Bentley Azure

Bentley Azure

The 2007 Bentley Azure continues the classic English fashion of beautifully finished leather and wood surroundings arranged for a classic old-world feel, and the extensive selection of carpets, wood and hide colors leave ample room for a personal touch. The impression of unfettered luxury is somewhat spoiled by cheap-feeling switchgear, a steering wheel that can't telescope and aesthetically mismatched stereo and navigation systems that are difficult to use. Such are the complications of installing modern electronics in an interior that was never designed with such technology in mind.

The new Azure is slightly longer than the four-door Arnage on which it’s loosely based, with the body being all-new from the A-pillar back. The shallower windscreen is raked further back and the B-pillars have disappeared completely, resulting in the side-glass being completely frameless. The overall effect is of a lavish, rakish convertible that looks strikingly better than the Arnage roof-up, and roof-down exposes the sumptuous new full-four-seater interior to the outside world.

Peer underneath the car and you’ll see signs of the engineering that’s gone into the Azure to restore the body stiffness lost during the decapitation process. There are two cross-braces, made from carbonfibre (the 21st century’s wonder material’s first appearance on a roadgoing Bentley), one linking the deeper sills to the front subframe, the other connecting the sills to a reinforced rear subframe. The result is a 300 per cent increase in stiffness compared with the previous Azure, to the point where the new car is as near as dammit as stiff as the Arnage. The result is brilliant refinement and a real sense of robustness when driven over broken tarmac.

Blasting along some Italian autostradas with the hood up showed how far the Azure has progressed. Wind noise was surprisingly low, only becoming apparent at speeds above 110mph, while the nose of the car felt far more agile than that of any 2.7-tonne car has any right to. And with the venerable 6.75-litre V8 pumping out 450bhp and 645lb ft of torque, performance remains on the idiotic side of brisk for such a heavy car (5.9sec to 60, 14.4 to 100). Top speed varies depending on whether the hood is raised (174mph) or lowered (166mph), the transition taking just 25 seconds (apparently Bentley had it down to 22sec but felt that part of the folding process looked too hurried to be completely graceful so slowed it down again).

The Bentley Azure may be the world’s most elegant convertible ever. The company is no stranger to producing open topped cars. The Azure, is based on the latest Arnage chassis, and shares much the same look to the front end. The cabin and rear of the car have been completely redesigned.



The car’s new exterior design is very flattering and hints at what the car is capable of. This is not a false impression either, the car boasts a twin-turbocharged V8 engine under the bonnet, and produces no less than 450bhp.



The Bentley Azure provides an excellent suspension system, braking system, and excellent steering as well. The car is fresh and exciting, and for those who can afford it this is the sports car to have. It provides the best in everything, looks, performance and style. The car is not all that economical but buyers who purchase the Azure are not likely to be concerned with the car’s practicality or economy.



The Azure will follow in a long line of quality premium convertibles that have been produced by the company. The car delivers an extra sporty ride and will not disappoint buyers on any front.

The Bentley Azure will be an expensive car to purchase and run. The purchase price is high, insurance is very high while poor fuel economy and high running costs will make it an even more expensive. Buyers who purchase the Bentley Azure are not likely ones who are on a budget anway.



Cabin space in the Bentley Azure is adequate. Front seat passengers will be well catered for, while back seat passengers will find space more limited. Headroom is better all-round with the top down. The car has a decent sized boot but the Azure was not meant to be a cargo carrier.



The Bentley Azure’s main controls and dials are all large and functional. The car is not overly complex, yet boasts the latest in technology for a nice blend of tradition and technology.



The Azure provides excellent levels of comfort. The front passengers enjoy good head and legroom, the front seats are supportive yet comfortable. Rear seat passengers will probably not be comfortable for prolonged periods of time.



The Bentley Azure is highly accessible. The doors open wide and provide easy access. Access to the rear seats is somewhat limited due to the limited space in the back. Of course access to the car’s cabin improves greatly when the top is down.



Parking the Azure is a fairly simple process. The car provides decent visibility and the car’s steering and size make parking the Azure an easy task. The car’s extremities are easy to judge and even the most squeamish of drivers shouldn’t have any problems.

For 2007, Bentley is reintroducing the Azure. Where it was once based on the old Continental, this time the Azure is related to the current Arnage sedan. Of course, the Arnage isn't exactly the pinnacle of modern design, but Bentley's engineers have done considerable work to make it suitable for topless duty.

The Azure's new structure is dramatically stiffer and promises better road isolation and handling ability. Also updated is the engine. As in other 2007 Bentleys, the 6.8-liter V8 gets a new set of twin turbochargers this year and a 450-horsepower output. Also significant is the move to a six-speed automatic transmission, a welcome upgrade over the old four-speed. Fuel economy, blunted by the car's approximate 3 tons of mass, still barely manages to rise into the double digits, however.

The Azure's interior is unmistakably Bentley. Generous helpings of burl walnut wood create a unique appearance as soft leather cossets the two front thrones. Expect less comfort for the rear pair. And expect frustration when trying to operate the unfriendly and unattractive audio and navigation controls -- the side effect of imposing modern technology on an old-fashioned cabin design. Fortunately, restoring the smiles is as easy as powering back the Azure's enormous fabric roof.