Will the second-generation Azure be the last big Bentley convertible? [Bentley 100 Years of History]

AZURE

All work done in-house

The Azure was born in 1995 as a drophead coupe based on the Continental R. The body was redesigned and engineered for the open-top format by the prestigious Italian coachbuilder Pininfarina, and then sent to the company’s headquarters in Crewe, England for assembly.

However, with the discontinuation of production of the Continental R, on which it was based, production of the Azure also ceased in 2003. This meant that the lineage of big coupes and convertibles came to an end for a while. Then, in 2005, Bentley unveiled the Arnage Convertible Concept at the Los Angeles Auto Show. The second-generation Azure, a production model based on this concept, was unveiled at the Frankfurt Motor Show that same year.

The Azure was based on the flagship saloon, the Arnage. Its wheelbase is the same as the Arnage’s, at 3,116 mm, but the platform was reinforced with a carbon fiber underfloor cross brace to accommodate the open-top design. A 5,400 mm long two-door body designed by Crispin Marshfield, while still retaining the Arnage’s image, was fitted to transform it into an elegant two-door convertible.

A distinctive feature of the second-generation Azure is that all of these processes were carried out in-house. The soft top is a three-layer structure with excellent weather resistance, and can be retracted in 30 seconds using a hydraulically operated electric opening and closing system. The interior is, of course, luxurious, lavishly appointed with high-quality leather and wood, and the layout of the switches and driving position is based on the latest ergonomics, a major difference from the first-generation model.

The engine was a significantly improved version of the 6.75-liter V8 OHV, which had once again come into the spotlight following the takeover battle between Volkswagen and BMW, and featured the same newly designed block, cylinder head, intake and exhaust valves, valve gear, Bosch Motronic ME7.1.1, and two Garrett T3 turbochargers as the Arnage Series 2. It produced the same maximum power and torque as the Arnage T, 456 PS and 875 Nm. The only transmission available was a 6-speed automatic ZF 6HP-32. The drivetrain was rear-wheel drive, and despite weighing 2,695 kg, it recorded a top speed of 270 km/h and acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h in 6.3 seconds.

The last big Bentley convertible

At the 2008 Los Angeles Auto Show, Bentley unveiled the Azure T, a high-performance version of the Azure.

On the exterior, it is fitted with Le Mans air vents at the bottom of the front bumper, dark tinted upper and lower grilles, an aluminum jewel filler cap, door mirror mounts finished in the same color as the body, and 8.5J x 20-inch 5-spoke 2-piece aluminum wheels fitted with 255/40 ZR20 Pirelli P Zeros.

The 6.75-liter V8 OHV twin-turbo engine in the nose has been significantly tuned up to a maximum output of 507 PS and a maximum torque of 1000 Nm by changing the turbocharger to a Mitsubishi-made one and improving the management system, etc. As a result, it delivers amazing performance with a top speed of 288 km/h and acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h in 5.5 seconds.

Production of the Azure ended with the arrival of the flagship saloon Mulsanne in 2010. In 2014, a two-door convertible concept car based on the Mulsanne was unveiled, but only 19 units were produced by Mulliner in 2019 for a limited number of customers, making the second-generation Azure essentially the last big convertible made by Bentley at this time.

Related reading

The Arnage’s incredible performance, born from the twisting phenomenon between VW and BMW [Bentley 100 Years of Car History]

Bentley has now firmly established itself as a luxury sports car manufacturer. Let’s explore the history of car manufacturing spanning 100 years, which began with the passion and unique technology of Walter Owen Bentley, the driving force behind its creation. This time, we will explain the incredible performance of the Arnage, which was born during the period when VW and BMW were competing against each other.