We We drove the Bentley Azure through flemish country roads... and photographed it for you in front of this traditional Flemish farm...

Every car enthusiast is moved by the most elegant convertibles on earth, and of course the Bentley Azure  forms no exception to this rule, as it is the perfect incarnation of noble, glamorous open motoring in its purest form. We use here the term ‘motoring’, because it is in our eyes a way of car driving as it is done by the connoisseur who saviors the car’s behavior, enhanced by a thorough understanding of the cars’ performance and handling.

The Azure also has to be driven and enjoyed, guided by this knowledge. It is not merely a runabout which can be thrown about undiscerningly, it has to be driven with a feeling and empathy for the car, its power, its weight, its size.

Hans Knol ten Bensel

The mystique of Bentley power…

The legendary 6761cc V8 engine develops in the Azure some 450bhp / 456 PS / 336 kW at 4100rpm, and even more impressive is its torque of 875Nm, 645 lb.ft at a mere 1800rpm. All this is more than sufficient to accelerate swiftly out of any situation, and for example to propel you from 0 to 100 km/h in 5.9 seconds, helped by the excellent 6-speed automatic gearbox.

A brisk acceleration was always a hallmark for the big Bentleys, and of course the Azure ties on with this tradition, the driver being pushed into the deep leather enjoying the magnificent sound of the V8 engine, delivering its power with purposeful grace.

The car handles very well in fast bends, with the driver having to realize that this is a car with a kerbweight of not less than 2.6 tonnes, which of course demands a proper driving style. This does not go to say that the car handles in any vague manner, on the contrary, it feels remarkably taut and surefooted. Of course, the car is equipped with the Bosch 5.7 electronic stability programme (ESP) including: Antilock braking system (ABS), Electronic brake pressure distribution (EBD), Automatic slip regulation - traction control system (ASR), Engine drag torque control (MSR), Hydraulic brake assist (HBA), and last but not least aquaplane detection.

Fast motorway or autobahn driving is an unspoilt and exquisite pleasure, as the car performs impressively in the higher speed regions, as a top speed of not less than 171mph / 274km/h tells us clearly. Even when driving open, cruising speeds in the region of 100 to 110 mph are possible without having to raise voice or audio volume.  Should the weather deteriorate, it is nice to know that the complex folding roof on the convertible is operated hydraulically at the touch of a switch: the impressive, three-layer fabric assembly is then being elegantly stowed beneath the hide-trimmed tonneau in under 30 seconds…  

The fuel capacity of 96 litres or 25.3 US Gallons is necessary, as one cannot expect the Azure to be frugal when driven “with esprit.” Urban driving will cost some 28.8 litres/100km, driving on country roads and at ‘normal’ motorway speeds will set you back 14.1 litres/100km.

Interior elegance and grace

As said, driving a Bentley is not all about enjoying its sheer power, it is also about appreciating the way this power is delivered, the way the car handles and moves, and the aura or ambiente of opulence and classic sportiness of the interior. We could not stop to be delighted and literally transported by the finish and workmanship of the leather seats, the dashboard, the controls, the beauty of the dials and the discerning design of their size and positioning in the dashboard. The accompanying photographs can only tell part of the story, but do convey, I hope, to you some of the unique Bentley mystique of this Azure, the flagship of the model range.

It all added to the unique experience of being at the wheel of one of the noblest open tourers on earth, a delight we will not forget soon …

 Hans Knol ten Bensel

The Bentley emblem stands proudly on the radiator grille...

And the winged emblem is also found in the interior...

The 6-speed automatic gearbox handles the power very well