The New Bentley Azure: A Car that Costs as Much as a Small House
You ever have one of those days when a new Ferrari just won't do? Maybe razing around in an Aston has got that neck snapping reaction from passes by that you really expect, but it doesn't quite live up to your expectations. Well, I have found the perfect car for those days - the new Bentley Azure. It's the biggest, brashest, most expensive four-seat luxury convertible currently in production.
The Bentley Azure is as inconspicuous as fuchsia funeral wear. It's a car that demands attention without asking for it, like a red dress at a black-tie event. And yet, despite its grandiose appearance, the Azure is actually quite understated. You wouldn't notice it if you weren't looking for it, unless you happen to glance in the direction of the road and see this massive, luxurious machine rolling by.
But don't let its size fool you - the Bentley Azure is a car that packs a punch. It has the same amount of wheels as a fiesta, with four large wheels on each side of the car, giving it a wide, stable stance that makes it feel like it's floating over the road. And then there's the steering wheel, which is nestled comfortably in its normal place and on the normal side of the cabin. It's not just about style - the steering wheel is also incredibly durable, with carbon fiber crucifixes tying the subframes together to make the car 300% stiffer than its predecessor.
But what really sets the Bentley Azure apart from other cars is its interior. You need a small army of skilled craftsmen to create this level of luxury and attention to detail. Imagine it took one Craftsman 15 hours to stitch all these millimeter-perfect little bits around the steering wheel. That's just the tip of the iceberg - the veneers are hand-cut to a thickness of just 6/32 of an inch, then laid out symmetrically so that the pattern on the left matches the pattern on the right.
And yet, despite its incredible attention to detail and luxurious materials, the Bentley Azure is not particularly clever or groundbreaking. It's a car that knows what it wants to do - handle well for such a big car - but doesn't really try anything new or innovative. So why does it cost so much money? One reason, I reckon, is that the people who buy this car are beyond rich. They just don't care how much money it costs on average.
On average, these people have another eight cars in their garage already. They're used to having everything they want, whenever they want it. And with a 12-month waiting list for this very car, you can bet that Bentley is charging what it likes and people would still buy it. Maybe it's not just about the money - maybe it's about status, or exclusivity, or the thrill of owning something that only a handful of people in the world can afford.
But whatever the reason, one thing is clear: the new Bentley Azure is a car that costs as much as my house. It's a staggering £222,000, and yet I have to wonder - would it really be worth it? Would it be worth trading away all my other cars for just one of these luxurious, exclusive machines? That's a decision only you can make.
The Bentley Azure also has a 6.75 L V8 engine with two turbochargers that gives it an incredible 450 brake horsepower. This means that the top speed is nearly 170 mph - and smoking tires don't really help us understand why this car costs so much money. Maybe the interior, which requires 12 cows (one of them named Daisy) to make the leatherwork, will be the answer.
But then again, it's not just about the materials. You also need incredibly skilled labor to create this level of luxury and attention to detail. The steering wheel is a great example - imagine that one guy spent 15 hours stitching all these millimeter-perfect little bits around the steering wheel with carbon fiber crucifixes tying the subframes together, making the car 300% stiffer than its predecessor.
So, why does the Bentley Azure cost so much money? The answer might be simpler than we think. It's just that the people who buy this car are beyond rich. They don't care how much money it costs on average because they've got another eight cars in their garage already and there's a 12-month waiting list for this very car. Bentley, therefore, could have charged what they like and people would still bought it.
But do you ever have one of those days when a new Ferrari just won't do? Maybe razing around in an Aston hasn't got that neck snapping reaction from passes by that you really expect no well me then I'll be over here with my Bentley Azure.