Bentley Renames its Drophead Coupe Concept "Azure" Ahead of Production
Bentley announced yesterday that its Drophead Coupe Concept, which received such rave reviews when introduced at the Los Angeles Auto Show
earlier this year, would be designated with the revered Azure name when it goes on sale next year.
"We have been inundated with demand for a new Azure virtually from the moment the original model ceased production," commented Adrian Hallmark, member of the board, sales and marketing. "The exclusivity, style, luxury and performance of the new Bentley convertible flagship evoke the Riviera lifestyle like no other, fully justifying the revival of the Azure name."
Anyone who thought that Bentley's flagship Arnage was on its way out of production after the unprecedented sales success the luxury marque has experienced with its new Continental GT coupe, and expects to achieve with the upcoming Continental Flying Spur four-door sedan based on the GT's architecture, may have jumped to conclusions too soon.
The Volkswagen-owned British automaker still sells a substantial number of top-line Arnage sedans, available in R, RL, T, T Mulliner and Limousine configurations, the latter not certified for North America, for an even more substantial entry price of $306,990.
Anyone who's taken a stint behind the wheel will be able to attest to the lofty price being worth every penny, not only because of the car's impossibly athletic road manners but also due to its superior craftsmanship and stunning attention to detail.
Yet as wonderful as it is, the arrival of the Arnage Drophead Coupe Concept must have been a bit of a surprise to those attending the Greater Los Angeles Auto Show where it was unveiled. After all, many would have been expecting the luxury marque's well kept secret to be something else. What, per say? Talk of the upcoming Continental GT-based Flying Spur four-door sedan had kept automotive analysts playing guessing games as to when it would debut, as did the highly anticipated Drophead Coupe (British for convertible if you hadn't already figured that one out) version of the lovely new GT, which is probably the single strongest reason why the Arnage-based drop-top was unexpected.
Bentley announced yesterday that its Drophead Coupe Concept, which received such rave reviews when introduced at the Los Angeles Auto Show
 |
| Anyone who's taken a stint behind the wheel of a Bentley Arnage will be able to attest to the lofty price being worth every penny, as will be the new Azure convertible. (Photo: Bentley Motors) |
"We have been inundated with demand for a new Azure virtually from the moment the original model ceased production," commented Adrian Hallmark, member of the board, sales and marketing. "The exclusivity, style, luxury and performance of the new Bentley convertible flagship evoke the Riviera lifestyle like no other, fully justifying the revival of the Azure name."
Anyone who thought that Bentley's flagship Arnage was on its way out of production after the unprecedented sales success the luxury marque has experienced with its new Continental GT coupe, and expects to achieve with the upcoming Continental Flying Spur four-door sedan based on the GT's architecture, may have jumped to conclusions too soon.
 |
| The arrival of the Arnage Drophead Coupe, to be called Azure when it reaches production, Concept may have been a bit of a surprise to those attending the Greater Los Angeles Auto Show where it was unveiled. (Photo: Bentley Motors) |
Anyone who's taken a stint behind the wheel will be able to attest to the lofty price being worth every penny, not only because of the car's impossibly athletic road manners but also due to its superior craftsmanship and stunning attention to detail.
Yet as wonderful as it is, the arrival of the Arnage Drophead Coupe Concept must have been a bit of a surprise to those attending the Greater Los Angeles Auto Show where it was unveiled. After all, many would have been expecting the luxury marque's well kept secret to be something else. What, per say? Talk of the upcoming Continental GT-based Flying Spur four-door sedan had kept automotive analysts playing guessing games as to when it would debut, as did the highly anticipated Drophead Coupe (British for convertible if you hadn't already figured that one out) version of the lovely new GT, which is probably the single strongest reason why the Arnage-based drop-top was unexpected.