Bentley Azure

Bentley Azure: which version to buy

If you are choosing a Bentley Azure rather than reading a model tour, the short answer is this: every listed car is a Cabrio named 6.8 AT, rear-driven, with a 6750 cm³ Gasoline 8-cylinder V-shaped engine. The useful split is generation and power.

If you are choosing a Bentley Azure rather than reading a model tour, the short answer is this: every listed car is a Cabrio named 6.8 AT, rear-driven, with a 6750 cm³ Gasoline 8-cylinder V-shaped engine. The useful split is generation and power. 1 generation (1995-01-01–2003-12-31) has three 6.8 AT outputs — 389 hp, 408 hp, and 426 hp — all with boost No, a 4-speed Automatic, 95 fuel, kerb weight 2610 kg. 2 generation (2005-01-01–2009-12-31) has two 6.8 AT outputs — 457 hp and 507 hp — both Turbo, 6-speed Automatic, 98 fuel, kerb weight 2695 kg. The 507 hp car is the strongest and lightest per horsepower in this catalogue; the 389 hp car is the least powerful; the 426 hp car is the strongest naturally aspirated choice. There is no SUV, no Bentayga Azure, no Continental GT Azure, no Flying Spur Azure, and no 2026 Azure in these data.

Specs by version: what actually differs

All five rows share the same catalogue name 6.8 AT. Distinguish them by horsepower.

Engine placement is Front, longitudinal and the feed is Distributed injection (multi-point) on every version. Bore × stroke is 104.1 × 99.1 on the 389 hp 6.8 AT and on both 2 generation cars; the 408 hp and 426 hp 6.8 AT list 104.14 × 99.1. Compression is 8 on all three 1 generation cars and 7.8 on both Turbo cars.

Engine size, horsepower, and what each step buys

Engine size does not change: 6750 cm³ throughout. Specific output (hp ÷ 6.75 L) is therefore a pure ranking of tune:

• 6.8 AT 389 hp: 57.6 hp/L
• 6.8 AT 408 hp: 60.4 hp/L (+19 hp vs 389 hp; same 750 Nm)
• 6.8 AT 426 hp: 63.1 hp/L (+18 hp vs 408 hp; +125 Nm, 875 vs 750)
• 6.8 AT 457 hp: 67.7 hp/L (+31 hp vs 426 hp; same 875 Nm, but peak 1800 rpm vs 2100)
• 6.8 AT 507 hp: 75.1 hp/L (+50 hp vs 457 hp; +125 Nm, 1000 vs 875)

Inside 1 generation, torque does not move from 389 hp to 408 hp (both 750 Nm @ 2000). The 408 hp 6.8 AT is a power-only step: +19 hp, +14 kW, 0–100 unchanged at 6.7 s, top speed 240 km/h versus 241 km/h on the 389 hp car. The 426 hp 6.8 AT is the first generation step that also adds torque: +125 Nm and a 0.5 s quicker 0–100 (6.2 s vs 6.7 s), with top speed 249 km/h — 8 km/h above the 389 hp car and 9 km/h above the 408 hp car.

The generation change is larger than any intra-generation step. From the strongest 1 generation 6.8 AT (426 hp) to the milder 2 generation 6.8 AT (457 hp): +31 hp, same 875 Nm but 300 rpm earlier, Turbo instead of No, 6 speeds instead of 4, 0–100 5.9 s instead of 6.2 s (−0.3 s), top speed 274 km/h instead of 249 (+25 km/h). From 457 hp to 507 hp: +50 hp, +125 Nm, 0–100 5.5 s (−0.4 s vs 457 hp), top speed 292 km/h (+18 km/h vs 457 hp, +43 km/h vs 426 hp, +51 km/h vs 389 hp). Across the whole range, peak power rises 118 hp (389 → 507) and peak torque 250 Nm (750 → 1000).

Fuel grade follows the same split: 95 with boost No, 98 with Turbo.

Performance, mpg, and the cost in consumption

CO2 is not measured on every version. Eco class is not measured on every version.

1 generation fuel use does not move with power: 389, 408, and 426 hp all list 25.7 / 13 / 17.8. Choosing the 426 hp 6.8 AT over the 389 hp 6.8 AT therefore buys 37 hp, 125 Nm, 0.5 s, and 8 km/h without a listed consumption penalty. 2 generation likewise does not split economy between 457 hp and 507 hp: both 28.8 / 14.1 / 19.5. The 507 hp 6.8 AT is 50 hp, 125 Nm, 0.4 s, and 18 km/h above the 457 hp car at the same listed L/100 km.

Generation-to-generation economy is the other way: mixed +1.7 L/100 km, city +3.1, highway +1.1. Tank volume falls from 108 L to 96 L (−12 L). The Turbo cars also require 98 rather than 95.

Weight, dimensions, tank: kg per horsepower

Wheel sizes are not measured on every version. Ground clearance is 140 mm on every version. Body is Cabrio on both generations.

Kerb weight is identical inside each generation (2610 kg, then 2695 kg). The second generation is 85 kg heavier at the kerb. Gross weight is the only mass figure that splits twins: 389 hp lists 3030 kg; 408 hp and 426 hp list 2980 kg (−50 kg). On 2 generation, 457 hp lists 3065 kg gross and 507 hp lists 3035 kg (−30 kg). Payload implied by gross − kerb is 420 kg (389 hp), 370 kg (408 hp and 426 hp), 370 kg (457 hp), 340 kg (507 hp).

