LA MOTOR SHOW: Bentley Grand Convertible
Ultra-premium UK brand releases "most sophisticated and elegant convertible" everThe new Bentley Grand Convertible has broken cover at the 2014 Los Angeles motor show, marrying effortless V8 power with the sort of luxury that gets royalty excited.
Looking to do battle with the exceedingly rare Rolls-Royce Phantom Drophead Coupe, a $1,075,000 proposition, the new Bentley has not been confirmed for production... yet.
It's been developed to "signify Bentley's intentions for the future" says the Crewe-based car-maker, which is marketing speak for "we've committed to building it, if we get a few credible deposits at the motor show".
The company will probably tweak a few elements of the car depending on the motor show feedback, but the vehicle on display looks very much production ready.
The Bentley Grand Convertible could be considered a drop-top version of the flagship Bentley Mulsanne and the design of the entirely hand-built Grand Convertible adheres to the current Bentley design ethos and hasn’t gone concept car crazy. It retains the large round front headlights and trademark Bentley grille and is finished in Sequin Blue. The bonnet features a 'liquid metal' finish adding a little razzle-dazzle, while the signature 21-inch alloy wheels are hand finished for extra shine.
However it's inside the drop top where the party really begins, the four-seat Bentley featuring more pomp than Queen Lizzie's birthday. On top of 14 naturally tanned leather hides the upholstery features "progressive-diamond quilting", which means the patterning evolves throughout the cabin, and the Bentley Grand Convertible gets a mirror-finished dark-stained Burr Walnut tonneau interspersed with chromed steel.
Looking like something from a luxury yacht, the rear end communicates 'wealth', which is what prospective owners will be looking for. Other interior highlights include matching Sequin Blue hand stitching in the leather, contrasting Beluga leather finishes around the door tops and lashings of polished chrome.
Bentley calls the car the "ultimate expression of British automotive luxury", with understated style "unrivalled" in the rarefied realm of million dollar convertibles.
Wolfgang Dürheimer, Bentley Chairman and CEO, said "This concept demonstrates Bentley's ability to create a pinnacle convertible Grand Tourer, while embodying elegance beyond compare. With this car we combine the opulent Mulsanne experience with the full sensory indulgence of open-air touring, continuing to unite luxury and performance in new ways.
"We are eagerly awaiting the response of our customers to this car. We will ensure that this car – if it reaches the roads – will be a highly exclusive, extremely limited collector’s piece," said the Bentley supremo.
Power comes from Bentley's tried-and-tested 6.75-litre twin-turbo V8 engine, which bangs out an unstoppable 395kW/1100Nm – enough mumbo to see the massive (possibly three tonne) convertible accelerate to 100km/h in around 5.0 seconds. Top speed will likely be close to 300km/h too.
Bentley sales in Australia have risen by 18.6 per cent for the first 10 months of 2014 year on year, from 86 sales in 2013 to 102 this year.
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