Does Life Get Any Better?
It’s like being transported into another world, one steeped in old-world tradition, unquestionable style, tasteful opulence, unsurpassed quality and breathtaking performance. It’s the world of Bentley, and few, even among automotive scribes, have the opportunity of living it, if only just for the briefest of moments.
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| The opportunity to drive the recently enhanced Bentley Arnage R and T is rare even among automotive journalists. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, Canadian Auto Press) |
Nevertheless the gods smiled upon me after the planets shifted, and a rare opportunity to drive the recently enhanced Bentley Arnage R and T through Northern California’s serpentine coastal highway system was offered.
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| As a huge fan of the classics, the row of vintage Bentleys parked at the hotel got my heart racing. Unfortunately I wasn’t allowed a stint in this year’s Le Mans winner at right. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, Canadian Auto Press) |
A row of vintage Bentleys stood guard at Half Moon Bay’s Ritz Carlton parking lot as I arrived in the back seat of a gorgeous black Arnage T, sending my classic loving heart into rapid palpitations when I first gazed upon them. The pounding only increased once the Bentley boys took us out on the road, first in a 1928 XR-3337 4.5-Litre, similar to the cars that raced and won Le Mans an impressive 5 times.
After a wonderfully stimulating jaunt I switched over to a 1931 YR-5091 8-Litre that produced an intoxicating exhaust note, especially when ripping up the highway at over 80 mph. But it was the 1925 UP-8014 Boat-Tailed Tourer that overwhelmed my senses. I’ve been driven in roaring twenties cars before, but none that offered the sense of high-speed stability and engaging agility offered in the 3-Liter Bentley.
The same needs to be said for Bentley’s new cars. Just consider for a moment that the Arnage T, which weighs a considerable 2,585 kg (5,699 lbs), sprints away from the blocks with the jump of Kim Collins, reaching 100 km/h in a stimulating 5.8 seconds (0 to 60 mph takes only 5.5), before dancing circles around much smaller sport sedans.
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| In the qualified hands of 5-times Le Mans winner Derek Bell, the Arnage showed what it was truly capable of. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, Canadian Auto Press) |
To prove the latter point I asked my amiable co-driver, 5-times Le Mans winner Derek Bell, to take the wheel during a particularly sinuous stretch of tarmac. After all, while I was there to experience as much personal time as possible behind the wheel in order to compare it to its peers, only a person of Derek’s skills can expose what the big Bentley is truly capable of.
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| The large Arnage T’s composure at high speeds on twisty, imperfect roads defies reason. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, Canadian Auto Press) |
From the passenger’s seat the rushing scenery was hypnotic, a mesmerizing blur of eucalyptus trees, golden fields and abbreviated rocky crags that suddenly dropped off to the crashing waves and deep blue seascape hundreds of feet below. At such speeds the prospect of hurtling off the precarious roadway would have normally been a little unsettling, but with Derek’s seasoned hands guiding the wheel I was allowed the opportunity to sit back and take in the moment.
From this perspective the Arnage T defies reason, snaking us through the tight two-lane highway as if in the parlor car of a high-speed locomotive, but with the grace and composure of ride that steel wheels can’t produce. The car is wonderfully smooth despite its aggressive damping, a more purposefully firm setup when compared to the softer sprung Arnage R. It annihilates intimidating road imperfections to the point where I occasionally found myself wondering what all my worry was about, but fortunately found face in the realization that we would have probably been airborne in a lesser car.
A quick scan of the specifications shows an extremely sophisticated suspension system, incorporating a front subframe made up of pressed steel and cast aluminum with an integrated steering rack mounting. The componentry included a double wishbone setup with lower wishbone compliance hydrabush, also up front, plus a pressed steel subframe supporting rubber isolated upper and lower wishbones in the rear.
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| Any smaller and the standard 8 by 18-inch 5-spoke aluminum alloy rims would have looked out of place considering the overall size of the Arnage T. An optional set of 19-inch wheels are shown. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, Canadian Auto Press) |
The wheels and tires need to be large in diameter to not be overshadowed by the large car. The standard package includes 8 by 18-inch 5-spoke aluminum alloy rims shod with 255/50 R18 performance tires, while especially bold 8 by 19-inch wheels are optional, featuring 255/45 R19 rubber.
