2007 Bentley Azure Preview

Bentley Renames its Drophead Coupe Concept “Azure” Ahead of Production

Bentley announced yesterday that its Drophead Coupe Concept, which received such rave reviews when introduced at the Los Angeles Auto Show earlier this year, would be designated with the revered Azure name when it goes on sale next year.

“We have been inundated with demand for a new Azure virtually from the moment the original model ceased production,” commented Adrian Hallmark, member of the board, sales and marketing. “The exclusivity, style, luxury and performance of the new Bentley convertible flagship evoke the Riviera lifestyle like no other, fully justifying the revival of the Azure name.”

Anyone who thought that Bentleys flagship Arnage was on its way out of production after the unprecedented sales success the luxury marque has experienced with its new Continental GT coupe, and expects to achieve with the upcoming Continental Flying Spur four-door sedan based on the GTs architecture, may have jumped to conclusions too soon.

The Volkswagen-owned British automaker still sells a substantial number of top-line Arnage sedans, available in R, RL, T, T Mulliner and Limousine configurations, the latter not certified for North America, for an even more substantial entry price of $211,990.

Anyone whos taken a stint behind the wheel will be able to attest to the lofty price being worth every penny, not only because of the cars impossibly athletic road manners but also due to its superior craftsmanship and stunning attention to detail.

Yet as wonderful as it is, the arrival of the Arnage Drophead Coupe Concept must have been a bit of a surprise to those attending the Greater Los Angeles Auto Show where it was unveiled. After all, many would have been expecting the luxury marques well kept secret to be something else.

What, per say? Talk of the upcoming Continental GT-based Flying Spur four-door sedan had kept automotive analysts playing guessing games as to when it would debut, as did the highly anticipated Drophead Coupe (British for convertible if you hadnt already figured that one out) version of the lovely new GT, which is probably the single strongest reason why the Arnage-based drop-top was unexpected.

While Bentley dubbed it a concept, the luxury marques CEO Dr. Franz-Josef Paefgen admitted that production of the convertible Arnage would start in spring 2006 “if public reaction to the concept is favorable”.

The Bentley CEO added, “We had such amazing success with the Bentley Azure, which has developed a cult following although production stopped in 2003. Theres no reason why this new Arnage derivative couldnt fill the gap left by the Azure. If customer demand is there, it could go into production within a very short space of time - as early as spring 2006.”

Of course, in this league a favorable reaction needed to be a great deal more than oohs and ahs from show-goers passing by the Bentley stand, but rather deposit checks written for a vehicle that will reach far beyond a $300,000 purchase price when it would go on sale. This said, prices for the Azure have not yet been set, but will become known closer to when the vehicle becomes available for sale.

Despite an expected Continental convertible, the much more expensive Azure still makes a lot of sense. The previous Azure did very well, due to its extreme exclusivity, caused by a price that was much greater than a Continental GT based convertible isexpected to fetch, and being that Bentley updated its flagship sedan at great expense for the 2005 model year, a derivative product built off of its architecture would incur relatively low development costs and therefore reasonable potential profits even with low volume sales.

To this end Paefgen commented, “The 2005 Arnage range has been extensively re-engineered at significant cost and is a very modern, high-technology saloon. It is natural, therefore, that we would use this base to further our reputation as the pre-eminent builder of large, luxury convertibles in the world.”

The Azure is expected to sport the same all-powerful 6.75-liter twin-turbocharged V8 that accelerates the Arnage sedan with such alacrity, an engine that boasts 450-horsepower at 4,100 rpm and 646 lb-ft of torque at 3,250 rpm in top trim. A slightly more moderate 400-horsepower version of the twin-turbo V8 with 616 lb-ft of torque is expected to be offered as well.

It is also expected that the Azure will feature a version of the Arnage Ts sport-oriented suspension setup, as well as the comfort suspension as equipped to the Arnage R, which combines a modern double-wishbone suspension with the updated models extremely rigid body structure.

The Azures rapid expected acceleration and substantial weight necessitate top-notch braking and stability control equipment. Therefore, the Azure will most likely get the Arnages large ventilated brake systemenhanced by ABS, Electronic Brake pressure Distribution and Electronic Stability Program.

Of course, to meet the new Azures body stiffness targets the engineers will strengthen the cars passenger cell significantly, with additional steel bolstering added to the sill sections and extending into the A-pillars to reinforce the windshield frame. Likewise the convertibles undercarriage will be beefed up, with steel crossmembers reinforcing its entire framework.

The rear bulkhead, behind the rear seatbacks where an automated rollover protection system is to be located, will also been stiffened. Like similar systems, with the first of its type developed for mass use by BMW for its 3-Series convertible, two hoops integrated within the rear headrests will deploy if sensors detect an impending rollover, and by so doing join the reinforced windshield frame to act as a roll-cage, supporting the entire weight of the very hefty car - no small feat.

Much of the Drophead Coupe Concepts styling details are expected to carry forward with the new Azure, including its chrome trim, conservatively styled, chrome-finish 19-inch alloy wheels and burred walnut interior. A high-performance “T” model should also get the green light, which along with heightened driving dynamics would also include dash panels, console and door trim surfaced in machine turned metal, in memory of yesteryears classics, along with drilled-aluminum brake and accelerator pedals, chrome finished switchgear, perforated leather seats, trim and headliner, plus dark gray stained woodwork.

Of course, chrome-finished solid metal switchgear would remain prevalent throughout the new models cabin, while all of the Azures electronic interfaces would mirror those recently upgraded for the 2005 model year Arnage.

