New Arnage goes gunning for AMG

Forget about 'concepts' like price and fuel economy, you're in the rarified atmosphere of the mega-rich now… And you're looking for a new set of uber-wheels.

Search no further than the 2007 model year Bentley Arnage! The Brit-built, German-owned (by VW) brand has just announced details of the latest incarnation of its top-of-the-range four-door.

Inhabiting the space above the marque's $350K-plus Continental GT and Flying Spur, the entry fee for the Arnage range typically starts with a five and looks more like a telephone number than a pricetag. The 2007 model, on sale later this month, will not be any different.

Though the overall look of the car hasn't changed much, the underpinnings have been modified for more power, more torque and even more refinement.

The Arnage's twin-turbocharged 6.75-litre V8 engine now develops 500hp in top 'T' trim and is mated to a six-speed three-mode (Drive, Sport and Semi-Automatic) ZF automatic transmission for the first time. Peak torque is an AMG 65 matching 1000Nm! Compared to the current Arnage, Bentley says the power and torque increases are 11 and 14 per cent respectively.

In the Arnage R and RL models, the new engine is boosted from 400 to 450hp, while torque climbs from 835 to 875Nm.

The 2007 Arnage's chassis gets attention too with refinements to the ESP to allow "more spirited handling without any reduction in stability or safety."

"We don't believe in creating power and then taking it away," says Brian Gush, Bentley's Director, Powertrain and Chassis.

"This new system allows the driver a lot more freedom to feel where the traction limit is without ever getting into trouble. The traction control is much more progressive and proportional -- you can drift the car with some wheelspin but it never lets you get in any trouble. It is a calibration which keeps the spirited driver in mind."

To keep that "spitited" (and very brave!) driver happy, top speed of the Arnage T has risen from 270 to 288km/h. The Arnage R and RL are slower but hardly tardy -- their claimed maximum speed has increased by 21km/h to 270km/h with the latest updates.

The 2007 Arnage also benefits from safety, interior and design improvements, the company says. These include improved driver ergonomics, new centre dash information centre and styling tweaks.

"The revisions we made to the Arnage series two years ago gave the range exactly the sort of contemporary yet authentic Bentley feel that it needed," says Head of Exterior Design, Raul Pires. "Now with big increases in power and performance we wanted to add some subtle design cues to reflect the differences between the Arnage models."

Says the maker: "The performance intent of the Arnage T is underlined by the addition of a new dark finish to its front radiator and bumper grilles. A standardised bright chrome finish is applied to the R and RL grilles while Bentley 'B' badges have been applied to the D-pillars on all models."

According to Bentley, every Arnage now has a Tyre Pressure Monitoring System and Bluetooth integrated telephone system. Options include 19-inch six-spoke wheels for the R and RL models, and a 19-inch five-spoke 'Blade' sports wheel for the Arnage T.

Also available across the range is the famous winged 'B' mascot, which saw a welcome return this year on the Diamond Series Arnage. According to Bentley, the iconic mascot (which retracts into the grille surround) was originally designed by motoring artist F Gordon Crosby and first used on the 1930 Bentley 8 Litre.

Finally, for the Aussie market, the long-wheelbase Arnage RL model receives additional standard specification including rear centre armrest bottle cooler, veneered rear centre cushion box, rear rSAP master telephone system and reversing camera.

No details on pricing have been announced yet.