LA debut for Bentley Grand Convertible
Well where better than California to show a drop-top Mulsanne?
The Grand Convertible specification is unsurprisingly identical to the Mulsanne Speed saloon. That venerable 6.75-litre twin-turbo V8 makes the same 537hp and 811lb ft (!) with Bentley promising the 'luxury of effortless performance to match its unparalleled style'.
We make no claims as arbiters of the latter but you certainly can't fault Bentley's impeccable attention to detail. The largest piece of wood veneer ever applied to a Bentley is fitted over the tonneau and is fashioned entirely by hand. It's Burr Walnut too, in case you were wondering.
And with the roof down there's further opportunity to admire the sumptuous interior. There are 14 diamond quilted hides in there and many hours of hand-stitched trim.
But there's an elephant in the room, isn't there? And it isn't fuel economy. The Grand Convertible's colour is Sequin Blue, reputedly first sourced from a customer's haute couture gown. That's all well and good but, when combined with the silver bonnet... well, it's a paint scheme Rolls-Royce has already done with the Phantom Drophead, isn't it? Bentley won't appreciate that being pointed out but that's the inevitable conclusion.
Anyway, unfortunate colour combo aside, the Grand Convertible looks the perfect way to waft three acquaintances along the Pacific Coast Highway. Expect confirmation of a production version (with different colours) very soon.
To be honest a Hotel de Paris doorman might actually be more likely to not spit on you driving an E300 rather than an E30...
Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff