Bentley Grand Convertible Concept: First Look

Looks like: A Bentley Mulsanne nose on a Rolls-Royce Phantom Drophead Coupe

Defining characteristics: Massive engine, sumptuous interior, burr walnut deck lid

Ridiculous features: None, this could be built as-is

Chance of being mass-produced: Count on it.

Los Angeles is a land of highly conspicuous wealth, a place where you’re judged as much by the car you arrive in as your accomplishments in life. What better place to introduce one of the most luxurious new convertibles ever crafted? Bentley thought so, taking the wraps off of its new Grand Convertible concept at a private event ahead of the 2014 Los Angeles Auto Show. The car is based on the flagship Mulsanne sedan, a behemoth luxury cruiser that is one of the last few handcrafted cars in the world. Bentley hopes to gauge potential customers’ reactions as to whether it should create a few of these yachts for some very wealthy clients.

The look is certainly recognizable as a Bentley, with a nose borrowed straight from the Mulsanne. Two big headlights with captivating reflectors flank an enormous upright metal mesh grille. It’s certainly bold and imposing, less of a sleek, racy design like the smaller Continental GTC. As it’s based on the Mulsanne, the Grand Convertible is seriously long — something you don’t notice until you walk around the side. What the Grand Convertible most resembles, however, is not a Bentley product. It’s almost certainly aimed at rival Rolls-Royce’s Phantom Drophead Coupe, a fantastically expensive and exclusive luxury convertible with an almost identical color scheme: metal hood and windshield surround over a painted lower body.

Under the hood is the familiar twin-turbocharged “6 3/4-liter” V-8 engine that’s been powering Bentleys in some form since the 1950s. Here it pumps out 530 horsepower, according to the company, but there ends the detail provided on the car’s powertrain. Presumably it’s simply a version of the Mulsanne underneath, in which case it would have an eight-speed automatic transmission and rear-wheel drive, but these specs are not confirmed.

Bentley would instead prefer you to focus on the bespoke, handcrafted interior covered in Linen leather, and the real burr walnut planking that creates the rear hard tonneau concealing the convertible top. The tonneau, which has chrome accents, features the largest single piece of wood veneer ever applied to a Bentley vehicle. Combined with the opulent leather and wood interior, the car feels as luxurious as anything Bentley has ever made, with a handcrafted quality that will certainly command an eye-bulging premium if Bentley decides to bring it to market.

Which is almost assuredly going to happen; this is not the first time this vehicle has been shown to prospective buyers. Journalists in attendance at the car’s most recent unveiling said that Bentley has shown the Grand Convertible in earlier forms several times to select audiences in the past few years. This is the first time the public has gotten a look at the car, and given how finished and ready for production it appears to be, chances are good that you’ll be able to spot one on the streets of Beverly Hills in the not too distant future.

Check out the gallery below.