Bentley‘s interiors are considered to be the pinnacle of luxury when it comes to the ultra-luxury car segment. The standard Bentley range already offers an impressive degree of customization and materials for imaginative buyers, but what if you want more sparkle and perhaps more opulence in your Bentley purchase? The British luxury carmaker thinks it has the next best thing with the all-new Azure range.
Azure Range Morphs From Model To Interior Package
When we last saw the Azure name, Bentley used it to label convertibles with the Continental R and Arnage getting the designation when their roofs were elegantly chopped off. This time around, the name is being used to signal a new interior option for buyers, with this Azure treatment signifying an all-new luxury package that promotes what the company calls “Automotive Wellness.” Buyers have 15 different interior colors to choose from and the package adds 22-way power-adjustable seats with six different massage modes and adjustments for a wide range of functions including the bolstering and even the seatbelts.
All 15 interior colors have contrast piping and stitching and they are complemented by three different wood choices (Dark Walnut, Koa, and Crown Cut Walnut.) Other goodies include a heated steering wheel, illuminated treadplates, and Bentley logos on the foot pedals. Technology is also a nice contrast here in the Azure with a standard heads-up display that puts navigation data within the driver’s line of sight and an accompanying night vision system. An impressive suite of driver assistance gear comes along for the ride too and they include items such as Adaptive Cruise Control, Lane Assist, and Traffic Assist.
Performance And Exterior Styling Take Backseat
With the Azure package focusing on the interior, it’s no surprise that performance and exterior design take a backseat this time around despite those areas also receiving some light touchups. An easy way to spot an Azure model is to look at the lower bumper with the grilles here having a shinier chrome grille and the wheels being swapped out for massive 22-inch ten-spoke alloy wheels. Performance hardware is largely untouched but Azure versions get Bentley’s Dynamic Ride system which uses active anti-roll bars to help keep the vehicle firmly planted when taking sharp corners (reducing body roll in the process.
More importantly, Bentley is clearly taking aim at Rolls Royce with this package and is attempting to position the Azure package as a pinnacle package across the entire lineup, with the Bentley Bentayga Extended Wheelbase serving as the spearhead of this approach. That model debuted an all-new “Airline Style” seat for rear passengers and is a noticeable upgrade in luxury and space over the standard Bentayga.
Bentley didn’t reveal pricing (we suspect it will be a notable sum) and when the Azure package will make its way to Bentley models. However look for more information to be revealed later this year, with the first Azure equipped models making their way to dealerships sometime in early 2023. In the meantime, Bentley released a detailed video featuring the Azure package which can be seen below.
Carl Malek has been an automotive journalist for over 10 years. First starting out as a freelance photographer before making the transition to writing during college, his work has appeared on numerous automotive forums as well as websites such as Autoshopper.com.
Carl is also a big fan of British vehicles with the bulk of his devotion going to the Morgan Motor Company as well as offerings from Lotus, MG, and Caterham. When he is not writing about automobiles, Carl enjoys spending time with his family and friends in the Metro Detroit area, as well as spending time with his adorable pets.