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Bentley Motors carefully handcrafted a unique and one-off Continental GT Azure, inspired by a surviving example of the iconic Bentley R-Type Continental JAS 949. The new Continental GT pays tribute to the JAS 949 on its 70th anniversary, celebrating one of the most important style icons in the history of Bentley. Although the JAS 949 was one of just 208 examples of the R-Type Continental ever built, the vehicle made a big impact despite this severe limitation. The beautiful old and new Bentleys were photographed at an equally spectacular London landmark that is also the reinvention of a 1950s 21st century icon – Battersea Power Station in south London.
Bentley Continental GT
- A legendary 1953 grand tourer provided the inspiration for the one-off Continental GT Azure
- 70th Anniversary Historic Spec based on Bentley's R-Type Continental, the JAS 949
- Modeled on the Mulliner-Guide for individual custom-made products - the key to limitless individualization
- traditional Painting, luxurious and elegant interior as well as uniquely designed veneer inlays with a cross-grain look
- There are 70 years of craftsmanship, design and innovation between the two coupés
- The Continental GT Azure offers well-being, comfort and the magic of a modern "flying carpet"
- The new model complements Bentley's marketing fleet in the UK
- A legendary grand tourer photographed in a legendary location
The R-Type Continental was also described as a "modern magic carpet that covers great distances in no time" - when it was presented in 1952, it was the world's fastest four-seater luxury sedan. The vehicle's three most distinctive lines - the "powerline" extending from the front wheel, the rear flank and the roofline - served as inspiration for the first generation of the Continental GT in 2003 and all subsequent Continental GTs. The youngest member of the Continental GT family, the Azure, takes up the elegance and timeless design of the R-Type Continental and pays special attention to the well-being of the driver.
Designed using the Mulliner Bespoke Guide, the new Continental GT Azure pays homage to one of the most iconic cars in the 43-car Bentley Heritage Collection. The JAS 949 is a Bentley R-Type Continental and is on display in the newly opened Heritage Garage on Bentley's carbon neutral campus in Crewe. Bentley acquired the JAS 949 in 2001 and since then has ensured it is in excellent mechanical condition and has preserved the automobile's very special patina. The vehicle is also regularly on the road.
JAS 949 delivered in December 1953
The JAS 949 was delivered to its first owner, Dr. Rowland Guenin from Switzerland. The model was commissioned in Ivory color, with a red interior and a manual gearbox. The vehicle still has this equipment today, as does the original 1953 liter engine.
To match the original look as closely as possible for the modern interpretation of the JAS 949, a new Continental GT V8 Azure has been hand-painted in Old English White to faithfully replicate the paintwork used in the 1950s. Like its muse, the Continental GT is finished in gleaming chrome (including the matrix grille). However, the JAS 949 still featured 16-inch wheels, while the new version comes with 22-inch wheels, hand-painted black like the original and polished to a high gloss.
The beautiful interior is clad in Cricket Ball leather throughout, providing a comfortable environment for driver and passengers, while bringing the traditional heritage of the JAS 949 to life. As a contrast and based on the original lines in the interior, the seats are designed with piping in Beluga leather.
The open-pore veneer in the Burr Walnut version, whose texture is reminiscent of the patinated surfaces of the JAS 949, provides a contemporary aspect. The open pore veneer is selected from only the finest and most heavily grained materials and lacquered in three wafer-thin layers, a total of just 0,1mm thick. For comparison, Bentley's high gloss paint finish is 0,5mm thick and has a glossy, smooth finish. Each layer is applied by hand and sanded down again and again between the work steps. This ensures that the paint blends well with the natural grain of the wood. The resulting surface has a wax-like appearance and emphasizes the authentic, natural color and texture of the wood species.
Thanks to Bentley's outstanding craftsmanship, cross-grain veneer inlays can still be created today. In keeping with the JAS 949 interior design tradition, the new Continental GT Azure's inlays feature Australian straight grain veneer with boxwood inlay and are accented with a rich gold Bentley Mulliner overlay. The interior is given the final touch by the silhouette of the R-Type Continental on the veneer of the instrument panel and the inner door sill trims.
The development of the original R-Type Continental
The R-Type Continental was conceived by project engineer Ivan Evernden and chief stylist John Blatchley, creating a template that still inspires Bentley designers today. Two special models built before the war, the "Embiricos" Bentley and the Corniche, were characterized by particularly good aerodynamics. In the early 1950s, Ivan Evernden was inspired by one of these one-off creations and developed an elegant coupe based on the R-Type Bentley sedan.
The powerful six-cylinder in-line engine with 4.566 ccm received a performance boost from 142 to 155 hp, the transmission got a higher final drive ratio. The prototype - the OLG 490, nicknamed "Olga" - achieved an average speed of 191 km/h and a top speed of around 193 km/h over five laps on the Montlhèry racetrack near Paris.
To keep weight to a minimum, Mulliner coachbuilders used aluminum for the body, window frames, windshield frame, taillight, seat frame and bumper. But even with reduced weight, choosing the right tires was extremely important. There was no standard tire on the market that could safely carry a two ton vehicle at speeds in excess of 185 km/h and so the Dunlop Medium Distance Track tires were chosen.
The first production model was delivered to its owner in June 1952. Production ended in 1955 after a total of 208 R-Type Continentals had been produced. Of these, 193 bodies are from HJ Mulliner. The remaining vehicles were built by Park Ward (four dropheads and two coupes), Franay (five), Graber (three) and Farina (one).
