When the mother of all luxury brands makes an 18-ft-long convertible, provides room for four and a fold-down roof, all at a price that can buy you a penthouse in a posh locality, people of means take notice. This is not the sort of car that anybody can afford to buy. Like a yacht, it is bought by the super-rich as an indulgence—Bentley too assumes that Azure buyers would already have at least five other cars. For this rarefied customer, the Azure is a prized toy, not a vehicle for transportation.

The Rs 3.9 crore (ex-showroom in Delhi) Azure, largely hand-built, is a true blue Bentley when it comes to craftsmanship and traditional opulence. It also happens to be the world’s most expensive convertible.

Based on Bentley’s latest Arnage model, the Azure’s body is stiffer and provides better handling than the previous model. Even though the Arnage isn’t exactly the pinnacle of modern design, Bentley engineers have worked extensively on it to make its lines suitable for the convertible. The big and brutish looks of the Arnage are very visible in the Azure. The mammoth convertible also retains its elder sibling’s suspension, which provides superb cushioned driving experience. The car sails smoothly over potholes, thanks to the 19-inch wheels that might make a less well-engineered convertible shake. However, with low ground clearance, it wouldn’t be a good idea zooming in the Azure over speed-breakers.

Fire up the Azure and the smooth sound of the 6.75-litre V8 engine, which pumps 450 bhp, welcomes the driver. The car retains the effortless power which Bentley is famous for, but gets a new a six-speed automatic transmission gear box to replace the old four-speed automatic.

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