Large open-top Bentley concept could point towards a production Mulsanne convertible, and features that car's 6.75-litre twin-turbo V8 engineBentley has unveiled its new Grand Convertible concept on the eve of the Los Angeles motor show.
The model, which is described as "the ultimate expression of British automotive luxury," and "the most sophisticated open-top car ever created by Bentley," is powered by the same 6.75-litre twin-turbocharged V8 engine as the Mulsanne and Mulsanne Speed.
Bentley quotes official power output figures of 530bhp and 811 lb ft - the same as the Mulsanne Speed. In that car, the engine is capable of delivering a 0-62mph time of 4.9 seconds.
Although officially described as a concept car, the Grand Convertible could well point towards a new convertible version of Bentley's Mulsanne. Such a model has long been mooted, and Bentley boss Wolfgang Dürheimer showed a concept car to potential customers at the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance in 2012.
Primarily aimed at emerging high-value markets like China, the Mulsanne convertible was originally slated to cost around £275,000.
This Grand Convertible concept features bespoke paintwork and a 'liquid metal' finish to the bonnet and windscreen frame on the outside, while the cabin is trimmed with leather. Contrasting blue stitching also features, while the wooden tonneau at the rear is the largest ever applied to a Bentley model.
Hinting that the concept is likely to reach production in strictly limited numbers, Dürheimer said: "We are eagerly awaiting the response of our customers to this car. We will ensure that this car - if it reaches the roads – will be a highly exclusive, extremely limited collector’s piece."
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