Upcoming Bentley Sedan to Create a Stir in Premium Market

While most in the loop are awaiting news of a drop-top version of the GT to replace the Azure, it looks more likely that

Bentley will spin a 4-door sedan off of the Continental GT architecture, dubbed "Baby Bentley" among insiders. (Photo: Independent Rendering)

Bentley will spin a 4-door sedan off of the Continental GT architecture first. Currently known outside Crewe's inner circles as the "Baby Bentley", the model may not be built at the legendary British facility after all. The company announced Wednesday that it is considering building the new model in Dresden, Germany, where VW manufacturers the extremely slow-selling Phaeton.

A Bentley spokesperson commented, "Since the factory (Crewe) is reaching full capacity, one could theoretically build some of the smaller four-door Bentley models, which are expected to hit the market around the middle of next year, in Dresden."

The move would make monetary sense, which in this day and age usually takes

With the Bentley factory in Crewe reaching full capacity, there is talk of using the plant in Dresden, Germany, where VW manufacturers the extremely slow-selling Phaeton, to build an upcoming Bentley sedan. (Photo: Shawn Pisio, Canadian Auto Press)

priority over any concerns an automaker might have about brand image or identity. Although, the unique British-ness that makes a Bentley a Bentley has a great deal to do with its British heritage, and there are some brand loyalists that may not take too kindly to its next-generation sedan being built offshore of Her Majesty's isles.

In order to quell any concerns the Bentley spokesperson added that such a plan was only in consideration and that even if a decision was made to move forward with the scheme a significant portion of models would still be assembled in at Crewe in England to maintain the brand's image.