Thursday 20th November 2014
LA debut for Bentley Grand Convertible
Well where better than California to show a drop-top Mulsanne?
According to Bentley's CEO Wolfgang Durheimer, the Bentley Grand Convertible isn't yet a production model. The official line from him is that Bentley are "eagerly awaiting the response of our customers to this car" and that the car will be a highly exclusive and limited collector's piece "if it reaches the roads". It's a very expensive open car being shown in California; you would have to assume the reaction will be favourable.
There won't be any issues with rear seat space
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.
Looks quite production ready, doesn't it?
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.