A flying carpet for the modern age
The new Continental GT Azure is designed for maximum well-being and comfort for the driver and passengers. This makes even long journeys a relaxed experience. A comfortable seat is the basis for good driving comfort and optimum control. All Bentley Azures come standard with the Front Seat Comfort Specification for the front seats. This includes a massage function with six programmable settings that constantly make the smallest changes in muscle tone and posture - very effective in preventing fatigue. The seats are also equipped with adjustable side cushions, electric seat belt adjustment and a comfort headrest.
Another key element of the Continental GT Azure is Bentley Dynamic Ride, Bentley's 48-volt active stabilization system. This assistant improves comfort and compensates for body roll, ensuring a particularly smooth and relaxed driving experience. The system perfectly protects the driver and passengers from excessive movement by electronically decoupling the anti-roll bars if necessary to ensure a smooth driving experience. A stabilizing torque of up to 0,3 Nm is provided in corners within 1.300 seconds to keep the chassis flat and stable on the road.
The Continental GT Azure also comes standard with the Touring Specification with various driver assistance systems that give the driver a feeling of sovereignty and relaxed control, in all weather conditions. Adaptive cruise control* maintains a set distance from the vehicle in front and automatically reduces speed (to a standstill if necessary) if the vehicle in front slows down. As soon as the lane is free, the vehicle accelerates again. Together with Lane Keeping Assist*, Traffic Assist* and Bentley Emergency Brake Assist, the vehicle's radar and camera systems constantly monitor the surrounding traffic and the road in order to be able to intervene and avoid an accident if necessary.
The relaxing and invigorating ambience in the interior of the Azure also reduces signs of fatigue on the part of the driver thanks to multi-sensory systems and a well thought-out design and also increases vehicle safety. Studies have shown that fatigue played a role in 20 percent of all road traffic collisions. The superior driving experience is supported by the head-up display, which assists the driver with clearly visible direction and navigation information. The night vision assistant uses infrared cameras to detect pedestrians, cyclists and animals that are not illuminated by the LED headlights.
Traditional perfection
Bentley has always stood out among other car manufacturers for its extreme performance and ultimate perfection. From the very beginning of the company, with the Bentley Boys racing their fast Racing Green machines and taking victories at Brooklands and Le Mans, company founder WO Bentley was passionate about achieving maximum smoothness and perfection in the construction of his vehicles.
"I used to have to put up with a lot of noise and I just didn't like it," he wrote in his autobiography, adding, "I just hate noise. I prefer driving at 110 km/h in comfortable silence to a noisy 130 km/h at all times.” Today, Bentley's Azure glides along at 240 km/h more quietly than any vehicle WO Bentley was driving at 110 km/h in its day. Now the new Continental GT Azure joins the Bentley UK marketing fleet. There the vehicle can be used for media purposes just like the JAS 949.
| R Type Continental – JAS 949 | Continental GT Azure | |
| manufacturing date | 1953 | 2023 |
| Body | HJ Mulliner XNUMX-door, XNUMX-seat grand tourer in aluminum on steel frame. | Steel and aluminum monocoque bodywork, superformed aluminum body panels. |
| Motor | 4.566cc in-line XNUMX, overhead intake linkage with side exhaust. Cast iron block, aluminum cylinder block. Zenith downdraft carburetor. | 8 cc V3.996 TSI, two twin-scroll turbochargers, direct injection, 32 valves with cylinder deactivation. Aluminum block and heads. |
| Performance | 114 kW (155 hp) at 4.000 rpm. | 404 kW (549 hp) at 6.000 rpm. |
| Transmission | Rear-wheel drive, graduated 4-speed gearbox. | Eight-speed dual-clutch transmission from ZF, active all-wheel drive. |
| Suspension | Independent front suspension with coil springs, wishbones and anti-roll bar. Drive axle rear suspension with semi-elliptical leaf springs. Double-acting lever arm dampers; rear vibration damping. | Aluminum double wishbones at the front, multi-link arms on the rear axle, active electric anti-roll bar (48 V), three-chamber air suspension, continuous damper control. |
| Dimensions | wheelbase 304,80 cm; length 524,51 cm; width 181,61 cm; Weight 1.700 kg. | wheelbase 285,10 cm; length 485,00 cm; width 218,70 cm; Weight 2.165 kg. |
| Performance | 185km/h. 0-100km/h 13,6s. | 319km/h. 0-100km/h 4s. |
A legendary photo location for a legendary grand tourer
Battersea Power Station has been a famous London landmark for more than 90 years. The power station started operating in the late 1920s. In 1955, the second half - Power Station B - and the fourth and final chimney of the landmark were completed. At its peak it could now power a fifth of London. Bentley Motors was also able to expand during this period - building on the success of the Le Mans race in the 1920s and with an established plant in Crewe, production of the legendary R-Type Continental began in the 1950s.
Battersea Power Station was decommissioned in 1983 and sat unused for almost 30 years before a consortium of Malaysian companies acquired the site in 2012 to bring this iconic London landmark and its surrounds back to life as one of the most exciting and innovative residential and commercial areas in the world . Today, a new neighborhood for everyone is thriving around Battersea Power Station, with a vibrant mix of shops, bars, restaurants, leisure, housing and public spaces. Other offerings are in development.
The neighborhood was the perfect location for a photoshoot, where the spotlight was on the Continental GT Azure and the JAS 949 - both automobiles and the traditional location perfectly embody the best of the 1950s and the modern age. Don't worry, of course, that wasn't the end of it when it came to car / car tuning. Our magazine still has tens of thousands other tuning reports in stock. Do you want to see them all? Then just click HERE and look around. Or you can read through the following thematically appropriate vehicle reports. Another interesting vehicle is sure to be included.
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Photo credit: Bentley
