Bentley has revealed a one-off Continental GT Azure impressed by the enduring R-Sort Continental JAS 949, in honour of JAS 949’s seventieth birthday. The brand new JAS 949 is certainly one of solely 208 examples of the R Sort Continental ever constructed.
The R-Sort Continental was the quickest four-seat luxurious saloon on the earth when launched in 1952. Moreover, the facility line from the entrance wheel, the rear haunch and the roofline of the automobile have been impressed by the primary technology Continental GT in 2003 and each Continental GT since.
The JAS 949 is Bentley’s personal R-Sort Continental. The mannequin was acquired by Bentley in 2001 and has maintained its wonderful mechanical order which features a handbook gearbox and the unique 4.6 litre engine whereas sympathetically preserving its patina. The JAS 949 was ordered in Ivory with a Pink inside and was delivered to its first proprietor in December 1953.
The Continental GT V8 Azure has been hand painted in Previous English White to recreate the closest specification for the trendy interpretation of JAS 949. The Continental GT has been fitted with shiny chrome (together with the matrix grille) 22 inch hand-finished wheels, in a black and polished end as per the unique.
The inside options Cricket Ball leather-based that gives a deep and wealthy heritage really feel for the motive force and passengers, hand-applied piping in Beluga leather-based. The cross banding of the brand new Continental GT Azure makes use of Australian straight grain veneer with a boxwood inlay enhanced with a Bentley Mulliner overlay in a wealthy gold whereas the ending touches of the silhouette of the R-Sort Continental have been added to the fascia veneer and inside treadplates to finish the cabin.
The R-Sort Continental JAS 949 is powered by a 4566 cc 6-cylinder in-line engine delivering an output energy of 153 bhp at 4000 rpm and the acceleration from 0-62 mph is achieved in 13.6 seconds. Alternatively, the Continental GT Azure is powered by a 3996 cc V8 TSI engine with two twin-scroll turbochargers. The engine generates an output energy of 542 bhp at 6000 rpm and the acceleration from 0-62 mph is achieved in 4.0 seconds.
To additional scale back the burden, the engineering staff crafted the bodywork, window frames, windscreen encompass, backlight, seat frames and bumpers in aluminium and Dunlop Medium Distance Observe tyres have been specified.
For the inside, all Bentley Azures characteristic the Entrance Seat Consolation Specification as normal. This features a therapeutic massage operate with six programmable settings to forestall fatigue, adjustable facet bolsters, electrical seat belt adjustment and luxury headrests. One other key component of the Continental GT Azure is Bentley Dynamic Experience, Bentley’s 48V energetic anti-roll management system that improves journey consolation and prevents roll for smoother, extra stress-free journeys.
The Continental GT Azure additionally options the Touring Specification which incorporates driver help techniques, Adaptive Cruise Management, Lane Help, Site visitors Help and Bentley Safeguard as normal. The driving force’s sense of relaxed management is additional enhanced by the Head-up Show and by Evening Imaginative and prescient, which makes use of infra-red cameras to determine pedestrians, cyclists and fauna outdoors the beam of the LED headlights.
The brand new Continental GT Azure now joins Bentley’s UK press fleet, the place it will likely be out there for media loans together with the chance to drive JAS 949.