Is Bentley a Rolls Royce? The Real Story Explained

No, a Bentley is not a Rolls Royce. They are two separate British luxury car brands with a shared history, but asking is Bentley a Rolls Royce is like asking if Coke is Pepsi.

Both make some of the most expensive and fancy cars in the world. They both have that famous British style and a feel of pure luxury. But they come from different places and aim for different kinds of drivers.

This mix-up happens a lot. For many years, they were actually part of the same company. Their stories are tied together in a very close way.

That shared past is why so many people today still wonder, is Bentley a Rolls Royce? Let’s clear up the confusion once and for all.

The Short Answer: Is Bentley a Rolls Royce?

Let’s be very clear right from the start. The answer to is Bentley a Rolls Royce is a firm no.

Bentley Motors and Rolls-Royce Motor Cars are two different companies. They have different owners, different factories, and different design teams.

Rolls-Royce is owned by the BMW Group from Germany. They build their cars in Goodwood, England. Bentley is owned by the Volkswagen Group from Germany. They build their cars in Crewe, England.

So if you see a car on the road, you can tell them apart. They have different logos, different shapes, and different names on the front. They are rivals in the same market, not the same brand.

But the question is Bentley a Rolls Royce persists for a very good reason. Their histories were one and the same for over 60 years. That’s a long time to be linked together.

A Shared Beginning: How The Brands Started

To understand why people ask is Bentley a Rolls Royce, we must go back to the beginning. Both companies were born in the early 1900s in England.

Charles Rolls and Henry Royce founded Rolls-Royce in 1906. They wanted to make “the best car in the world.” Walter Owen Bentley founded Bentley Motors in 1919. He wanted to build “a fast truck, a good car.”

They were separate and competing from the start. Bentley was known for speed and winning races. Rolls-Royce was known for silent, smooth luxury.

Then came the Great Depression in 1931. Bentley was in big money trouble. Rolls-Royce saw a chance and bought the Bentley company.

This is the key moment. For the first time, is Bentley a Rolls Royce became a tricky question. Bentley was now a part of Rolls-Royce.

The Merged Era: When Bentley Was Rolls-Royce

After 1931, Bentley cars were basically Rolls-Royce cars with a different grille and badge. This lasted for decades.

Rolls-Royce made the chassis and engine. They put a Bentley body on it. The cars were nearly identical under the skin. This is the main source of the confusion.

For a regular person, asking is Bentley a Rolls Royce made sense. They looked so similar and came from the same factory. The difference was very small.

This period created famous cars like the Bentley S2 and the Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud. They were twins. This shared identity lasted right up until the 1990s.

So for most of their lives, the answer to is Bentley a Rolls Royce was yes. They were two faces of the same company. That changed in a very big way.

The Big Split: Bentley and Rolls-Royce Separate

The story gets complicated in the 1990s. The parent company that owned both brands, Rolls-Royce Motors, was for sale.

Two German giants wanted it: Volkswagen and BMW. A huge battle happened. In the end, they split the baby.

Volkswagen won the Bentley brand and the factory in Crewe. BMW got the rights to the Rolls-Royce name and logo. But BMW had to wait a few years to use it.

So from 1998 to 2003, Volkswagen made both Bentley and Rolls-Royce cars. This was the last time you could say is Bentley a Rolls Royce and be somewhat right.

In 2003, the split was complete. BMW started making new Rolls-Royce cars at a new factory in Goodwood. Volkswagen focused on Bentley in Crewe. They became true rivals.

Different Philosophies: Luxury vs. Performance

Today, the brands have very different goals. This makes the question is Bentley a Rolls Royce easy to answer by looking at the cars.

Rolls-Royce aims for what they call “effortless power.” Their cars are like floating lounges. They are quiet, smooth, and meant to be driven in by a chauffeur.

Bentley aims for a mix of luxury and high performance. Their cars are sportier and more engaging to drive. You feel the road more.

A Rolls-Royce Phantom is a statement of wealth and comfort. A Bentley Flying Spur is a luxury car you might want to drive fast yourself.

According to a BBC report on luxury brands, this distinction is key for buyers. They choose based on the experience they want.

So is Bentley a Rolls Royce in spirit? Not anymore. One is a magic carpet ride. The other is a handcrafted rocket.