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| After the ride-along with Derek came the opportunity to go one-on-one with the big beautiful Bentley. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, Canadian Auto Press) |
Safety goodies such as a traction control system (ASR), engine drag torque control (MSR) and electronic stability program (ESP), manage overzealous throttle oversteer on the fly - or more precisely protecting those going into a corner too fast without the knowledge of what to do to get out of it alive - all in an almost completely unnoticeable process, as it should be.
After a thrilling display of car control, Derek eventually left my side to expose the Bentley’s talents to some other unwary journalist. I have to admit to feeling less intimidated alone, with just me, myself and the car to laugh at my now obvious lack of grace.
Needing to snap a few extra photos I shot up an extremely narrow mountain road with only a few minutes to spare before dinner. The pavement was as bumpy as any I’d previously dared charging down at near highway speeds, with dips and undulations that could have been unsettling in most other cars. The Arnage T’s combination of sheer mass and perfection in suspension tuning made the stint hardly climactic, biting into the crumbling road surface from corner to the other, and eating up the intervals in between with the ferocity of a famished cheetah.
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| The twin-turbocharged 6.75-L V8 engine stirs up 450-hp and an even more overwhelming 646 lb-ft of torque. (Photo: Bentley) |
If you haven’t skimmed down to the bottom of the review and glanced at the T’s specs yet, you’ll be impressed at just what makes it so fast. The twin-turbocharged 6.75-L V8 stirs up 450-hp and an even more overwhelming 646 lb-ft of torque, more than adequate even for the Bentley’s stately girth. Even off the line it gathers up speed at an alarming rate, but once momentum kicks in the rate of acceleration is relentless.
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| Considering the size of car, the Arnage’s stopping power is amazing thanks to massive 348 mm diameter front and 345 mm rear ventilated discs. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, Canadian Auto Press) |
To be more specific 50 to 80 km/h takes only 1.9 seconds (30 to 50 miles per hour arrives in 2.0 seconds), while 80 to 120 km/h needs just an additional 3.8 seconds. Altogether attaining 160 km/h from standstill takes a mere 13.4 seconds (0 to 100 mph comes in 13.5), with its maximum speed limited to 270 km/h (168 mph).
More than the thrust accessible at the rightmost pedal, I appreciated the T’s controlled stopping power. Driving normal speeds around town the Bentley braked easily, with little pressure needed to initiate and keeping level with the road all the way to a full stop - the latter partly due to its automatic ride height control with auto load compensation. That horizontal profile remained even under aggressive braking, while fade wasn’t even noticeable after repeated applications while approaching curves. In panic situations the massive 348 mm diameter front and 345 mm rear ventilated discs bring the T down from 36.47 meters in only 2.63 seconds, again an amazing feat considering the size of car and the full load of luxury appointments inside.
As I stated previously, the Bentley is otherworldly. Just what do I mean by that? I’ve had a few people ask, since my return, if any car could be worth $334,985, the entry price for an Arnage T. The fact that about 80 percent of new Bentley owners pay cash for their cars, almost the exact opposite of the normal purchasing trend for less expensive vehicles, says a great deal about the brand’s clientele. To them, the car is evidently worth every penny.
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| Can a car really be worth $334,985? If you’re talking about the Arnage T, then yes, it’s worth every penny.(Photo: Trevor Hofmann, Canadian Auto Press) |
And I have to agree. Having had the opportunity of traveling to and from the airport as a passenger, I took the liberty of poking around, touching all surfaces, opening and closing vents, ashtrays and cupholders, and generally getting a literal feel for the automobile.
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| Nothing could have prepared me for the attention to detail and stunning craftsmanship within the Arnage T; it is simply awe-inspiring. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, Canadian Auto Press) |
While I’ve experienced cars from BMW, Audi and Porsche that offer full leather packages, authentic wood trim and beautifully crafted metalwork, nothing could have prepared me for the attention to detail and stunning craftsmanship within the Arnage T. The inlaid wood veneers weren’t just strips of trim for decorative purposes, but seemed as if part of the structural integrity of the dash and doors - though a Morgan this is not, the doors are steel reinforced. The T sports a mix of regular and perforated leather surfaces, even across the headliner, itself a classic piece of automotive art.
