Simply Extraordinary
Throughout its history, the renowned British automaker has left motoring aficionados speechless with its exquisite blend of power and grace. The nature of the first Bentley engines built by founder Walter Owen Bentley could perhaps be considered prescient, seeing how they were used not in cars but in the Sopwith Camel plane. Leveraging the incredible power of the Bentley engine, the fighter plane became the most-feared aircraft during World War I, shooting down more enemies than any other Allied fighter.
The cars that followed in Bentley’s legacy were just as tenacious on the ground. Powered by a visionary engine, the Bentley 3 Litre Sport won the 1924 Le Mans, recognised as the oldest and toughest endurance car race in the world, to set the precedent in the motoring scene.
Bentley cars would go on to win another five races in 1927, 1928, 1929 and 1930. Now, 96 years after its founding, Bentley Motors continues to lead the field of automotive excellence as the most sought-after luxury motorcar in the world. The marque’s latest campaign, Be Extraordinary, is a rallying call to the world’s visionaries to forge ahead with accomplishing groundbreaking feats.
A series of events was also held around the world to celebrate the brand’s rich history and achievements, including the unveiling of the new look for the 16 MY Bentley Continental GT.
Starting in its home in Crewe, England, Bentley Motors kicked off a stunning global illumination relay with the projection of the #BeExtraordinary message onto the night sky and famous landmarks for six days.
Similarly spectacular light displays took place in major cities such as London, Moscow, Dubai, Shanghai and New York, before concluding on 14 September in Frankfurt.
Bentley Motor’s official partners, including luxury brands Vertu and St Regis Hotels, will also be involved in the campaign, with several activities across the globe lined up to echo the brand’s dedication to the extraordinary in automobile innovation and design.
Embodying all the qualities of the British brand is French actor Jean Reno. The awardwinning thespian, who has starred in blockbuster films such as Leon: The Professional and The Da Vinci Code, has been one of the automaker’s most fervent customers throughout the years, as evidenced by his impressive stable of five Bentleys.
As part of the #BeExtraordinary campaign, Reno starred in a brand film alongside the newly unveiled Bentayga and gave a rousing monologue about what it means to be in an elite league of one’s own.
The campaign also saw an exclusive gathering of creative minds at luxury boutique Maison Assouline in London’s chic district of Piccadilly. Hosted by Wolfgang Durheimer, chairman and CEO of Bentley Motors, the event featured artists such as London-based fashion designer Alice Temperley and acclaimed portrait artist Rupert Alexander.
Over an exquisite 12-course dinner created by three-Michelin-starred French culinary icon Guy Martin, the personalities deconstructed the meaning of extraordinary, something which Bentley Motors knows all too well.
To find out more about the campaign, search for #BeExtraordinary on any of Bentley Motors’ social media platforms, including Instagram, Twitter and Facebook.
The 16 MY Bentley Continental GT, one of the British automaker’s bestselling models, received a fresh new look this year with a slew of exterior and interior upgrades.
The iconic Grand Tourer now exudes a bolder frontage thanks to adjustments to the front bumper and radiator shell, while a new vent on the fenders lends a sublime blend of grace and muscle to the renowned ‘power line’ that stretches from the front arches to the rear. The addition of 20-inch and 21-inch five-spoke sports wheels accentuates the confident stance.
On the inside, the four seats and the Mulliner Driving Specification are now decked out in a stunning new coat, while the driver controls and instrument panel have been given a contemporary upgrade.
The ferocious six-litre twin turbo engine has also been given a boost to power and torque, alongside enhancements to the vehicle’s fuel economy and CO2 emissions, ensuring its driving experience remains top of the class.
