1997 Bentley Azure Convertible

The exciting success of the Bentley Continental R made it predictable that here was the basis for a most promising convertible. Indeed the company did ask Sergio Pininfarina in Italy to take over the task of styling one. Testimonial to successful Anglo-Italian cooperation was the elegant Bentley Azure with its automatically operated, fully disappearing hood. The name was evocative of those very special models too whose designations could be traced back to areas in the South of France: Corniche and Camargue. But here was an out-and-out sports car for the most demanding driver whereas the previous models had neither been noted for brisk acceleration nor for sure-footed roadholding.