5:49 PM
As the curtain falls on its longtime flagship, the Arnage, Bentley is offering a limited run of 150 cars, aptly named the "Final Edition," and will show one at the Paris motor show in October.
The Final Edition blends elements of the Arnage T and Arnage R, as well as design cues from the Brooklands coupe. With a sticker of more than $220,000, the Arnage is an aspirational car even for the ultra-rich. But it's been on the market since 2008 and a much-anticipated redesign is expected in 2011 as Bentley tries to compete with Rolls-Royce.
For now we get the Final Edition, which packs a monster, twin turbo, 500-hp engine that marks 50 years of Bentley V8s by staying true to the British automaker's lust for torque, rating out at 738 lb-ft. That's paired with a six-speed automatic transmission, which was introduced in 2007 model. It can be shifted into (regular) drive, sport and semi-automatic modes.
The suspension was also upgraded in 2007. The fully independent double wishbone front and rear setup has coil springs with computer-managed electro hydraulic dampers.
Calling cards of the Final Series will be special badging on the front wings and tread plates, as well Bentley's "Flying B" hood ornament. It rides on 20-inch, five-spoke alloy wheels, and exterior features include dark-tinted upper and lower grilles, body-colored headlamp bezels and twin exhaust pipes. In the back seat, passengers can enjoy their favorite beverages with a Final Series steel flask and shot glasses.
Buyers can upgrade with an optional audio head unit, iPod interface and a hide-covered boot rail.
It takes at least six weeks to build the Arnage, which is assembled by hand in Crewe, England. It's available in the full Bentley range of 42 exterior colors, 25 interior hides and three veneers.
And for a big British boat, the performance specs are top-shelf: 0 to 60 mph in 5.2 seconds and a top speed of 179 mph.