Other 2005 interior upgrades that will reflect on the Azure include improved ergonomics due to hidden secondary controls, updated instruments and switchgear, a new DVD-based navigation system, and a completely revised dashboard top. This makes for a more integrated design, with a much more powerful nav system that now includes coverage of entire continents on a single DVD disc.

The Drophead Coupes center console featured upgraded climate control and heating, ventilation and air conditioning switchgear, while switches for the power windows were more intuitively arranged than in the previous Azure. Those hidden secondary controls spoken of in the previous paragraph would include actuators for the power seats, memory functions and seat heaters, to be located beneath a sliding panel behind the gear lever.

The concealment process wont stop there, with Bentleys quest to simplify the cabins appearance to incorporate sliding wood panels to hide the audio system interface, ancillary ventilation controls, and ashtray.

Specific to the Drophead Coupe concept is a completely unique rear seating area, interestingly inspired by the contemporary Peel chair created by Norwegian Olav Eldoy, a furniture designer who found his muse in the swirling curve of a slice of orange peel, and transformed his vision into a body-hugging seat. Bentley, which will most likely carry this design forward into the production Azure, exercised the same principals in engineering the new prototypes curving rear bench seat and center-mounted armrest.

Creating a more intimate atmosphere, indirect lighting originating from behind the door armrests has been added. The look is immediately up-to-date, yet respectful of years of hand-made Bentley convertibles.

“The S1 Drophead Coupe from 1955 had a wonderfully understated but luxurious interior,” commented Robin Page, head of interior design, Bentley Motors, when the Drophead Coupe Concept was unveiled in Los Angeles. “For example, the doors had simple armrests with a leather pad on them and we have reflected that in this cars hide-trimmed armrests that run the length of the cabin sides and appear to be suspended away from the doors actual surface.

“Similarly, we admired the fluted leather in earlier drophead Continentals and echoed that with the vast amounts of warm and inviting leather hide that extends past the seats and onto the parcel shelf, thereby emphasizing the impressive dimensions of the rear compartment,”

added Page.

Also unique to this show car are burr oak veneers, replete with boxwood inlay. Burr oak is rare, an attribute that ideally suits anything Bentley creates, as did the Concepts Cotswold and Nautic Blue leather seating and trim surfaces. A wooden steering wheel featuring an inlayed chrome rim was also a unique item to this car. Such interior details are expected of the production Azure as well, although some items may be saved for an even more exclusive Mulliner version.

Then again, Bentleys in-house Mulliner personalization department would be happy to create pretty well any interior or exterior combination a client would dare dream up. Still, such a buyer would have to be very particular as Bentley regularly offers a large variety of “off the shelf” wood and leather combinations to fulfill most customers expectations.

Unique to the exterior of the Drophead Coupe Concept convertible was a gorgeous lower valance made of metal brightwork, which wrapped around the entire car creating a two-tone paint effect and contrasting the prototypes rich Meteor Blue outer coat. It is unknown whether Bentley will adopt this paint and brightwork theme for its new Azure when it becomes available. The concepts grille features a chrome matrix insert that matches
perfectly, and ties the classic flying “B” hood ornament into the overall design - an item not currently offered on any stock production Bentley.

More obvious updates made to the 2005 Arnage sedan can be seen in the Drophead Coupe Concepts sculpted wrap-around front fascia-fender assembly and exposed xenon low and halogen high beam quad headlamps, features that are expected to return on the new Azure. Bentley dropped the Rolls-Royce Seraph derived glass covered headlight clusters in the process, plus left behind the large vertical turn signals at each front corner, now integrating them more efficiently into the outside headlights for a much cleaner appearance.

When the Drophead Coupe Concept debuted, Bentleys head of exterior design Raul Pires stated, “We have tried to make the roof look as fast as we can,” adding, “The result is a design that combines fluidity, sportiness and elegance.”

The top folds up or down in a mere 25 seconds, impressive considering its size and weight, and easily within the allotted time it takes a stoplight to flash from red to green. Whats most important, however, is the car looks extremely elegant doing so.

“The Arnage Drophead Coupe is the latest in a long line of much-admired Bentley convertibles and we wanted to reflect that heritage as directly as possible,” offered Dirk van Braeckel, director of design, Bentley Motors. “The key to a four-seater convertible is that its grace and elegance is on display when the roof is down but it shouldnt lose any of that beauty when it is raised. We think we have struck that balance with the beautiful lines of the roof.”

Overall, what Bentley is calling “the worlds most elegant four-seater convertible”, an arguable claim, is a suitable update to the now discontinued Azure which completed its Final Series production in model year 2003. And being a suitable update, its worthy to carry forward the revered Azure nomenclature.

The update will deliver a more accommodating interior than the past Azure, with greater width in front and rear, the latter by as much as 20 percent, impressive driving dynamics, a sumptuous interior, and style to die for.

“There is clearly nothing quite like this car in the world - it is in a niche of its own,” stated Ashley Wickham, Bentleys chief engineer, when describing the Drophead Coupe Concept. “By the spring of 2006 we expect to be able to start production if there is sufficient interest from potential customers. It truly is the worlds most elegant convertible.”

And after hearing these words in January of this year I wrote, “Expect the response to Bentleys latest concept to be favorable and a new 2006 model year production version to show up soon.
While hardly the prognosticator of progrnosticators, as the concepts elegance and sheer majestry elevated it into a new league of desirability, that prediction did indeed come true and a new Azure is well on the way.

While only a few immortals will be able to pay the price of entry to take one home, at least aficionados of one of the worlds most revered marques will be able to admire it from afar.