Thursday 29th April 2010

New Bentley Azure Set For 2011

Mulsanne-based drop-top to replace current model

---

Old car is based on the Arnage...

Word has reached the shell-likes of PH that Bentley is planning to chop the roof off its new Mulsanne saloon to create a new Azure convertible.

The new car will be introduced around a year after the Mulsanne saloon goes on sale, so expect to see it in showrooms (well, Bentley ones at least) somewhere around the middle of 2011.

The new car will be a direct replacement for the current Azure, which is based on Bentley's outgoing flagship saloon, the Arnage.

Power for the new Azure will come from the same venerable (though much updated) twin-turbo 6.75-litre V8 as in the Mulsanne, which should mean the same 505bhp and stomach-squeezing 752lb ft of torque as the Mulsanne gets.

...while the Mulsanne will sire the new Azure

According to our across-the-pond colleagues at Inside Line (you can check out IL's rather slick renderings of the new Azure here) the new Azure is expected to be fitted with a conventional fabric hood, and to stick with the model's traditional two-door bodystyle.

Despite the loss of the roof, the Azure will suffer from a heavier kerb weight than the Mulsanne to help maintain the car's structural rigidity. Even so the Azure's performance should keep close to the 5.1secs 0-60mph sprint and 184mph top speed claimed for the Mulsanne.

[soad]

Not that pretty but i'm getting warmed up by to it slowly.

Edited by soad on Thursday 29th April 11:24

[leon9191]

Like the look of the new Bently, very modern but still has a classic look about it, very nice.

On another note here is a question, which engine still built and used today has been in production the longest in some form or other?

I would say the Rolla/Bently 6.75 V8 used in this is in for a shout, or the Lambo V12 which sadly is being put out to pasture with the Murci? Any ideas anyone?

[ScottishSamurai]

Prefer the older front end, with the two headlamps rather than the odd CGT style lights. looks a bit odd to me. would still love one!

[Garlick]

Now this is a bit of me.

I could see myself being very happy in one of those......the old one that is

[Plotloss]

Garlick said:

Now this is a bit of me.

I could see myself being very happy in one of those.

To borrow from our curry loving silk.

Ohgodyeah

[Garlick]

Plotloss said:

Garlick said:

Now this is a bit of me.

I could see myself being very happy in one of those.

To borrow from our curry loving silk.

Ohgodyeah

Old or new? I prefer the old Arnage based one, but would suffer the new one if I had to.

[Stu R]

I like the mulsanne

Edited by Stu R on Thursday 29th April 11:35

[Garlick]

I'd rather this though, if I was looking for that sort of thing http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1556668.htm

[soad]

Stu R said:

I like the mulsanne

Me too - who cares what the front looks like?!

Once sat behind the wheel, all will be forgiven, i'm sure.

[Stu R]

Garlick said:

I'd rather this though, if I was looking for that sort of thing http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1556668.htm

I know I should be sinbinned for what I'm about to say... but as much as I like the old RRs, I couldn't buy something like that. I'd get to this in the classifieds ( http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1674512.htm ) and have to buy it.

soad said:

Stu R said:

I like the mulsanne

Me too - who cares what the front looks like?!

Not me, I really like it

[stockver]

soad said:

Stu R said:

I like the mulsanne

who cares what the front looks like?!

Everyone with the power of sight.

ETA "if we all liked the same things..." yadda yadda yadda.

Looks rushed.

Edited by stockver on Thursday 29th April 11:45

[Garlick]

stockver said:

soad said:

Stu R said:

I like the mulsanne

who cares what the front looks like?!

Everyone with the power of sight.

It's not that bad

[soad]

Garlick said:

stockver said:

soad said:

Stu R said:

I like the mulsanne

who cares what the front looks like?!

Everyone with the power of sight.

It's not that bad

I just think it oozes power, a bit of class too. That is all

[300bhp/ton]

old one looks better. This VW influence on Bentley seems to still be getting worse IMO

[Plotloss]

Garlick said:

Plotloss said:

Garlick said:

Now this is a bit of me.

I could see myself being very happy in one of those.

To borrow from our curry loving silk.

Ohgodyeah

Old or new? I prefer the old Arnage based one, but would suffer the new one if I had to.

I'd make do with either, truth be known. So much more special than the Phantom DHC.

At one of the motorshows I worked there was an Arab chap who went for an Azure and then spent 3 hours specifying every option he could plus some bespoke work. Bentley gave up at just shy of £500K.

[stockver]

soad said:

Garlick said:

stockver said:

soad said:

Stu R said:

I like the mulsanne

who cares what the front looks like?!

Everyone with the power of sight.

It's not that bad

I just think it oozes power, a bit of class too. That is all

Maybe they should rename it the Bentley Oozer.

[boomboompow]

Garlick said:

stockver said:

soad said:

Stu R said:

I like the mulsanne

who cares what the front looks like?!

Everyone with the power of sight.

It's not that bad

Raise those side lights by a couple of inches and I think that would resolve front-end look

[yellowxpack.]

The front looks shocking.
Not in a modern, 'I'll come round to it way', it just looks wrong.

[mcbook]

Garlick said:

I'd rather this though, if I was looking for that sort of thing http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1556668.htm

That's beautiful!

Although it is 80k!!!!

[yellowxpack.]

and you only get 6 months tax - well I never..