Bentley Arnage
For all its weight, there’s a frighteningly swift nimble-ness to this remarkable machine. When the zestful 6.75 litre turbocharged V8 growls into action, it is man and machine working in harmony. There’s nothing terribly difficult about driving the Arnage — it feels comfortable and drives smoothly — and it certainly is engaging.
Depress the starter button on the centre console and tap the accelerator, the Arnage quietly slips into action. Step on it, and the engine responds with a growl of contentment. For all its heft, it’s still able to sprint from 0 to 100km/h in just 5.5 seconds, and is capable of a top speed of 270km/h. Regardless of your preferred speed, the adaptive shift control will read you like a good map and provide you driving entertainment to match.
For more aggressive drivers, the gear changes will be more frequent, and for those who like to cruise along, they’ll be almost imperceptible. Whether along highways or on gravel roads, the Arnage T’s electronic sensors will work at full attention non-stop to ensure a safe journey.
More work has gone into enhancing the chassis’ capabilities. Suspension has been improved, providing a firm yet comfortable drive.
It’s good to know the English drawing room feel is still apparent in the interior of the Bentleys. Wood — in a variety of finishes — and comfortable, hand-picked leather in 27 options complement more than 40 standard paint colours (including half a dozen shades of black). And with the Mulliner bespoke arm, the horizon is the limit.
Indeed, customisation is a key strength of Bentley’s, being able to provide anything a customer may desire — within reason, of course. Even so, the base model features an updated interior design that won’t leave you in alien territory. There is a great sense of familiarity about the ambience, but you know beneath the conservative wood and leather lies the latest technology.
There’s a greater ease of use when it comes to handling the switches and viewing the dials. There’s also less clutter as secondary controls are hidden behind panels that slide or pop up. Reconfigured arrangement of the switches, fresh instruments and a new DVD satellite navigation unit provide contemporary touches.
The German influence has only spurred on this English marque. Built in the spanking new euro-funded Crewe facility, efficiency has not come at the cost of care. Although computers may determine the best way to maximise every inch of the premium grade hides used in a Bentley, every stitch is subsequently applied by hand. Tradition has a strong part to play in the Crewe community, and generations of families still lovingly devote their life’s work to building these magnificent vehicles.