Ενώ η Bentley teasάρει τακτικά το επερχόμενο SUV της, στο Los Angeles θα κάνει ντεμπούτο το Grand Convertible concept.
Το μοντέλο αυτό, είναι μία πρόγευση της επόμενης γενιάς της Azure και σύμφωνα με την εταιρία, αποτελεί την “απόλυτη έκφραση Βρετανικής πολυτέλειας στο αυτοκίνητο” και το “πιο σοφιστικέ cabrio που δημιουργήθηκε ποτέ από την Bentley”.
Το Grand Convertible concept, είναι στην ουσία μία ανοιχτή Mulsanne. Το design είναι γνώριμο, απλά ο αριθμός των θυρών έχει μειωθεί κατά δύο και η μεταλλική σταθερή οροφή, έχει αντικατασταθεί με υφασμάτινη. Το εξωτερικό είναι σε χρώμα Sequin Blue με το καπό και το περίβλημα του παρμπρίζ να έχουν χρώμα “υγρού μετάλλου”. Το εσωτερικό, φωνάζει πολυτέλεια με άφθονο δέρμα και ξύλο. Στο πρωτότυπο έχει τοποθετηθεί και ένα πολύ όμορφο κάλυμμα της οροφής από Burr Walnut που όπως μας λέει η εταιρία, είναι “το μεγαλύτερο κομμάτι ξύλο που έχει τοποθετηθεί σε Bentley”.
Κάτω από το μεγάλο καπό, βρίσκεται ένας 6.75 λίτρων V8 που παράγει 530 άλογα και 1.100 Nm ροπής. Η Bentley δεν έδωσε στη δημοσιότητα περισσότερες λεπτομέρειες για τα τεχνικά χαρακτηριστικά του concept αλλά αρκέστηκε στο ότι θα έχει “αβίαστες επιδόσεις για να ταιριάζουν στο ασύγκριτο στυλ” του.
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BENTLEY GRAND CONVERTIBLE REDEFINES THE LUXURY OF OPEN-AIR DRIVING
NOV 18, 2014
The most sophisticated and elegant convertible
Developed to signify Bentley’s intentions for the future
The ultimate expression of the British luxury automobile
On display at the Los Angeles Auto Show from 19th November alongside the new Mulsanne Speed sedan
(Crewe, 18th November 2014) The ultimate expression of British automotive luxury is imagined with the Bentley Grand Convertible, the most sophisticated open-top car ever created by Bentley. Iconic yet understated in style and fashioned entirely by hand from the very finest materials, this unrivalled flagship of luxury represents the ultimate in powerful, sensuous roofless motoring.
Bentley Chairman and CEO, Wolfgang Dürheimer, who unveiled the car in Los Angeles, commented:
“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.”
The Bentley Grand Convertible will be on display at the Los Angeles Auto Show from 19th November 2014.
Powerful, Refined, Exquisite
Resplendent in Sequin Blue, originally a bespoke colour created from a single sequin from a customer’s haute couture gown, the Grand Convertible features a silver “liquid metal” finish to the bonnet and windscreen frame. Contrasting the rich blue body work is the Bentley directional wheel design, handed to the left and right sides of the car and finished by hand before being polished to a high shine.
The wheels hint at the enormous power and torque that wait under the bonnet. With 537 PS (530 bhp / 395 kW) and 1,100 Nm (811 lb.ft) of torque from Bentley’s legendary 6¾-litre twin-turbo V8 engine of the flagship Mulsanne, the Grand Convertible promises the luxury of effortless performance to match its unparalleled style.
As cossetting as it is breath-taking, the interior of the Grand Convertible is a showcase for the abilities of Bentley’s master craftsmen. 14 naturally tanned leather hides are merged together with progressive-diamond quilting, with the shape of the pattern changing over the seats and doors in a cabin sized for four adults. Bright blue is used to highlight the extraordinary skill of Bentley’s trim specialists, with Sequin Blue thread cross-stitched by hand through the linen-coloured leather. The light hide is contrasted by the sleek elegance of Beluga leather around the top of the doors and extending back to the rear tonneau, framed in polished chrome.
The tonneau itself provides the most significant example of Bentley craftsmanship at its finest. Replete with book-matched, mirror-finished and dark-stained Burr Walnut, the tonneau features the largest piece of wood veneer ever applied to a Bentley. Fashioned entirely by hand, this expanse of veneer is only paralleled by the creations of the world’s best furniture makers, and is finished with elegant parallel lines of chromed steel.
Following the Los Angeles Auto Show, in December the Grand Convertible will travel to Miami for Art Basel, the world’s premier international art show for Modern and contemporary work.
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