Anniversary Bentleys break cover

In celebration of 60 years of production at Crewe (Northern England), VW-owned Bentley Motors has released two special edition ‘Diamond Series’ cars based on the Continental GT and Arnage.

The Continental GT Diamond Series, based on the MY2007 Mulliner Driving Specification Continental GT, features a package of enhancements combining sporting performance with cosseting luxury. Only 400 will be produced.

The Diamond Series features quilted leather seats, quilted door casings, drilled alloy brake and accelerator pedals, leather and chrome sports gear lever and dark stained walnut or piano black wood.

Externally, the Diamond Series is distinguished by unique tread plates featuring ‘Celebrating 60 years of manufacturing in Crewe’ badges, Mulliner alloy fuel filler cap and the world’s largest production car carbon-ceramic brakes.

The carbon-silicon carbide, cross-drilled front discs measure an astonishing 420mm/356mm in diameter front and rear -- even larger than the standard GT's stoppers. Bentley says the new brakes offer "significant performance benefits together with a 23kg reduction in rotating unsprung mass."

The GT's 411kW twin-turbo W12 6.0-litre engine remains unchanged, as does the six-speed automatic transmission. The Bentley GT can sprint from 0-100km/h in only 4.8secs and has a top speed of around 320km/h.

The Arnage Diamond Series features a stainless steel matrix to the front bumper, new larger diameter 19-inch alloy wheels and Union Jack Flag badges on the front wings. Inside diamond-quartered wood marquetry and diamond-quilted leather seats are featured. A new range of Heritage paint colours is also available.

Perhaps the biggest news though is the reintroduction of the ‘Flying B’ mascot, a feature that last adorned the radiator of a production Bentley in the late 1970s.

The Arnage features a 6.75-litre twin-turbocharged V8 engine which produces 336kW and 835Nm and endows it with a 250km/h top speed. The big Brit can sprint to 100km/h in only 6.3secs.

Half of Arnage Diamond Series production -- 30 cars -- will go to the USA. Nineteen have been earmarked for the UK which leaves only 11 for the rest of the world. Better get in quick!

Bentley’s history goes back much further than Crewe which produced its first vehicle -- the MkVI -- in May 1946. Before that Bentleys were built in Cricklewood, London (1919-1931) and Derby (1931-39).

Bentley worldwide sales numbered around 8500 in 2005 sales -- up approximately 30 per cent compared with 2004. No pricing details on the Diamond Series, though we're sure they won't be advertised as drive away, no more to pay...