Bentley does not build many cars like the Bentley Azure: a 2-door convertible with 6.75 , built from 1995 to 2003 when airbags, anti-lock brakes and Japanese build quality became the world standard. Its designer of record is Dirk van Braeckel, Raul Pires.
The background
The Bentley Azure is a four-seater convertible grand tourer produced by British automobile manufacturer Bentley Motors. The first version debuted in 1995 on the Bentley Continental R platform and was made until 2003. After a three-year break, a completely new version debuted in 2006 and was produced until 2010. It was powered by a significantly updated engine and based on the newer Arnage platform.
The engineering
Under the skin sits 6.75 . Kerb weight is 2610 kg. The gearbox is a 4-speed GM 4L80-E automatic. The layout matters: a front engine drives the rear wheels, the classic proportion — long bonnet, cabin set back — that most people picture when they picture a sports saloon or a grand tourer. The wheelbase is 120.5 in. These are manufacturer figures carried by Wikipedia and Wikidata, not road-test measurements.
Where it sits
Where it sits in Bentley's history is not in doubt: the Bentley Continental Convertible came before it; it was built at Crewe. On a showroom list of its day it stood against the Toyota Tacoma, the BMW Z3, the Honda CR-V. Its Bentley stablemates include the Armoured Arnage and the Bentley 3 Litre.