Power-to-weight ranking (lower kg/hp is stronger): 507 hp 5.32 → 457 hp 5.90 → 426 hp 6.13 → 408 hp 6.40 → 389 hp 6.71. The 85 kg kerb penalty of 2 generation is more than offset by the Turbo outputs: even the 457 hp car is 0.23 kg/hp lighter than the 426 hp car.

Chassis labels do not help you choose: Independent, spring front and rear; Ventilated disc front; Disc rear — same wording on all five.

Which generation changed what

1 generation (three 6.8 AT, 1995-01-01–2003-12-31): Cabrio, boost No, Automatic 4, 95, 108 L, 2610 kg kerb, 17.8 L/100 km mixed, 0–100 6.7 or 6.2 s, top 240–249 km/h. Differentiation is almost only output: 389 / 408 / 426 hp. The 408 hp car does not improve 0–100 versus 389 hp. The 426 hp car is the one that moves torque, acceleration, and top speed.

2 generation (two 6.8 AT, 2005-01-01–2009-12-31): still Cabrio and RWD, still 6750 cm³ 8 V-shaped, but Turbo, Automatic 6, 98, 96 L, 2695 kg, 19.5 L/100 km mixed, 0–100 5.9 or 5.5 s, top 274 or 292 km/h. Compression drops from 8 to 7.8. Peak power rpm rises from 4000 to 4100 (457 hp) and 4200 (507 hp). Torque peak on the 457 hp car is the earliest in the catalogue (1800 rpm); on the 507 hp car it is the latest (3250 rpm) despite the highest 1000 Nm figure.

There is a calendar gap: 1 generation stops 2003-12-31 and 2 generation starts 2005-01-01. These data do not list a 2004 year or a restyling as a separate generation.

This catalogue does not describe a Bentley Azure SUV, a Bentley Azure perfume, Cologne, a 2026 model, Bentayga Azure specs, Continental GT Azure horsepower, or Flying Spur Azure dimensions. Price, cost, and cars for sale are not measured here.

Which version to choose

Buy the 2 generation 6.8 AT 507 hp if the numbers that matter are peak output and pace. It is the only 1000 Nm car, the only 292 km/h car, the only 5.5 s 0–100, the best kg/hp (5.32), and the highest specific output (75.1 hp/L). Versus the 457 hp twin it adds 50 hp and 125 Nm with no listed change in L/100 km, tank, kerb weight, clearance, or gearbox. Versus the best 1 generation car it adds 81 hp, 125 Nm, two extra gears, Turbo, 0.7 s, and 43 km/h, at +85 kg kerb, −12 L tank, +1.7 L/100 km mixed, and 98 instead of 95. Gross weight 3035 kg is 30 kg below the 457 hp car’s 3065 kg.

Buy the 2 generation 6.8 AT 457 hp if you want the Turbo / 6-speed generation without the 507 hp peak. It already beats every 1 generation car on 0–100 (5.9 s) and top speed (274 km/h). Torque matches the 426 hp car at 875 Nm but arrives at 1800 rpm instead of 2100. You pay the same consumption, tank, fuel grade, and 2695 kg kerb as the 507 hp car. You do not get the extra 50 hp, 125 Nm, 0.4 s, or 18 km/h. Gross 3065 kg is the highest in the table.

Buy the 1 generation 6.8 AT 426 hp if you want boost No, 95 fuel, the 108 L tank, and the 2610 kg kerb, but still the strongest naturally aspirated numbers. It is the only 1 generation car with 875 Nm and 6.2 s / 249 km/h. Versus 389 hp and 408 hp it costs nothing extra in listed consumption. Versus 2 generation you give up Turbo, two gears, 31–81 hp, and 25–43 km/h, and you keep 1.7 L/100 km mixed less use and 12 L more tank.

Skip the 1 generation 6.8 AT 408 hp unless a specific car is otherwise the one you want. It is +19 hp versus 389 hp with identical 750 Nm, identical 6.7 s, and a 1 km/h lower top speed (240 vs 241). Gross weight 2980 kg matches the 426 hp car, so the 408 hp version is not the lightest-gross choice uniquely — the 426 hp 6.8 AT shares that 2980 kg figure and is 18 hp and 125 Nm ahead.

The 1 generation 6.8 AT 389 hp is the baseline, not the bargain on pace. Same kerb, tank, mpg, gearbox, and boost as its two sisters; 50 kg more gross than they are (3030 vs 2980); weakest hp/L and kg/hp. Choose it only when the other two 1 generation outputs are not the car in front of you.

A compact rule using only these figures: inside a generation, take the highest hp — 426 hp in 1 generation, 507 hp in 2 generation — because listed mixed consumption does not rise with those steps. Between generations, take 2 generation if 0–100, top speed, Turbo, and 6 speeds outweigh 85 kg, 12 L less tank, 98 fuel, and +1.7 L/100 km mixed; take 1 generation if 95 fuel, 108 L, 2610 kg, and boost No outweigh the slower 6.2–6.7 s and 240–249 km/h. Wheel sizes, CO2, and eco class remain not measured, so they cannot break a tie.