A tease as Bentley gets set to slowly reveal the top-line sedan that will replace the long-lived Arnage.
We could be in for a serious battle for supremacy, if the teaser photo you see here is any indication. After a very long life, Bentley is finally getting set to wrap up production of its top-line Arnage sedan, and this is a hint of what’s to follow.
How much of a hint? Not much, just a close-up of the front fender, hood and iconic Bentley “Flying B” hood ornament. But what we do know is that the “Grand Bentley” will be aiming to move the automaker’s top model more directly head-to-head with the Rolls-Royce Phantom. It’s a classic move, and it comes as Rolls move the other direction, with its all-new Ghost set to move closer to the Bentley Continental’s super-luxury segment.
It’s 90 years since Bentley first debuted, and precisely one-half century since the British marque introduced its first V-8. The Grand Bentley is expected to boast an all-new generation 8-cylinder powertrain that is expected to yield a marked improvement not just in performance – which you’d expect from Volkswagen’s top-line subsidiary – but also notable improvements in fuel economy. Yes, even the wealthy have to be more environmentally-friendly in the years to come.
The Arnage, for all its polished burl walnut and hand-finished leather, was clearly pushing up to the limits of the old car’s technical capabilities. Bentley has never rushed to be the first with the latest digital system, but you can expect to see the maker take a significant leap forward with the Grand Bentley, and that means across the board, from driving dynamics to infotainment technology.
We’re looking forward to bringing more details in the coming weeks.
As for the outgoing Arnage, incidentally 150 copies of what Bentley has dubbed the “Final Arnage” are currently rolling out of the factory, in Crewe, England.