New Bentley Grand Convertible is the most sophisticated and elegant open-top car ever created by Bentley. Developed to signify Bentley’s intentions for the future, this convertible is the ultimate expression of the British luxury automobile. Resplendent in Sequin Blue, originally a bespoke colour created from a single sequin from a customer’s haute couture gown, the Grand Convertible features a silver “liquid metal” finish to the bonnet and windscreen frame. Contrasting the rich blue body work is the Bentley directional wheel design, handed to the left and right sides of the car and finished by hand before being polished to a high shine.
The wheels hint at the enormous power and torque that wait under the bonnet: 537 PS (530 bhp / 395 kW) and 1,100 Nm (811 lb.ft) of torque from Bentley’s legendary 6¾-litre twin-turbo V8 engine of the flagship Mulsanne.
The interior of the car is nothing less impressive. 14 naturally tanned leather hides are merged together with progressive-diamond quilting, with the shape of the pattern changing over the seats and doors in a cabin sized for four adults. Bright blue is used to highlight the extraordinary skill of Bentley’s trim specialists, with Sequin Blue thread cross-stitched by hand through the linen-coloured leather. The light hide is contrasted by the sleek elegance of Beluga leather around the top of the doors and extending back to the rear tonneau, framed in polished chrome.
The tonneau itself provides the most significant example of Bentley craftsmanship at its finest. Replete with book-matched, mirror-finished and dark-stained Burr Walnut, the tonneau features the largest piece of wood veneer ever applied to a Bentley. Fashioned entirely by hand, this expanse of veneer is only paralleled by the creations of the world’s best furniture makers, and is finished with elegant parallel lines of chromed steel.
The Bentley Grand Convertible will be on display at the Los Angeles Auto Show from 19th November 2014, and after that it will travel to Miami for Art Basel, the world’s premier international art show for Modern and contemporary work.
