Bentley’s return to the luxury coupe market is guaranteed to be an exclusive offering with only 550 of the four-seat grand touring coupe scheduled to be built. Encapsulated in a sleek new design that is reminiscent of high-performance Bentleys of the past, this new model features the most power engine ever produced by Bentley.

The Brooklands name is a tribute to the British race track that celebrates its 100th anniversary this year where the “Bentley Boys” race drivers earned their flamboyant reputation. “Bentley’s proud sporting pedigree, forged by the exploits of the immortal 'Bentley Boys' on the famous Brooklands race track in the 1920s, was the inspiration for our new coupe, capturing all the style, power and splendor of that era,” explained Dr. Franz-Josef, Paefgen, Bentley chairman.

The Brooklands features large 20-inch wheels, a short front overhang, a long rear overhang, and a long tall hood which are all styling elements that are traditional Bentley hallmarks. The low roofline, steeply raked windshield and flat rear glass give the coupe a powerful look. Director of Styling for Bentley, Dirk van Braeckel’s goal was “to create a powerful, muscular and rakish grand touring coupe with classic British proportions, in the finest Bentley tradition.”

The Brooklands will be hand built at Bentley’s factory in Crewe by craftsmen using traditional coach building techniques. This will showcase the craftsmanship skills in wood veneer and leather hide for which Bentley is well-known for. The first of the 550 Brooklands is expected to be delivered in the first half of 2008.

The most powerful V8 engine ever produced by Bentley will ensure that the Brooklands is exceedingly fast. The 6.75-liter twin-turbocharged V8 engine produces 530 horsepower and an astonishing 775 lb-ft of torque, the highest torque output ever for a production engine. The engine is mated to a six-speed automatic transmission with a strengthened casing that changes the way in which the engine and the transmission are able to communicate. A sophisticated locking torque converter and an electronic stability program help the driver to use of all the available power. A semi-automatic mode allows the driver to manually shift the transmission.

According to van Braeckel, the goal for the interior design team was “to create the perfect Bentley coupe: sumptuous, hand-crafted luxury with a distinctly sporting character.” The interior features famed Bentley craftsmanship and the finest natural materials. To personalize each car, customers may choose from a wide array of hides, veneers, carpet colors and seat belt colors. The four deeply bolstered seats add to the sporty feel of the interior, along with design aspects such as aluminum pedals and footrest. The headliner is a new single-piece, leather-trimmed design mirrors the profile of the exterior roofline.

The size of the Brooklands interior, which is 10 percent wider in the rear seat than the previous Bentley Continental R coupe, allows four adults to be transported in extreme style and comfort. The individual rear seats have power sliding cushions and are separated by a console that offers storage and cupholders.