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At the Frankfurt Motor Show in September 2005, Bentley Motors
revealed the production version of the new Azure
The luxurious four-seater Azure, which goes on sale in Spring 2006,
is the latest in a portfolio of wonderfully desirable ‘dropheads’
stretching back many decades and reaffirms Bentley’s reputation as
creator of the world’s most elegant convertibles.
Bentley first hinted that a new Azure might be in the pipeline when
it unveiled the glamorous Arnage Drophead Coupé show car at the Los
Angeles Auto Show in January 2005. The show car stimulated such
interest among Bentley aficionados that the decision was quickly
taken to continue its extensive development programme in time for
delivery of the first customer cars in Spring 2006. Last month,
Bentley announced that the production version of the show car would
carry the evocative Azure name. Like its iconic predecessor, which
was in production from 1995 to 2002, the new Azure becomes the
flagship of the Bentley model range.
The design of the new Azure is, first and foremost, unmistakeably
Bentley. It shares its face with the current Arnage range and its
platform ensures it seats four adults in supreme comfort. But it is
also unmistakeably unique. The entire cabin and rear section of the
car are newly designed, with a stunning bespoke interior; the
objective being to create an opulent and inviting seating area that
reflects its status as a car that is at home in Palm Springs or the
Riviera. The complex folding roof on the convertible is operated
hydraulically at the touch of a switch: the impressive, three-layer
fabric assembly being elegantly stowed beneath the hide-trimmed
tonneau in under 30 seconds.
The twin-turbocharged V8 engine, double-wishbone suspension and
extremely rigid body structure of the Arnage provide a
state-of-the-art basis for the new Azure. It is powered by a 450bhp
(336kW) version of the Arnage’s 6.75-litre twin-turbocharged
intercooled V8 engine and produces 875Nm (645lb ft) of torque.
The specification of the production version of the Azure is
virtually unchanged from the original L.A. show car. The principal
change is the introduction of high technology, lightweight, carbon
fibre, under-floor cross braces that contribute to the exceptional
levels of body stiffness, benefiting refinement, ride and handling.
In addition, the bumpers and sills of the show car are now painted
in body colour with a delicate chrome trim that runs the length of
the car, enhancing the flowing lines of the Azure body.
“The production-specification Bentley Azure graces our stand at the
Frankfurt Motor Show just nine months after we revealed our concept
car in Los Angeles,” says Bentley Motors chairman, Dr Franz-Josef
Paefgen. “We enjoy an excellent dialogue with our customers and the
new Azure epitomises how responsive Bentley is to satisfying their
aspirations. Bentley develops and produces cars that people desire
and that are faithful to our heritage. The new Azure is the perfect
example of this philosophy.”
Crewe Gears Up
Bentley Motors Limited will build the Azure at the home facility in
Crewe, Cheshire, as the plant continues to adopt a more flexible
approach to luxury car manufacture. The latest new model joins the
Bentley line-up next spring and will become the flagship car of the
Bentley range.
The realignment of production, brought about by the continued
success of the new Continental family of cars, includes further
refinement of the assembly process for the established Arnage. A
purpose-built facility brings together the latest technology with
unprecedented levels of craftsmanship for both the new Bentley Azure
and its stablemate, the Arnage.
The Azure body-in-white facility blends traditional hand-built
skills with robotic technology, required to ensure consistent build
quality. The dedicated assembly area enables around 6,500 intricate
spot welds to be carried out by hand, with robotics being used to
accurately locate and clinch all the closure panels.
Additionally, the finishing processes have been relocated away from
the main assembly halls and into the self-contained Mulliner
department, where the dedicated workforce specialise in bespoke
vehicle production.
The dedicated Crewe-based Bentley engineering team worked closely
with the co-located manufacturing team in planning every aspect of
production from body-in-white, paint, hood fit and ultimately,
assembly of the car itself. In addition, the body shell, engine and
chassis will all originate in Crewe.
The exceptionally high levels of handcraftsmanship – the work of the
Bentley woodshop, leather shop and seat trim specialists –
accentuate those characteristics that will mark the car out as
distinctly a Bentley.
“The plant has a long heritage of producing high quality, luxurious
cars and is perfectly placed to produce this new pinnacle model,
both in terms of the sophisticated facilities and the experience and
skill of this workforce”, said Member of the Board for Manufacturing
at Bentley, Doug Dickson. “The expertise of the Crewe team here in
delivering dream cars is unparalleled.”
The exclusivity of the car means that the total anticipated
production of a few hundred units is largely already pre-ordered.
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