Bentley Brooklands

Bentley Brooklands
Overview
Manufacturer	Bentley Motors
Production	1992–1998 2008–2011
Model years	1993–1998 2008–2011
Assembly	England: Crewe
Body and chassis
Class	Full-size luxury car (F) (1992–1998) Grand tourer (S) (2008–2011)
Layout	Longitudinal, Front-engine, rear-wheel-drive

Bentley Brooklands is the name of two distinct models manufactured by British automobile manufacturer Bentley Motors. The first Brooklands was a full-size luxury saloon, 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 banked race track in Surrey, where Bentley obtained some of its greatest triumphs in the 1920s and 1930s.

Brooklands (1992–1998)

Bentley Brooklands
Overview
Production	1992–1998
Model years	1993-1998
Body and chassis
Body style	4-door saloon
Related	Rolls-Royce Silver Spirit
Powertrain
Engine	6.75 L Bentley V8 6.75 L turbo Bentley V8 (since 1996)
Transmission	4-speed automatic
Dimensions
Wheelbase	SWB: 3,061 mm (120.5 in) LWB: 3,162 mm (124.5 in)
Length	1996-98 LWB: 211.8 in (5,380 mm) 1993-95 SWB: 207.5 in (5,270 mm) 1993-95 SWB: 5,268 mm (207.4 in) 1996-98 LWB: 5,370 mm (211.4 in)
Width	1992-95: 1,887 mm (74.3 in) (w/mirrors: 2,007 mm (79.0 in)) 1995-98: 1,914 mm (75.4 in) (w/mirrors: 2,111 mm (83.1 in))
Height	1,486 mm (58.5 in)
Chronology
Predecessor	Bentley Eight Bentley Mulsanne S
Successor	Bentley Arnage

Bentley Brooklands

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.

Specifications

The 1992–1997 Brooklands was driven by a 6.75-litre Rolls-Royce V8 engine with a four-speed automatic transmission. The vehicle was rear-wheel drive, and featured independent front and rear suspension. While not as large as some other ultra-luxury cars, the Brooklands remained quite large with an overall length of 5,370 millimetres (211.4 in) and wheelbase of 3,162 millimetres (124.5 in) (5,268 millimetres (207.4 in) and respectively 3,061 millimetres (120.5 in) in SWB trim).

1996 update

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)

Bentley Brooklands
Overview
Production	2008–2011 550 units
Designer	Bentley design team under Dirk van Braeckel
Body and chassis
Body style	2-door hardtop coupé
Related	Bentley Arnage Bentley Azure
Powertrain
Engine	6.75 L twin-turbo Bentley L Series V8
Transmission	6-speed ZF automatic
Dimensions
Wheelbase	3,116 mm (122.7 in)
Length	5,411 mm (213.0 in)
Width	1,900 mm (74.8 in) (w/mirrors: 2,125 mm (83.7 in))
Height	1,473 mm (58.0 in)
Kerb weight	2,650.5 kg (5,843 lb)
Chronology
Predecessor	Bentley Continental R Bentley Continental T

The second Bentley Brooklands is a fixed-head version of the Bentley Azure (itself related to the Bentley Arnage), featuring a two-door, four-seater pillarless hardtop coupé 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.

Specifications

The Brooklands is powered by a 6.75-litre Bentley L Series twin-turbocharged OHV V8 engine, producing 530 bhp (395 kW; 537 PS) at 4,000 rpm and 1,050 N⋅m (774 lb⋅ft) at 3,250 rpm, at the time the highest torque ever developed by a production petrol V8 engine. The engine was linked to a reinforced 6-speed ZF torque converter automatic, with a Tiptronic manual gear selection function.

A Carbon fibre-reinforced Silicon Carbide (C/SiC) ceramic composite braking system with 14-inch SGL Carbon brake discs was optional, with 20-inch wheels only.

Performance

• 0 to 60 mph (0 to 97 km/h): 5.0 seconds
• 0 to 100 km/h (0 to 62 mph): 5.3 seconds
• Top speed: 296 km/h (183.9 mph)
• 0 to 100 mph (0 to 161 km/h): 11.7 seconds

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External links

• Bentley Motors official international portal
• 2008 Brooklands on Bentley Motors' media site
• Bentley Brooklands Image Gallery