Think British style and a tweed jacket will probably be part of the ensemble. So, it’s apt that Bentley is the one that came up with a Tweed Hood for its Continental GT Convertible, a new personalisation option that includes plenty of paint and veneer choices.
“For lovers of classic heritage with a twist, the individual option of a new colour hood harmony has been created by two ‘solid’ tones which together form a dynamic partnership. Today’s tweed is a glorious combination of the old and the new: it offers a redefined version of a treasured fabric designed to appeal to modern lovers of texture and colour as well as to discerning customers for whom it conjures up long, luxurious drives, and relaxing country pursuits,” Crewe says.
Bentley says that the Tweed Hood is contemporary yet remaining respectful of the weaving tradition. Seven exterior roof colours are available in total, including the Tweed specification. “We wanted to create something that hadn’t been done before and we had never seen a Tweed effect hood. We felt confident that tailoring and heritage fabrics would become a significant trend with longevity, and we decided that was the right direction to pursue,” said colour and trim designer Cathy Bass.
From initial research into an archive sample of fabrics, the colour and trim team at Bentley’s Crewe HQ was aware of how it captured the essence of modern retro tailoring together with a contemporary and edgy energy created by the contrast of the dark brown and cream yarns.
“It was an intuitive sense that this was exactly what I was looking for. The only problem was that it was made with completely the wrong weave structure as our hood material has a very specific woven construction to meet technical and engineering requirements,” Bass said.
The task of trying to recreate the Tweed effect within the production construction parameters was no easy feat, but working closely with Bentley’s hood manufacturer the key element of balance of colour and contrast between the dark brown and cream was finally achieved to deliver a true Tweed feeling. “We went through many rounds of dying both of the yarns before we found the right combination,” notes Bass.
According to the luxury carmaker, as you get close to the Tweed Hood, it changes from what looks like a dark beige to reveal the interesting technical woven strands in the fabric.
Whatever hood option one chooses, the tailored Convertible roof can be deployed or stowed in 19 seconds, with the car travelling at speeds of up to 50 km/h. This transforms the Continental GTC from a luxurious coupe into an open-top grand tourer at the touch of a button.
The Z-fold roof system is said to be a major improvement both in terms of refinement and packaging. The roof, with its sealing system improvements and acoustic treatments, contributes to a three dB reduction in overall noise levels compared to its predecessor at typical cruising speeds.
To go full Kingsman, pair the Tweed Roof with a green exterior shade and rare (sustainably sourced) veneers, such as Koa and Dark Fiddleback Eucalyptus. A unique dual-veneer is offered, with over 10 square metres of wood used in every car. An additional option is the choice of a polished wooden steering wheel.
The “pinnacle of open-top luxury grand touring” is powered by the same 6.0 litre twin-turbo, direct-injection W12 engine found in the coupe, with 626 hp and 900 Nm of torque from 1,350 rpm to 4,500 rpm. The convertible does the 0-100 km/h run in 3.8 seconds, a tenth of a second slower than the coupe. It reaches the same 333 km/h top speed though, despite weighing 160 kg more than the fixed roof car. Class.
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