Bentley Motors has announced that it will be producing Final Series editions of the Bentley Continental R Coupe and Bentley Azure convertible. Only a limited number of Final Series models will be commissioned between now and mid-2003 as a fitting tribute to Bentley’s continued presence and domination of this exclusive sector. Although they will be the last of the current model type to be built at Crewe, plans for a new two-door range of luxury, performance Bentleys to replace the much admired Continental R and Azure range, are set to reassert Bentley?s position in the upper luxury performance car sector.
Based on the current range, both the Continental R and Azure Final Series models will feature a series of performance-orientated additions designed to complement the already extensive Bentley Mulliner specification, further enhancing the car’s 420bhp appeal. Both models, considered to be the most complete expression of two designs that were originally launched in 1991 (Continental R) followed four years later by the Azure, are set to become highly sought after collectors’ items.
Since their respective debuts, 1533 Continentals R’s and 1235 Azures have been built at the Crewe factory, confirming their enduring appeal as the ultimate expression of dynamic, yet luxurious high-speed tourers.
As befits the elegant Azure, five-spoke 18-inch wheels have been specified. A ‘Mulliner’ badge on each front wing pays discreet tribute to the coach built heritage of the two-door range. Inside, special attention has been paid to developing a unique Bentley Mulliner crafted interior that echoes the marque’s sporting traditions.
The most distinctive feature is a stacked central instrument cluster that includes a turbo boost gauge, with chromed bezels and a red starter button. The sporting theme continues with a chromed and leather finished gear lever and drilled alloy pedals.
Diamond quilted sports seats and door inserts are complemented by a choice of either dark stained walnut veneer or black lacquered finish. In the former instance, the winged Bentley motif features on the waist rails to complete the highly detailed interior.
| power | 313.2 kw / 420 bhp |
| front wheels | F 45.7 x 24.1 cm / 18 x 9.5 in |
| rear wheels | R 48.3 x 24.1 cm / 18 x 9.5 in |
| BODYWORK | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| BODY TYPE | 4/5 seater convertible/cabriolet | ||
| NUMBER OF DOORS | 2 | ||
| DESIGNER | |||
| DIMENSIONS & WEIGHTS | |||
| WHEELBASE | 3061mm | 120.5 inches | |
| TRACK/TREAD (FRONT) | 1549 mm | 61 inches | |
| TRACK/TREAD (REAR) | 1549 mm | 61 inches | |
| LENGTH | 5350mm | 210.6 inches | |
| WIDTH | 1878 mm | 73.9 inches | |
| HEIGHT | 1462 mm | 57.6 inches | |
| GROUND CLEARANCE | |||
| LENGTH:WHEELBASE RATIO | 1.75 | ||
| KERB WEIGHT | 2450 kg | 5401 lb | |
| WEIGHT DISTRIBUTION | |||
| FUEL TANK CAPACITY | 100 litres | 22 [26.4] UK [US] gal. | |
| AERODYNAMICS | |||
| DRAG COEFFICIENT | |||
| FRONTAL AREA | |||
| CDA | |||
| POWERTRAIN | |||
| ENGINE TYPE | turbocharged petrol | ||
| ENGINE MANUFACTURER | Rolls-Royce | ||
| ENGINE CODE | |||
| CYLINDERS | V 8 in 90° vee | ||
| CAPACITY | 6.8 litre 6750 cc (411.91 cu in) | ||
| BORE × STROKE | 104.1 × 99.1 mm 4.1 × 3.9 in | ||
| BORE/STROKE RATIO | 1.05 | ||
| VALVE GEAR | overhead valve (OHV) 2 valves per cylinder 16 valves in total | ||
| MAXIMUM POWER OUTPUT | 406 PS (400 bhp) (298 kW) at 4100 rpm | ||
| MAXIMUM TORQUE | 835 Nm (616 ft·lb) (85.1 kgm) at 2150 rpm | ||
| SPECIFIC OUTPUT | 44.2 kW/litre 60.1 ps/litre 59.3 bhp/litre 0.97 bhp/cu in | ||
| SPECIFIC TORQUE | 123.7 Nm/litre 1.5 ft·lb/cu3 | ||
| ENGINE CONSTRUCTION | |||
| SUMP | wet sumped | ||
| COMPRESSION RATIO | 8:1 | ||
| FUEL SYSTEM | Zytek EMS3 fuel inj. | ||
| BMEP (BRAKE MEAN EFFECTIVE PRESSURE) | 1554.5 kPa (225.5 psi) | ||
| MAXIMUM RPM | |||
| CRANKSHAFT BEARINGS | 5 | ||
| ENGINE COOLANT | Water | ||
| UNITARY CAPACITY | 843.75 cc | ||
| ASPIRATION | Turbo | ||
| COMPRESSOR | |||
| INTERCOOLER | |||
| CATALYTIC CONVERTER | Y | ||
| PERFORMANCE | |||
| ACCELERATION 0-80KM/H (50MPH) | |||
| ACCELERATION 0-60MPH | 6.3 s | ||
| ACCELERATION 0-100KM/H | |||
| ACCELERATION 0-160KM/H (100MPH) | |||
| STANDING QUARTER-MILE | |||
| STANDING KILOMETRE | |||
| MAXIMUM SPEED | 250 km/h (155 mph) | ||
| POWER-TO-WEIGHT RATIO | Higher is better 165.53 PS/tonne (1000 kg) 0.17 PS/kg 121.75 kW/tonne (1000 kg) 0.12 kW/kg 163.27 bhp/tonne (1000 kg) 0.16 bhp/kg 0.07 bhp/lb | ||
| WEIGHT-TO-POWER RATIO | Lower is better 8.21 kg/kW 13.72 lb/bhp | ||
| FUEL CONSUMPTION | |||
| FUEL CONSUMPTION | 25.8/13.1/17.8 l/100km urban/extra-urban/combined | ||
| UNIVERSAL FUEL CONSUMPTION (CALCULATED FROM THE ABOVE) | |||
| LITRES/100KM | 25.8/13.1/17.8 l/100km urban/extra-urban/combined | ||
| KM/LITRE | 3.9/7.6/5.6 km/l urban/extra-urban/combined | ||
| UK MPG | 10.9/21.6/15.9 UK MPG urban/extra-urban/combined | ||
| US MPG | 9.1/18.0/13.2 US MPG urban/extra-urban/combined | ||
| CARBON DIOXIDE EMISSIONS | |||
| CARFOLIO CALCULATED CO2? | |||
| VED BAND (UK) | |||
| CO2 EFFIZIENZ (DE) | |||
| CHASSIS | |||
| ENGINE POSITION | front | ||
| ENGINE LAYOUT | longitudinal | ||
| DRIVE WHEELS | rear wheel drive | ||
| TORQUE SPLIT | N/A | ||
| STEERING | power assisted rack & pinion | ||
| TURNS LOCK-TO-LOCK | 3.250 | ||
| TURNING CIRCLE | |||
| FRONT SUSPENSION | |||
| REAR SUSPENSION | |||
| WHEEL SIZE FRONT | 7.5J x 17 | ||
| WHEEL SIZE REAR | 7.5J X 17 | ||
| TYRES FRONT | Avon 255/55 R 17 102W | ||
| TYRES REAR | 255/55 R 17 102W | ||
| BRAKES F/R | VeDi/Di-S-ABS | ||
| FRONT BRAKE DIAMETER | 340 mm | ||
| REAR BRAKE DIAMETER | 279 mm | ||
| BRAKED AREA | |||
| GEARBOX | 4 speed automatic | ||
