Bentley buyers are not normal consumers.
They are, by
definition, big spenders, willing to pony up for exclusivity and
luxury that average folks can’t afford. They want the best, and
they’re willing to pay for it. At least, that surely was the
thinking behind Vertu—the maker of hideously expensive,
utterly pointless “luxury” smartphones—and Bentley teaming
up to create a bespoke line of phones. Right on schedule, the
first “Vertu for Bentley” smartphone has been released—and
priced—and, well, it’s just about what we expected.

The initial Vertu for Bentley phone is a lot like Vertu’s other
creations, in that it is an Android-powered smartphone with a
bunch of fine leather and titanium accents. In this case—phone
pun intended—Vertu gives Bentley buyers a custom-appointed
Bentley-themed phone to complement their handcrafted-in-
Crewe conveyance. Trouble is, whereas Bentley’s cars pack
enough horsepower, luxury, and exclusiveness to justify their
eye-watering price tags, Vertu’s wares put a lot of luxurious
wrappings on a rather plebeian package.

Charitably, Vertu’s claim to producing the world’s only
handcrafted, custom-tailored smartphone—the builder’s
signature is visible behind the phone’s back panel—is a 21st-
century take on the British coachbuilding tradition that
furnished brands like Bentley and Rolls-Royce.

In the very
British world of limited-run machines, what’s under the hood
doesn’t always tell the whole story. (Just look at what Lotus has
done using some very run-of-the-mill Toyota engines.) But in
the case of the Vertu, what’s under the hood does tell the whole
story: The phone’s 4.7-inch screen, 13-megapixel camera, off-
the-shelf computer chips, and Android operating system are
easily matched (and in some cases, bested) by the Samsung,
Motorola, HTC, and Apple smartphones that the proletariat can
so easily buy. And they’re not paying anywhere near $17,100
for them.

The one key difference between it and other phones—aside
from the hand-stitched calf leather, seemingly the only reason
the Vertu for Bentley exists—is the Vertu’s built-in, 24-hour
concierge service, offering worldwide assistance, priority
bookings, and the promise of “accessing ‘money-can’t-buy’
events” from a dedicated lifestyle manager or a team of experts
summoned via phone, email, or text.

Face it: If you’re in the market for a new Bentley and you’re
seriously considering spending brand-new Mazda 3 money on a
pocket computer, you’re probably already carrying an
American Express black card, a totem of the one percent that
offers all the concierge and VIP access perks a person could ask
for. Juggling two concierges is a burden no Bentley driver
should have to endure, certainly not for 17 grand. Our advice?
Save the dough for a nice case for your ($649-and-up off-
contract) iPhone 6 and your Centurion Card’s annual fee.

http://blog.caranddriver.com/vertus-17100-bentley-branded-smartphone-is-the-electronic-accessory-nobody-needs/