BENTLEYBrooklands 2007 - 2011

　　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.