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Bentley Arnage R Review

July 2005
Filed under: BENTLEY Car News | BENTLEY Headlines

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Making its world debut at the Geneva Motor Show, The Bentley Arnage R is the latest addition to Bentley's Series Two Arnage family. The Arnage T debuted in January as an ultra-high performance flagship, breaking new ground for both company and class. The Arnage R now takes up its position in the family as the direct replacement for the Arnage Red Label, reinforcing Bentley's reputation for highly refined grand touring cars.
The engine fitted to the Arnage R is essentially that used by the Arnage T, but entirely recalibrated to provide yet more refined responses at the expense of some power and torque. The Arnage R engine produces 400bhp (298kW) at 4000rpm and 616lb ft (835Nm) of torque at 3250rpm. Top speed for the Arnage R is 155mph, while 0-60mph can still be achieved in just 5.9 seconds.

The engine itself is a radical reinterpretation of the famed 6.75-litre V8 engine that has served in every Bentley since 1970. So far reaching are the changes that only its basic architecture and internal dimensions remain as before.

Most notable is the adoption of twin Garrett T3 turbochargers to replace the single T4 used since the launch of the Bentley Mulsanne Turbo in 1982.

Two small turbochargers not only have less inertia and therefore faster response times, but also allow the use of close-coupled catalytic converters, located near the exhaust manifold. This allows the catalytic converters to heat up extremely quickly, swiftly reaching operating temperature and thereby reducing emissions.

A key modification is the inclusion of a Bosch Motronic ME7.1 engine management system. This state of the art system is central to the engine's ability to minimise emissions. It does this by bringing an unprecedented level of control to a wide range of engine parameters, from boost levels and detonation control to exhaust temperatures. In addition to this, it has also facilitated the fitment of ESP – Electronic Stability Programme – that advances the Arnage's active safety far beyond the level reached by the conventional traction control system fitted to the previous generation Arnage.

Like the Arnage T, the Arnage R also features new fabricated, twin-skin exhaust manifolds which heat quickly and further reduce emissions while their tuned exhaust lengths improve both efficiency and sound quality.

The aims of such enhancements, and the legion of revisions to the engine block and cylinder heads, were to produce quicker and smoother responses right across the rev-range while, at the same time, dramatically reducing emissions with the result that the new engine meets all emissions legislation until 2005.

The gearbox is carried over from the previous generation Arnage. Its exceptional smoothness and extraordinary torque handling characteristics ensures it remains the best transmission for the Series Two Arnage.

In keeping with Bentley's philosophy of understated elegance, styling changes have been kept to a minimum. The red badge is carried over from the previous model and the only key exterior indication of the changes that lie beneath the skin is the gently upturned lip of the boot spoiler. The chromium brightwork deleted from the front, back and side of the Arnage T is retained on the Arnage R.

The cabin has an instantly traditional feel to it, replacing the dark stained wood and optional engine turned aluminium found on the Arnage T with burr walnut. But perhaps most notable in a wide range of enhancements are the seats. Bentley is one of just a few manufacturers left in the world to design and manufacture their seats entirely in-house, and has spent two years building CAD-profiles of the best seats on the market against which to benchmark its own products. The result is seats that offer both more comfort and support, while providing a much more sporting look.

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