Bentley’s “Winged B” Wings Have Been Redesigned Five Times in Its 106-Year History [Car Emblem Secrets 15: Bentley]

BENTLEY

1919: A legend is born

Since the company’s founding, the Bentley emblem has consistently maintained the composition of a central B and two wings. The original design was created by Frederick Gordon-Crosby, an automobile artist and friend of founder Walter Owen Bentley. The brand’s initial “B” is placed in the center, with a pair of wings on either side representing the “exhilaration of movement.” It is said that the wings also pay homage to Bentley’s history as a designer of fighter jet engines. The asymmetrical number of blades is said to combine individuality with anti-counterfeiting.

From acquisition by Rolls-Royce to VW

The Continental GT was released under the VW umbrella.

When Bentley was acquired by Rolls-Royce in 1931, the emblem underwent its first change, becoming symmetrical. The wings were designed with straight lines, and the letter “B” was also simplified. This emblem remained in use for over 60 years, until it was redesigned a second time in 1996.

In 1996, the car evolved into the third generation, incorporating the nuances of the Crosby era, with the return of the curved wings and decorative “B” design.

In 1998, Bentley became part of the Volkswagen Group, and with the introduction of the Continental GT in 2002, the emblem was updated. The same asymmetrical design as the first generation (10 blades on the left, 11 blades on the right) was revived, and a new winged B was born, combining classic and modern elements.

The fifth generation is sharper and more modern

On July 1, 2025, Bentley unveiled its fifth-generation emblem along with its next-generation concept car. The new design retains iconic elements such as the diamond pattern on the inside of the wings and the “centre jewel” of the “B”, while evolving into sharper, more powerful lines.

The wings, which were previously expressed with soft curves, have been replaced with sharper angles reminiscent of a falcon. The feathers depicted below the B have been eliminated, giving the logo a more refined visual impression. The center jewel has also been redesigned so that it can be used as a standalone brand icon, and features details reminiscent of luxury watches.

The future of the new Winged B

“The essence of a luxury brand lies in the story it tells, and its emblem is its signature. The new ‘Winged B’ is simple, sharp and powerful – it symbolises Bentley’s future,” said Robin Page, Bentley’s design director, who led the emblem change project.

The emblem is displayed in the most prominent place on the car as a symbol of the brand. In Bentley’s case, it is proof of more than a century of craftsmanship and innovation, and also a symbol of the design philosophy that foreshadows the future of Bentley. On July 8, 2025, the fully electric concept car “EXP 15” bearing this new emblem made its debut. Along with the new Winged B, how will the new generation of Bentley, including BEVs, develop in the future? We can’t take our eyes off it.