2001 Bentley Azure Bentley Azure 2001 Bentley Azure Convertible Convertible RWD Crewe, England Bentley's two-door, four-seat convertible was introduced in 1995, and underwent a slight restyling in 1998. No modifications have been made since then. Compared to the neighbors' Corniche you get a raging deal and a faster car. Limited trunk space, is it really worth four Jaguar XK8s? Allergic to faux-leather vinyl? Plastic wood give you hives? Feel the heebee-jeebees when nylon brushes against you? Then get thee to your nearest Bentley dealer for a cure for the synthetic blues. Save for some switchgear, you will have little chance of coming in contact with anything other than organic materials or animal by-products. Case in point: the Bentley Azure. Practically every surface is swathed in magnificent materials, from the fine Connolly leather on your seats (heated, of course, to warm your bum) to the matching hide on your steering wheel and the dashboard cowl. Wilton carpet and lamb's wool rugs prevent scuffs on your Tod's driving moccasins, and you've a wide choice of fine wood veneers and finishes, including burr walnut with straight-grained walnut banding. Every detail can be specified to order. Even exterior bodywork can be modified - provided it does not compromise the integrity of the car and complies with safety legislation. Underneath the sheetmetal, which is coated in nacre-like paint, is a fire-breathing monster of a powerplant. A turbocharged 6.75-liter V8 produces 400 horses and 590 foot-pounds of torque. It'll propel you from zero to 60 in about 6.3 seconds, besting the time of its Rolls Royce Corniche brethren by nearly two seconds. The Bentley provides a more sporting ride, too, with its full-length lever arm front suspension and semi-trailing arm rear suspension. Automatic Ride Control (ARC) provides computer control of the suspension dampers to optimize ride comfort and handling. Those who would prefer to feel like you're floating on a cloud (and by the time you've spent this much money, aren't you achieving godlike status?) can opt for the Mulliner Edition, with its suspension system tuned to accentuate a softly comfortable ride, and the engine massaged to provide an extra 60 foot-pounds of low-end grunt. You'll be pleased with the idiot-proof convertible top operation; push a button, the thing self-boots neatly into its compartment and you're up for some sun-soaked, open-air fun, if not on the Cote D'Azure like the name connotes, then at least in the parking lot of Mervyn's. If you get the Azure over the Corniche, you'll get a bigger, more powerful engine, a lighter car and the same amount of amenities, all in a refined-to-the-point-of-reproach package that's been hand-assembled in Crewe, England. You'll also lay claim to the center console-mounted six-disc CD changer, operable by a remote control, so that darling Mum won't have to deign to ask Preston to bring in da noise and da ensuing funk. 3Unlimited 3Unlimited 3Unlimited NA NA NA 8 6.8 liters V8 400 hp @ 4100 rpm 590 ft-lbs. @ 2150 rpm 210.6 in. 81 in. 58 in. 5754 lbs. 120.5 in. NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA 6.8 cu.ft. Standard Standard Not Available Not Available Not Available Standard Standard Rating = Not Tested Rating = Not Tested Not Tested Not Tested Not Tested Not Tested 23.5 gal. 11 mpg / 16 mpg 259 mi. / 376 mi. Insurance costs can vary greatly for this vehicle, depending on such factors as driver age, driver gender, teenage drivers in the household, driving records, theft loss data for your particular geographic region, miles driven per year, and other widely variable factors. Additionally, some companies charge a premium for certain makes and models, while others do not. N/A $339,900 7.35% $800 $4,500 No Holdback AZURE (4A): 6.75L V8 OHV SEFI intercooled turbo 24-valve engine, premium fuel required; 4-speed OD automatic transmission with adaptive shift control; driver