Bertone and Pininfarina were among those commissioned to add timeless style to the

Bertone and Pininfarina were among those commissioned to add timeless style to the 5.0-litre V8s. The ultimate expression of that work can be seen on state occasions with the Queen riding in the back.The other side makes more affordable two and four-door Continentals through something approaching mass-production methods. Maserati, which already sells the pounds 70,000 Quattroporte, has the right heritage to become an Italian alternative to the British Bentley.And no one should underestimate Toyota. With fewer sales and higher prices, Jaguar could migrate to Bentley territory. General Motors is trying – with some success – to return Cadillac to its former glory as the “standard of the world” It, too, is believed to be preparing a flagship model. The success of this discovery will not go unnoticed by Bentley’s competitors.Cheaper Rolls-Royces and Maybachs would give Bentley some proper competition, for a start Ford-owned Jaguar is in search of a new direction.

To most people, they are still pretty pricey, but anyone in the market for a top-model Audi A8, BMW 7-series or Mercedes S-class would have to consider the Continentals.Demand for the GT indicates that Bentley has created a small (and lucrative) sector of the car market that was previously ignored. Bentley will, next month, also introduce the Arnage Limousine, a limited-edition version that represents the ultimate in Mulliner craftwork. One sells seriously expensive models that are hand-finished by Mulliner. Prices will be from pounds 270,000, which will make the model more of a Maybach and Phantom alternative. In addition, Bentley is preparing an Arnage convertible that seems destined to go on sale in spring 2006.Bentley under VW, then, has evolved into two companies. Mulliner makes everything possible; the only limit is the customer’s tolerance to financial pain. There, a standard pounds 160,000 Arnage can be turned into a personalised pounds 200,000 Arnage.

Against the trend in every other consumer field, it took Bentley downmarket with cheaper models and created a new market category. The term is relative, but at pounds 112,750 today, the Continental GT is probably the most affordable Bentley in history. The Flying Spur four-door version that goes on sale soon will be similarly priced. The pricing formula looks like a winner.Bentley is waiting for the right moment to tell the world how many Continental GTs were bought in 2004, the first full year of availability It will be an impressive number, in excess of 5,500. When the similarly priced Flying Spur reaches the market, Bentley should be on its way to those 9,000 annual sales.Not all will come from Bentley’s Crewe factory, in spite of the promises at the time of the VW takeover.