Bentley Arnage T Car Review and Specs | Bentley Arnage T Car Wallpaper Pictures Pics

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Making its world debut at the NAIAS, the 450bhp, 168mph Arnage T is not only Bentley’s most powerful car in its history, but also the fastest production saloon in the world. As part of the Bentley Series Two Arnage family, the Bentley Arnage T is the result of a three year project to re-engineer the outstandingly successful Arnage saloon from bumper to bumper. In this process not a single significant area of its design has been left untouched.
So extensive are the engineering modifications enjoyed by the Series Two Arnage that beneath its updated, but still familiar lines lies what is in many respects a new car. Every area of the car has been thoroughly evaluated for its suitability to the 21st century Bentley driver, and many have been comprehensively modified, some out of all recognition.

The Arnage T is the pinnacle model in the Series Two range. It will be joined later in 2002 by two other models, successors to the Arnage Red Label and Arnage Long Wheelbase.

The genesis of the new V8 engine can be found in Bentley’s decision in 1998 to offer the Arnage with the long-serving 6.75-litre engine as an alternative to the BMW-derived 4.4-litre powerplant offered at launch. The response from the Bentley- buying public was so overwhelming that very soon the larger engine powered every new Arnage. There could be no clearer indication of the strength of demand that remained for the fabled turbocharged aluminium V8 that first appeared in the Bentley Mulsanne in 1982.

Clearly, however, the engine was no longer in its first flush of youth and with ever increasing demands being put upon it by emissions legislators and a clientele that expects the best, it was evident that it would either need re-engineering or replacing.

Bentley’s engineers have sought to retain the fundamental structure of the engine, while modifying its internals and ancillaries to create a new powerplant that suits all the requirements of the 21st century Bentley driver.

For the Arnage T, the engine produces 450bhp (336kW) at 4100rpm and 645lb ft of torque (875Nm) at 3250rpm.

Bentley design chief Dirk van Braeckel knew that customers for the Bentley Arnage T would want to drive a car that was clearly an Arnage, but at the same time, one that could be seen to be considerably, if subtly enhanced. Therefore numerous design changes were effected, none world changing in isolation but as a whole, designed to provide the

Arnage T with a new and even more purposeful identity.

One of the least visible but most significant of these changes is the use of the famed Black Label badge, reserved only for the most sporting Bentleys and otherwise used only by the Continental T.

At the front there is a new bumper with a lower air dam, which not only reduces lift but also provides a more solid appearance. There are larger openings in the bumper to provide extra air to the charge coolers and brakes, while front fog lamps have been incorporated. The intakes in the bumper are now covered by the same laser-cut matrix that is used for the radiator grille.

Moving to the side of the car, new thicker sills have been designed, while all the chrome on the sides, front and rear of the car has been removed, though the chrome used for the glass and door frame areas has been retained. If specified, the new three piece, split rim, five spoke 19in alloy wheels add an additional degree of purpose to the car’s profile.

Like the front bumper, the rear bumper has been restyled to provide a more purposeful stance and to arc around the large diameter twin tail-pipes. Parking Distance Control (PDC) sensors are incorporated into both front and rear bumpers.

Also at the rear there is an integrated rear spoiler within the lines of the bootlid to provide further evidence of the Arnage T’s performance potential, as well as a useful reduction in lift at speed.

Further detailed styling work abounds around the Arnage T. The door handles have knurling on their back faces, pursuing a theme first shown on the Bentley Continental

T 440 and even the key has been totally redesigned to feature a blade that folds into the fob, which also now contains the remote controls for locking and unlocking the car.

Interior

The interior of the Arnage T has received even greater attention than its exterior. 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. They also carry new heaters with improved heat distribution.

Their distinctive looks come from a combination of a diamond pattern using perforated Connolly hide and contrasting stitching; they also carry an embroidered Bentley motif.

Looking elsewhere inside you will find extensive use of engine-turned aluminium for both the instrument surround and the waist rails in the doors. The door covers themselves carry the same distinctive diamond pattern as the seats while extensive knurling is used for the sill buttons, door handles, organ stop ventilation controls and lighting switch. The instruments carry distinctive white on black lettering as an optional extra.

The Arnage T cabin also features a bespoke steering wheel and gear selector, a ‘Sport’ mode button for the transmission and a distinctive black ‘Engine Start’ button, while drilled pedals can be ordered as an option. There are new grab handles in both the front and rear, and the roof lining is made from perforated hide. The decision was also taken to darken the stain on the wood within the Arnage T to create a much more sporting atmosphere within the car.

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Arnage T with a new and even more purposeful identity.

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