selectable sport mode transmission; traction control; automatic ride control; 4-wheel disc brakes with 4-wheel anti-lock braking system; 23.5 gal. fuel capacity; fully lined power convertible top; side door beams; body-colored folding drivers and passengers power remote outside mirrors; automatic headlamps, programmable headlamps; remote fuel release, remote trunk release; energy absorbing bumpers; 17" x 7.5" alloy wheels, P255/55R17 tires; stainless steel matrix grill; dual level air conditioning; rear heat ducts; power windows; AM/FM stereo, 8 speakers, cassette, six CD changer with remote control mounted in the front seat armrest; analog telephone system; programmable alarm system; remote keyless entry; driver's memory includes 4 settings for exterior mirrors and steering wheel; heated power adjustable driver and passengerseats with adjustable lumbar support, 4 memory settings and power adjustable headrests; tilt-adjustable steering column with easy entry feature; hide covered steering wheel and dashboard cowl; drivers and passengers airbags; front seatbelt pretensioners; full hide upholstery; Wilton carpeted interior; color-keyed lambswool rugs; analog instrumentation includes tachometer, oil pressure gauge, battery gauge, water temperature gauge, fuel gauge, outside temperature gauge, analog clock; bright bezel surrounds to controls, instruments and speakers, wood veneer interior and locking glovebox. -- Bird's Eye Maple Veneer N/A $1,760 -- Black Laquered Woodwork N/A $1,355 -- Burr Oak Veneer N/A $1,760 -- Carpet Color Matched to Customer Specification N/A $2,145 -- Carpet Color from Previous Rolls-Royce & Bentley Model Year Range N/A $1,515 -- Chrome Instrument Bezels N/A $740 -- Chrome Radiator Shell N/A $1,265 -- Drilled Alloy Accelerator and Brake Pedals N/A $520 -- Embroidered Marque Emblems to all Headrests N/A $445 -- Engine Turned Aluminum Veneer N/A $5,245 -- Fine Lines N/A $150 -- Fine Lines Color Matched to Customer Specification N/A $300 -- GPS Navigation System N/A $5,745 -- Hide Bound Carpet Footrests N/A $265 -- Hide Bound Carpet Overmat to Luggage Compartment N/A $195 -- Hide Bound Carpet Overmats N/A $345 -- Hide Bound Carpet Overmats in Lieu of Lambswool Rugs $0 $0 -- Hide Bound Carpet Overmats with Embroidered Emblems N/A $750 -- Hide Bound Carpet Overmats with Embroidered Emblems in Lieu of Lambswool Rugs N/A $245 -- Hide Color From Previous Rolls-Royce & Bentley Model Year Range N/A $2,425 -- Hide Color Matched to Customer Specification N/A $3,165 -- Hide Surround to Seat Switches N/A $250 -- Lambswool Rug Color Matched to Customer Specification N/A $920 -- Lambswool Rug Color from Previous Rolls-Royce & Bentley Model Year Range N/A $785 -- Lambswool Rug to Luggage Compartment N/A $545 -- Marque Emblems to Waist Rails N/A $295 -- Miniature Bentley Wings Badge Recessed into Waist Rails N/A $1,395 -- Paint Color Matched to Customer Specification N/A $4,750 -- Paint Color from Previous Rolls-Royce & Bentley Model Year Range N/A $3,750 -- Personalized Tread Plate Plaques N/A $1,035 -- Piping to Seats N/A $360 -- Polished Stainless Steel Door Mirror Backs N/A $455 -- Polished Stainless Steel Headlamp Surrounds N/A $970 -- Polished Stainless Steel Sill Finishers N/A $8,745 -- Shade Band to Windscreen $0 $0 -- Solid Wood Gear Lever N/A $610 -- Stacked Instrument Console includes Starter Button and Turbo Boost Gauge N/A $1,048 -- Two Tone Hide Gear Lever N/A $225 -- Two Tone Sun Visors N/A $225 -- Two Umbrellas Fitted to Luggage Compartment N/A $225 -- Veneered Panels to Both Doors N/A $1,615 -- Veneered Panels to Rear Compartment Sides N/A $1,105 -- Veneered Panels to Seat Switches N/A $380 -- Veneered Steering Wheel Rim with Re-trimmed Grip Areas N/A $2,450 -- Wheels: 18" x 8" "Split" 5-spoke Chrome Plated Wheels N/A $8,295 -- Wheels: 17" x 7.5" 20-spoke Chrome Plated Wheels N/A $4,085 -- Wheels: 18" x 8.5" "Split" 5-spoke alloy wheels N/A $3,665