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 Paris Motor Show next week. 

Arnage Final Series is an exclusive run of 150 cars, celebrating the last of Arnage. It combines the performance of the T with the refinement of the R.

Arnage Final Series also marks the 50th anniversary of the company’s iconic V8 engine.

In this version the 6.750cc all-aluminium unit delivers 500 hp and 1000 Nm, and allows for a 0-100 km/h acceleration of 5.5 seconds and a top speed of 288 km/h.

According to the carmaker, the "Arnage Final Series signals the end of an era as Bentley prepares for the future."

From the official Press Release:

Since its debut in 1998 the four-door flagship of the Bentley range has undergone a process of constant refinement to its body, design, chassis and powertrain to maintain its a leading position in the high luxury market.

The new model features a unique specification, combining the performance of the 500 bhp Arnage T with the refinement of the Arnage R and design elements from the 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 Final Series is a celebration of the Arnage era as Bentley prepares for the next generation of its flagship model.”

Exterior

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 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.

Interior

The interior offers a remarkably spacious, luxury cabin to provide the ultimate in first-class travel for four adults. 

Many of the Mulliner options are included in 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.

The cabin is 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. 

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.

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.

Arnage Final Series buyers will also benefit from a range of standard and optional feature enhancements. Standard enhancements include a new audio head unit – with larger display screen and an SD (secure digital) memory card, new rear cup holders and new hide covered boot rail.

Technical Features

The engine, transmission, chassis and running gear of the Arnage Final Series are identical to those previously employed in Arnage T.

In this specification, Bentley’s all-aluminium 6 ¾ litre V8 engine produces 500 bhp (507PS/373kW) and 1000 Nm (738lb ft) of torque.

Acceleration to 60 mph is accomplished in 5.2 seconds (0-100km/h in 5.5 secs) with 100 mph reached in 12.1 seconds (0-160km/h in 12.0 seconds).

Top speed of the Final Series is 179 mph / 288 km/h.  Each V8 engine bears the signature of the team leader who oversaw its hand-built construction in the Crewe factory.

The unit is coupled with a six-speed ZF automatic transmission, which includes three transmission modes (Drive, Sport and Semi-Automatic).

The new five-spoke, two-piece 8.5J x 20-inch Sports alloy wheels with 255/40 ZR20 Pirelli P Zero tyres – originally developed for the Brooklands coupe – aid handling and road holding.

As an option, Final Series may be specified with carbon/silicon carbide, cross-drilled brake discs.  Measuring 420 x 40 mm (front) and 356 x 28 mm (rear), these discs are the largest fitted to any production car on sale today. 

The Bentley V8 Engine

The fitment of Bentley’s legendary V8 engine in the Final Series in its most powerful Arnage form is an ideal way to celebrate the 50th anniversary of this renowned powertrain.

The fact that Bentley’s V8 design has served the marque remarkably well for five decades should not come as a surprise, as Dr Ulrich Eichhorn, Member of the Board, Engineering, comments:

“The original forward-thinking design of the all-aluminium Bentley V8 was a masterpiece and so good that we have been able to improve it continuously for nearly 50 years.

“Today’s engine produces around two and a half times the power of its 1959 predecessor, fuel consumption is only 60 percent of the original and emissions are an incredible 99 percent lower.”

In 1959 the power and torque of that first 6.23-litre 90-degree V8 engine in the Bentley S2 saloon was officially described as “adequate”.  Actual output was around 200 bhp with 400 Nm of torque.  Today, the Final Series 6 ¾  V8 produces 500 bhp and 1000 Nm with over 90 percent of that torque available between 1,800 and 3,800 rev/min.

Bentley Arnage Final Series - Technical Specifications

(Source: Bentley)