Design and Style: Spotting the Differences

You can see the difference just by looking. The designs now are totally separate.

Rolls-Royce has the famous Pantheon grille and the Spirit of Ecstasy hood ornament. Their look is grand, upright, and very formal.

Bentley has a simpler, mesh grille and a large flying ‘B’ badge. Their look is more muscular and sporty, even on their big sedans.

Inside, both use amazing wood and leather. But the feel is different. Rolls-Royce interiors are like a classic English club. Bentley interiors feel more like a modern, high-tech cockpit.

So next time you see one, look closely. The visual answer to is Bentley a Rolls Royce is clear. They have not looked alike for over twenty years.

Ownership and Factory: Two Different Worlds

Where they are made proves they are not the same. The factories tell the story of their split.

Bentleys are still made in Crewe, England. This is the historic home they got from Rolls-Royce. Volkswagen has spent billions updating the plant.

Rolls-Royces are made in a new, custom-built factory in Goodwood, England. It’s near the famous horse racing track. The UK government highlights this as a key site for advanced manufacturing.

The workers at each factory are experts for their brand. A Bentley craftsman does not work on a Rolls-Royce, and vice versa. They have separate teams and separate traditions.

This physical separation is the final proof. Is Bentley a Rolls Royce on the production line? Absolutely not. They are built in different towns by different people.

Model Line-Up: Comparing What They Sell

Look at what they sell today. The model names show their different paths.

Rolls-Royce has the Phantom (the flagship), the Ghost, the Cullinan SUV, and the Dawn convertible. Their names are about mystery and elegance.

Bentley has the Continental GT (a sports coupe), the Flying Spur (a sports sedan), and the Bentayga SUV. Their names hint at speed and travel.

You would never mix up a Bentley Bentayga with a Rolls-Royce Cullinan. They are both luxury SUVs, but their style and drive are worlds apart.

The NHTSA lists them as separate manufacturers for safety ratings. This official record shows they are distinct companies.

So is Bentley a Rolls Royce in the showroom? No. A buyer walks into one dealership or the other. They don’t sell the same cars.

Why The Confusion Still Exists Today

Even with all these differences, people still get them mixed up. The old connection is hard to break.

For most of the 20th century, they were linked. Many classic cars from that era are literally the same car with a different badge. That legacy lives on.

In movies and pop culture, both brands represent ultimate wealth. They are often mentioned in the same breath. This keeps the old idea alive.

Also, most people don’t see these cars every day. They are rare. So the fine details that separate them are not common knowledge.

That’s why the question is Bentley a Rolls Royce keeps coming up. History casts a long shadow over these two iconic names.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Bentley owned by Rolls Royce?

No, not anymore. Rolls-Royce owned Bentley from 1931 to 1998. Today, Bentley is owned by Volkswagen, and Rolls-Royce is owned by BMW. They are completely separate.

Which is more expensive, Bentley or Rolls Royce?

Generally, Rolls-Royce models have a higher starting price. They position themselves as the pinnacle of luxury. Bentley is still extremely expensive but often a bit less than an equivalent Rolls.

Is Bentley as good as Rolls Royce?

This is about taste. Rolls-Royce is seen as the best in pure luxury and silence. Bentley is seen as the best mix of luxury and sporty performance. Both have incredible quality.

Did Bentley make Rolls Royce engines?

In the shared past, yes. When they were one company, engines were shared. Today, they use engines from their parent companies. Bentley uses Volkswagen Group engines, and Rolls-Royce uses BMW engines.

Is Bentley a Rolls Royce in terms of reliability?

They are complex, hand-built cars. Both have similar upkeep costs. According to Consumer Reports, ultra-luxury brands often have higher maintenance needs due to their complexity.

Why do people think Bentley is Rolls Royce?

Because for over 60 years, they basically were. The cars were nearly identical. That long history of being twins is why the confusion persists today.

Conclusion

So, is Bentley a Rolls Royce? The final answer is no. They are two distinct legends of the automotive world.

They share a tangled and fascinating history. For a long time, they were two sides of the same coin. But that chapter is closed.

Today, they compete with different ideas of what a luxury car should be. One is about serene comfort. The other is about powerful luxury. Both do their job amazingly well.

Next time you see one, you’ll know. A Rolls-Royce is a Rolls-Royce. A Bentley is a Bentley. And that’s the real story.