Azure is a new package from Bentley that is synonymous with comfort and luxury.
To showcase this new luxurious equipment package, Bentley is showing off a custom example of a Continental GT that pays homage to a 1953 R-Type Continental in the automaker’s heritage collection – the Continental GT Azure.
The Azure-outfitted Continental GT is painted in Old English White, which is a very close match to the ivory hue on the 1953 R-Type. Additionally, dazzling chrome trim highlights the grill and the flanks.
The Continental GT Azure rides on 22-inch wheels with a black and polished finish to an equally stunning effect. Among other things, the Bentley Continental GT Azure comes with a 4.0-liter V8 with twin turbos that churn out 452 horsepower. It’s a 70th birthday homage to the R-Type Continental, also known as the JAS 949, that Bentley delivered to Dr. Rowland Guenin of Switzerland in December 1953.
JAS 949 is one of only 208 examples of the R Type Continental ever built. At the time, Dr. Guenin specified that he wanted it to have an ivory exterior and a red cabin. In 2001, Bentley acquired that original vehicle and restored it to its former factory-fresh glory.
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The 2023 Continental GT Azure is equally stunning.
Instead of the red seats, the interior features “Cricket Ball” brown leather. But both cars have Burr Walnut wood veneer on the dashboard.
The new version has an open-pore finish that gives it a patina that echoes the material used in the classic vehicle. Australian straight grain veneer with a boxwood inlay and gold overlay only adds to the luminous effect. The R-Type Continental’s silhouette is on the treadplates.
So what do you get when you order the new Azure package from Bentley? Let’s take a look:
- The Front Seat Comfort Specification adds massaging seats with six programmable settings.
- The Bentley Dynamic Ride system with active anti-roll bars keeps the car from leaning in corners.
- The Touring Specification features adaptive cruise control, lane assist, traffic assist, and infrared cameras for identifying pedestrians, cyclists, or animals that are outside of the headlights’ beam. There’s a heads-up display, too.
Described as a “modern magic carpet which annihilates great distances” the R-Type Continental was the fastest four-seat luxury cruiser in the world when it launched in 1952. The three key design lines of the car were the power line from the front wheel, the rear haunch, and the roofline. The car became the inspiration for the first generation Continental GT in 2003 as well as every Continental GT since.
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When you choose the latest Azure members of the Continental GT family, you are part of a celebration of elegance and timeless design, directly descended from the R-Type Continental – but with all the modern comforts one could desire.
The new Azure range will provide Bentley customers with a curated selection of features designed to enhance the well-being and comfort of the vehicle’s occupants, making every journey a relaxing experience regardless of distance. The new range will be introduced across the full Bentley model line-up, including Bentayga, Bentayga EWB, Flying Spur, Continental GT, and Continental GTC.
Azure is more than a specification; it includes tactile and visual cues designed to reduce stress and promote well-being, along with driver assistance technologies for smoother, safer journeys.
Where the Bentley Speed family takes the ultimate in performance as its prime focus, and Mulliner represents the pinnacle of both luxury and performance, the Azure range provides those customers who prioritize relaxation with a carefully curated selection of features designed to promote comfort and well-being.
Adrian Hallmark, Chairman and Chief Executive of Bentley Motors, says this: “The Azure, like Speed and Mulliner, offers our customers clarity during the enjoyable process of choosing their ideal Bentley.”
“We know from the scientific research undertaken by our specialists that our holistic approach to wellbeing behind the wheel, uniting technology, design, and craftsmanship, will deliver driver and passengers to their destination more relaxed than when they set off.”
Want something as iconic and luxurious as the Bentley Continental GT Azure? Visit our Bentley dealership below for the ultimate car-buying experience.
