Upcoming Bentley Sedan to Create a Stir in Premium Market

Bentley May Build Much of Its "Baby" in the Slow-Selling VW Phaeton's Dresden, Germany Plant

Volkswagen may have trouble differentiating its VW and Audi brands, both now fighting over the same wealthy clientele with the

Unlike its parent company, Bentley seems to have a very clear vision of where it wants to be in the marketplace. Its next-generation sedan will continue the marque's ultimate luxury theme at an even better value. (Photo: Independent Rendering)

Phaeton and A8 full-size luxury sedans, plus the Touareg and upcoming Q7 SUVs, but the automaker's top-tier Bentley division seems to have a very clear agenda as to how it is going to become the world's number one selling ultra-premium brand over the next few years, at least if going by initial sales numbers of its Continental GT coupe.

Why has the new Continental GT been so successful at attracting the very wealthy? It seems even rich folks know a good deal when they see it, and at $224,990 the new GT is extremely attractive to those who have always wanted but could never afford a Bentley before. If it was a stripped down, bargain basement variant then there would be little value at all, but Bentley knows better than to try and get away with anything less than the best. Rather, the

Even the very wealthy know a good deal when they see it, and at $224,990 the Continental GT coupe is a great value. Bentley will spin an even lower priced 4-door variant off of the GT's architecture. (Photo: Bentley Motors)

Continental GT takes most everything that made the previous Continental a marvelous road car and improved upon it while leaving about half of the old car's price tag in the past.

Such are the benefits of being owned by the world's fifth largest automaker, and one that has invested a great deal in the upper regions of the auto market, also owning sports carmakers Lamborghini and Bugatti. Bentley didn't look to cross-pollinate with either the Italian or French exotics when developing the Continental GT, however, but rather took advantage a Volkswagen product. Not a Golf, Jetta or Passat of course, but instead the new Bentley shares much of its running gear and chassis architecture with VW's extremely competent Phaeton sedan. This is a major step forward from the "olde world" Continental, a car that was much in need of an update yet still equipped with an extremely engaging drivetrain and platform.