Bentley State Limousine

The Bentley State Limousines are official state cars manufactured by Bentley as a gift for the late Queen 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 King Charles III. The Princess Royal used the car while accompanying the Queen's coffin. Both cars are kept in the Royal Mews.

Description

The vehicles' twin-turbocharged, 6.75-litre V8 engines have been modified from Bentley's Arnage R version to produce and of torque. Their maximum speed is .

File:2002 Bentley State Limousine rear.jpg

View from the rear.

The State Limousines are longer than a standard Bentley Arnage, taller, and wider. They are equipped with broad coach doors opening to the rear by almost 90 degrees. Opaque panels over the rear window of the cars can either be installed for added privacy or removed for added visibility of the occupants. For protection of the occupants, the bodywork and glass are armoured, the cabin can be sealed air-tight in case of gas attack and is also blast-resistant, and the tyres are kevlar-reinforced.

File:Hield Bentley Interior.jpg

Interior view.

File:Queens Bentley displaying lights.jpg

The State Limousines are equipped with flashing blue lights. The Scottish lion bonnet mascot is displayed here, as is the Royal Standard and shield for Scotland (royal visit to Perth, 2012).

The Bentleys are used mostly on official engagements and are always escorted by a selection of marked and unmarked Royal Protection Squad vehicles, along with local police vehicles and motorcycle outriders. The motorcade usually includes a support vehicle to carry staff and aides, which was previously a silver VW Transporter minibus, until replaced by a black Mercedes V-Class in 2019. Both minibuses used the registration plate 1 KUV.

The Queen also used the Bentleys at Sandringham House, and for travelling to and from Crathie Kirk when at Balmoral. Until her death in 2022, she typically used the Bentleys on the rare occasions that she travelled abroad, but also used other state cars or a vehicle provided by her hosts.

Like all British state cars, the Bentleys have a mount on the roof for an illuminated coat of arms and a flag, which can be inserted from inside the vehicle. These usually feature the royal coat of arms and the Royal Standard respectively, although other symbols can be used for occasions such as a state visit.

When carrying the Queen, the Bentley "Flying B" bonnet mascot was replaced, either by the Queen's personal English mascot of Saint George slaying the dragon (made by the artist Edward Seago) or, in Scotland, by a single standing lion.

The Bentleys are equipped with flashing blue lights, two within the radiator grille and two mounted on the front bumper. The State Limousines neither have nor require number plates. The Bentleys are painted claret and black, in keeping with all British state vehicles.

In January 2009, it was announced that the Bentley State Limousines would both be converted to run on biofuel.

The vehicle was showcased at the 2013 Coronation Festival in Buckingham Palace Gardens.

The two limousines are said to be valued at £10 million each.

Production

British textile manufacturer Hield Brothers produced the lambswool sateen cloth used for the upholstery of the rear seats.

The unique bodywork was built by Bentley's Mulliner coachbuilding division.

Only two of these vehicles were built, making it even rarer than the Rolls-Royce Phantom IV, of which just 18 were built for royalty and heads of state.

See also

• Prime Ministerial Car (United Kingdom)

External links

• Bentley State Limousine for H.M. The Queen
• The Queen arrives for a visit to Google's London HQ in the Bentley State Limousine

Type

1920s

1930s

1940s

1950s

1960s

1970s

1980s

1990s

2000s

2010s

2020s

Ownership

Bentley Motors Limited (1919–1931)

Rolls-Royce Bentley Motors (1931) Limited (1931–1980)

Vickers plc Rolls-Royce Bentley Motors (1931) Limited (1980–1998)

Volkswagen Group (1998–)

Coachbuilder's open 2/4 seater

3 L

4½ L 6½ L Speed Six

Coachbuilder's large saloon coupé or convertible

6½ L Speed Six 8 L

4L 3½  4¼L Mark V

Mark VI

R

S1 S2 S3

T

C o n t

Continental S1 Continental S2 Continental S3

Cars with Bentley own-factory coachwork

Large saloon

Mark VI

R

S1 S2 S3

T1

T2

Mulsanne

Brooklands

Arnage

Mulsanne

Turbo R

Coupé

Corniche

Continental R/S/T

Br.

Convertible

Corniche

Continental

Azure

Bentleys on Volkswagen Group platforms

Large saloon

Flying Spur

Coupé

Continental GT

Convertible

Continental GTC

SUV

Bentayga

Type	1980s										1990s										2000s
	0	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	0	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	0	1	2	3
Ownership	Vickers																		Volkswagen Group
Saloon					Eight
	Mulsanne								Mulsanne S					Brooklands					Arnage		Arnage Red Label		Arnage R
			Mulsanne Turbo				Turbo R											Turbo RT			Arnage Green Label		Arnage T
																						Arnage LWB/ RL
Coupé												Continental R
															Continental S		Continental T
Convertible	Corniche				Continental											Azure
Color code	Silver Shadow-based								Mulsanne-based								Arnage-based

Type	1990s		2000s										2010s										2020s
	8	9	0	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	0	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	0	1	2	3	4	5
Ownership	Volkswagen Group
Saloon								Continental Flying Spur								Flying Spur							Flying Spur				Flying Spur
	Arnage		Arnage Red Label		Arnage R								Mulsanne
			Arnage Green Label		Arnage T												Mulsanne Speed
				Arnage LWB/ RL															Mulsanne EWB
Coupé	Continental R					Continental GT								Continental GT							Continental GT						Continental GT
	Continental T										Brooklands Coupé															Batur
Convertible										Continental GTC				Continental GTC							Continental GTC						Continental GTC
	Azure								Azure															Bacalar
SUV																		Bentayga
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