BENTLEYAzure 2006 - 2009

　　The 2006 Bentley Azure was the last convertible built on a chassis from an era when Rolls-Royce and Bentley brands were under the same roof and shared the same engines.

　　After Volkswagen bought the Crewe factory and the Bentley name and BMW bought the Rolls-Royce brand and the grille with the Spirit of Ecstasy, things didn't go too well between the German competitors. But Volkswagen didn't have an engine to suit a Bentley and didn't want to use the 4.4-liter V8 from the Bavarian company. So, the Volkswagen management decided to go with the old 6.75-liter Rolls-Royce/Bentley V8 engine but added two turbochargers.

　　The massive convertible was built for relaxed drivings and comfort. To achieve that, the vehicle had to be heavy, have a long wheelbase and thick chairs inside. The massive look of the car with a slightly sloped rear end had the classic look of a luxurious vehicle. And the Azure was nothing short on it.

　　Inside, the wood and leather were the main materials used. Some buttons were metallic while only a few were made out of plastic. The big, flat, chairs upfront had multiple adjustments and even a massage function. Over the years, that wasn't unusual but, in 2007, it was something extraordinary. An interesting feature was the dual inside opening handle, one for the front seat occupants and the other for the rear passengers who could reach and open the door.

　　Under the hood was the original 6.75-liter, twin-turbo engine. While the Bentley Continental Turbo had a big, single turbocharger, the Azure had two for a better response and smaller lag. Another improvement over the older Bentley was the 6-speed automatic gearbox that replaced the older 4-speed.

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