Bentley is continuing the striptease approach with its Arnage replacement by releasing another partial image of the big limo and announcing that it will be revealed -- and named -- in August at the Pebble Beach Concours D' Elegance in Monterey, California, where the company is a featured marque.
The all-new 'grand Bentley' captures the 1920s "grand touring spirit of the Bentley Boys", says the company, adding that the newcomer will deliver "the effortless driving, exclusivity and adventure desired by the real motoring enthusiast".
As such, the exalted marque claims its next-gen flagship sedan will embody elegant design, hand craftsmanship and technological innovation.
Euro sources, including UK's respected Autocar magazine, suggest the Arnage successor will feature eye-catching proportions and a novel twin-headlight arrangement.
"A pair of large circular LED headlamps are positioned high and close to the expansive chromed grille surround. Sited lower down and towards the outer edge of the nose are a pair of driving lamps, a layout that nods towards Bentleys from the past," reports Autocar.
Maintaining a sense of gravitas, the flagship will span more than 5m from bumper to bumper, bringing it in line with Rolls-Royce's upcoming Ghost, but the Bentley is tipped to have a lower roofline and more curvaceous styling.
The Bentley limo reportedly sticks with convention by retaining front-hinged rear doors -- unlike the coach doors of the Ghost -- but will usher in a new era by dumping the Arnage nameplate.
Contrary to earlier expectations, the venerable 6.75-litre turbocharged V8 will be carried over, albeit with substantial modifications to clean up its emissions -- but whether it can cut the mustard against the Ghost's state-of-the-art 6.6-litre twin-turbo V12 remains to be seen.
Industry watchers are tipping a move upmarket for the flagship Bentley, with pricing that could escalate from the outgoing Arnage's $530K entry point to something approaching the Rolls-Royce Phantom's $900K-plus starting price.
Read the latest Carsales Network news and reviews on your mobile, iPhone or PDA at www.carsales.mobi