The dash is awe inspiring. Specific to the Arnage T, dash panels, console and door trim feature machine turned surfaces that bring memories back to the classics of yesteryear. The look matches the car’s drilled-aluminum brake and accelerator pedals and chrome finished switchgear to a T, excuse the pun, each item finished to perfection in the way a master artisan would painstakingly create the setting for a prized jewel. And I’m not overstating myself. The sheer weight of the knobs and buttons is unlike any of its rivals, even the cupholders are made out of metal - and incidentally work quite well.
And that’s where I get back to answering my friends’ questions about the Arnage T’s value proposition. I searched high and low, and couldn’t for the life of me find one item made of plastic other than the pop-up navigation system atop the dash, heating, ventilation and air conditioning buttons on the HVAC interface, audio system knobs and row of ancillary switches just below - that incidentally appear very BMW-ish, attesting to the Bavarian marque’s involvement in engineering the Arnage/Rolls-Royce Silver Seraph models that debuted in 1998. Even the sliding shoulder belt adjusters attached within the B-pillars are metal, covered in what appeared to be a soft suede-like material. Possibly only the Rolls-Royce Phantom could make this claim, the Maybach can’t.
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| The number of plastic components found in the Arnage’s interior could be held in two hands, with room to spare. (Photo: Bentley) |
But to compare apples to apples the R-R and Maybach aren’t driver’s cars are they? They’re luxury conveyances, cars to be driven in, not mastered by their owners. Bentleys have never been limousines, unless of course you’re the Queen of England who just happens to own one or two. For the most part a Bentley has always been the motorized equivalent of an Arabian steed; fast, agile, yet fortunately nowhere near as cantankerous.
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| The Arnage T is a stunningly attractive automobile, and a powerful statement of cultured good taste. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, Canadian Auto Press) |
And like the Arabian, the Arnage T is beautiful to look at. It’s not as rakish as some of its contemporaries, but then again next to the R-R Phantom it’s as aerodynamically efficient as a Lamborghini. OK, so I stretched that one a bit. Still, I couldn’t help continually looking over my shoulder, catching a glimpse of its elegant sheetmetal from a new angle, crouching down low to the ground for a different perspective. Each view only reiterated my initial reaction; the Arnage T is a stunningly attractive automobile. From its wire mesh grille to its four round headlamps, across its strong shoulder lines to its classically formal C-pillars, and then cresting downward past its sculpted rear trunklid and tastefully integrated rear taillamps to its robust twin exhaust pipes, it’s a powerful statement of cultured good taste.
But such should be expected of a car that cost’s more than most peoples’ homes. Yet for those privileged enough to acquire a Bentley, a third of a million most likely seems a reasonable price to pay for handcrafted perfection and rarified exclusivity. Really, does life get any better?
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| The handcrafted perfection and rarified exclusivity make the price tag seem reasonable and justifiable, if you have a $300,000 plus budget. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, Canadian Auto Press) |
Specifications:
- Base Price (MSRP): $334,985
- Body Type: 4-door sedan
- Layout: front engine, RWD
- Engine: 450 hp, 646 lb-ft of torque, 6.75-L, 16-valve, OHV twin-turbo V8
- Transmission: 4-spd auto
- Brakes (front/rear): disc/disc, ABS
- Curb Weight: 2,585 kg (5,699 lbs)
- Acceleration (0 - 100 km/h): 5.8 seconds
- Top Speed: 270 km/h (168 mph)
- Seating Capacity: 5
- Cargo Volume (trunk): 374 L (13.2 cu ft)
- Fuel Economy (city/hwy): 23.0 / 14.8 L/100km (10.0 / 15.0 mpg)
- Warranty (mo/km): 36 / unlimited comprehensive
- Direct Competitors: Maybach 57, Rolls-Royce Phantom
- Web Site: www.bentleymotors.com
Note: see the gallery for many more photos, all larger in size.
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