Bentley does not build many cars like the Bentley State Limousine: a 4-door landaulet saloon with 6.75-litre twin turbocharged Rolls-Royce–Bentley L-series V8 engine, built from 2002 in the decade of stability control, dual-clutch gearboxes and the first serious hybrids. Production ran to 2 cars.
The story
The Bentley State Limousines are official state cars manufactured by Bentley as a gift for Elizabeth II on the occasion of her Golden Jubilee in 2002. The two cars produced were in service for the Queen up until her death in 2022. They have most recently been in service for Charles III. Anne, Princess Royal used the car while accompanying the Queen's coffin. Both cars are kept in the Royal Mews.
What is underneath
Under the skin sits 6.75-litre twin turbocharged Rolls-Royce–Bentley L-series V8 engine. Kerb weight is 3390 kg. The gearbox is a 4-speed GM 4L80-E automatic. The layout matters: a front engine drives the rear wheels, the classic proportion — long bonnet, cabin set back — that most people picture when they picture a sports saloon or a grand tourer. The wheelbase is 3844 mm. These are manufacturer figures carried by Wikipedia and Wikidata, not road-test measurements.
Its place in the line
Where it sits in Bentley's history is not in doubt: it was built at Crewe (Bentley Crewe), United Kingdom. On a showroom list of its day it stood against the Honda Accord, the Kia Sorento, the Volvo XC90. Nearby in the Bentley catalogue sit the Armoured Arnage and the Bentley 3 Litre.