Bentley Arnage Final Series

Bentley Arnage Final Series

Since its debut in 1998 the Bentley Arnage has conveyed an air of sophisticated understatement as the four-door flagship of the Bentley range. Over the last decade the car has undergone a process of constant refinement to its body, design, chassis and powertrain to maintain its class-leading position in the high luxury market.

To celebrate 10 years of the Arnage, 50 years of its mighty V8 engine and 90 years of the marque, Bentley Motors will launch its limited edition model at the 2008 Paris Motor Show.

Called the Bentley Arnage Final Series, the new model features a unique specification, combining the performance of the 500 bhp Bentley Arnage T with the refinement of the Bentley Arnage R and design elements from the Bentley Brooklands coupe, for the ultimate expression of British luxury and effortless power in a four-door saloon - a grand finale, for the grandest of Bentleys.

Hand crafted at Bentley's Crewe facility, the Final Series is an exclusive run of 150 cars, a unique example of the marque's flagship created to bid 'farewell' to the highly successful Arnage line in the most appropriate manner and style. Bentley Chairman and Chief Executive, Dr Franz-Josef Paefgen, explains:


"For 10 years, Arnage has enjoyed extraordinary success at the pinnacle of the luxury saloon market. The Bentley Arnage Final Series is a celebration of the Arnage era as Bentley prepares for the next generation of its flagship model."

A COMMANDING ROAD PRESENCE

For the last ten years the Arnage's combination of muscular lines and understated luxury have endowed it with a commanding road presence synonymous with all Bentley Grand Tourers, subtly conveying the car's formidable performance potential. This powerful exterior profile is underpinned by a torsionally stiff bodyshell (with an astonishing 6,500 spot welds) that helps to deliver outstanding ride and refinement.

Based on the sporting Arnage T, the Final Series offers a range of discreet exterior cues that further enhance its powerful stance. Key ingredients of the distinctive appearance include a dark-tinted Bentley matrix radiator grille with Flying 'B' mascot and dark-tinted lower grille. The iconic Flying 'B', which can retract neatly into the grille surround, was originally designed by motoring artist F. Gordon Crosby and was first used on the 1930 Bentley 8-Litre.

The Bentley Arnage Final Series is further distinguished by exterior design features first seen on the exclusive Bentley Brooklands coupe, comprising 20-inch five-spoke, two-piece alloy wheels and 'Le Mans' lower front wing air vents.

Additional unique features include body-coloured front and rear lamp bezels, 'jewel' fuel filler cap (made from billet aluminium) together with 'Final Series' wing badges and polished stainless steel treadplates to the front doors.

EXQUISITE CRAFTSMANSHIP

The Bentley Arnage Final Series will have a very special appeal to Bentley customers, as Peter Guest, Head of Department, Body & Trim, explains:

"Thanks to its hand-built exclusivity and superb quality, Arnage has become a world-wide benchmark for automotive craftsmanship. The Bentley Arnage Final Series epitomises the truly bespoke feel we aspire to and are determined to maintain."

Inside, the Bentley Arnage Final Series is everything you would expect of a bespoke Bentley, offering the highest levels of hand-craftsmanship to a small, but discerning audience. The interior offers a remarkably spacious, luxury cabin to provide the ultimate in first-class travel for four adults.

Many of the most desirable Mulliner options are included in Bentley Arnage Final Series as standard, most notably the hand-made waistrails with inset chrome strip with recessed Bentley badges, the new rear cocktail cabinet and document storage trimmed in hide, plus the beautifully designed picnic tables available in a choice of three premium unbleached wood veneers - all prime examples of Crewe craftsmanship.

Bentley is the only automobile manufacturer in the world to offer as standard a cabin trimmed entirely with leather hides - including the headlining. The hand-crafted steering wheel requires up to 16 hours of double-stitching.

A set of mirror-matched veneers for each car takes 13 days to craft, while 17 hides and almost 400 separate pieces of leather are used for the upholstery, trim and headlining. Bentley Arnage Final Series spans the many eras between traditional coachbuilding skills and 21st century high-performance automotive engineering.

As in every Bentley, peerless craftsmanship and bespoke finishing are to the fore. Every item of trim, be it veneer, hide or chromed bezel, uses authentic materials. Built by hand, the creation of each Arnage takes a minimum of six weeks and owners can take full advantage of Mulliner, Bentley's specialist commissioning department, as Trevor Gay, Personal Commissioning Manager, Mulliner elaborates:

"Up to 80 percent of Arnage customers specify Mulliner features. Mulliner is completely dedicated to fully understanding their requirements and to delivering a bespoke experience and a uniquely high level of personal service."

Bentley Arnage Final Series is available in the full Bentley range of 42 exterior colours, 25 interior hides, and three veneers, plus the comprehensive line-up of Mulliner options and its bespoke colour-matching service that enable Bentley owners to create a uniquely personal car.

To help customers finalise the specification of their Bentley Arnage Final Series, the Bentley design team recommends six classic colour and trim combinations - Titan Grey (with Anthracite interior), Royal Ebony (with Beluga), Windsor Blue (with Windsor Blue), Meteor (with Imperial Blue), Burnt Oak (with Burnt Oak) and Black Velvet (with Burgundy).

NEW FEATURE ENHANCEMENTS

Bentley Arnage Final Series buyers will also benefit from a range of standard and optional feature enhancements. Standard enhancements include:
New audio head unit - with larger display screen and an SD (secure digital) memory card slot instead of the single CD slot.
New rear cup holders - displaying Bentley craftsmanship, these removable cup holders attach to the front edge of the rear centre armrest, or can be stored inside the armrest.
New hide covered boot rail - features coordinated leather trim and a chrome strip along the top edge.
New optional enhancements available at extra cost:
iPod Interface - links to the Infotainment system and enables customers to play their favourite music through the car's audio system. Supplied with connectors for iPod, USB, Mini USB and a 3.5mm AUX jack. Includes a 12 volt power outlet for charging purposes.
Rear remote control - enables the rear seat passengers to control the infotainment system. When not in use it can be stored in a dedicated pouch inside the rear centre armrest.
Naim for Bentley world class audio system - delivers the world's best in-car sound stage. Created in partnership with Bentley by Naim Audio, a UK-based high end hi-fi manufacturer, this system features 10 speakers, a dual channel sub-woofer and a 1100 Watt amplifier - the world's most powerful production unit fitted in a car. Bentley is also the first car manufacturer to use a next-generation Digital Signal Processor (DSP) in its audio system which features eight individual modes to reproduce true emotions and a 'live' concert-like experience.