is why for the 
The latest Bentley Continental Supersports, which is also the first Bentley fitted with FlexFuel technology which allows it to run on E85 biofuel, gasoline or any combination of these two fuels, has further demonstrate its eco-friendliness by meeting the 85% recyclability standard. 
After its successful debut at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance in August, the stellar Bentley Mulsanne is enjoying great customer interest. 
Bentley Mulsanne is the name of the Bentley Motors all-new flagship grand tourer. The grand luxury car maker Bentley unveiled their new addition at the prestigious Pebble Beach Concours D’Elegance in Monterey, California. 
One of the motor industry’s hidden treasure troves will be opened for the first time in 26-27 September when Bentley Motors holds a one-off parts and accessories sales fair. The famous Crewe-based manufacturer will be offering professional traders and owners of both Bentley and Crewe-built Rolls-Royce cars, as well as enthusiasts of these iconic British marques, the opportunity to purchase anything from a V8 engine block or replacement gearbox right through to an indicator bulb or pristine, beautifully illustrated 1950s handbook. 
For the exhibition “Come to my World” in Berlin, the artist Romero Britto chose a Bentley Continental GT as a canvas for his cheerful and vivid signature motifs. 
Bentley Motors, founding sponsor of last year’s inaugural Cholmondeley Pageant of Power, will be joining this year’s celebrations (July 18-19) with some more unique cars from the company’s illustrious past. Bentley will also showcase the very best of contemporary British engineering, styling and craftsmanship by debuting the world’s fastest production convertible. 
Dr. Ulrich Eichhorn, Member of the Board for Engineering at Bentley Motors, will chart the progress of one of the world’s most remarkable and enduring automotive engines at the Sir Henry Royce Memorial Foundation lecture on January 22nd.