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Car
Reviews: 2003 Bentley Arnage
A good number of drivers quickly made way for my test Arnage R when I did such things as signal for a lane change. They suspected that the big car was something special, and some glanced to see who was behind its steering wheel. The Arnage R replaces the similar-looking Red Label model and has the smooth, conservative styling of a large 1960s or 1970s foreign luxury sedan. Still, the rear-drive car has a lordly presence that commands respect. A Bentley generally takes 22 weeks of hand assembly to create. Bentley makes one of the world's fastest cars on the slowest production line. Such things as the car's paint, interior materials and body panel fits are almost breathtaking, although—surprisingly—the rear cupholders seem flimsy. The 400-horsepower Arnage R benefits from the stiffer chassis given the higher-performance 450-horsepower Bentley Arnage T. Chassis parts use space-age adhesive bonding instead of welds. While softer springs are used for a more supple ride, a new rear roll bar and thicker front roll bar help give the heavy car surprisingly good handling, which also is assisted by a standard traction control system. New hydraulic engine and gearbox mounts make the smooth car even smoother. The Arnage R is 212 inches long and weighs a hefty 5,699 pounds. That weight can be felt a lot—especially when slowing at highway speeds, although braking is strong. Twin turbochargers help the car's big 6.75-liter, hand-assembled V8 provide the 400 horsepower, along with locomotive-style torque. The result is warp-speed acceleration, with the Arnage R reaching 60 mph in 5.9 seconds and topping out at 155 mph. I backed off when the car was accelerating strongly at 125 mph, when I appreciated the discreet rear spoiler, which helps high-speed stability. The pushrod V8 has been used since 1970, but has been considerably updated and emits exhaust gases through way-cool oversized dual exhaust outlets. I drove a turbocharged Bentley sedan with a single surpercharger about a dozen years ago, and it lacked the responsiveness provided by twin turbochargers. However,
the 4-speed automatic transmission sometimes downshifts at about the same time
the engine gets full turbocharger boost. The result is lurches, jerks and slight
acceleration lag. That fault wouldn't be acceptable with a BMW or Mercedes. Still,
one somehow expects the Arnage R to be a bit eccentric in its operation. You really
can't judge this car in strictly practical terms. The heavy weight contributes
to poor city fuel economy, which is a dismal, estimated 9.2 mpg. However, the
highway figure is 19.2. mpg. That means the Arnage R has a good highway cruising
range with its 26.4-gallon fuel tank—at least at 65-70 mph. But watch out—the
Bentley cruises so effortlessly at 85-90 mph that a driver may unwittingly let
the speed slip up. And you won't get 19 mpg at 85 mph. If (perish the thought!)
an accident occurs, the car protects you with safety items that include side airbags
for four occupants and full-length air curtains running along the length of the
cabin on each side. Bentley sold 752 cars last year. And, while Volkswagen would like to see more production, it's nice to note that so far it seems in no mad rush to sacrifice quality by putting higher sales numbers on the board. There is nothing ordinary about the Arnage R—and that also goes for its options. The ones on my test car included $2,067 veneered picnic tables that deftly swing down from the rear of the front seats and two custom umbrellas ($222) neatly placed in holders at the back of the large trunk. Naturally, the Arnage R has all the standard comfort and convenience items expected in a high-end luxury auto and can be factory customized with equipment not on the official options list. The sky seems to be the limit with special items. For instance, while my test Arnage R had a gorgeous dark color called "Meteor," Bentley's Crawford said two Middle East princesses ordered their Bentley's paint to match sequins from their evening bags and shoes. Without blinking, Bentley put the sequins under a spectrograph to come up with an appropriate paint color. My test car had $2,933 6-spoke 18-inch chrome wheels with Pirelli P-Zero high-speed tires that suit the Bentley's sporty reputation. Walter Owen Bentley, who founded the Bentley operation in 1919, set out to make what he called "a fast car, a good car, and the best in its class." Some thought the early Bentleys were too big and heavy to win races, but they surprised lots of people by nearly dominating the famous Le Mans 24-hour sports car race in France. Bentley victories included four straight wins there from 1927 to 1930. Early Bentleys were raced by a small group of wealthy, flamboyant, champagne-swilling entrepreneurs called "The Bentley Boys." Giving the Bentley a legendary reputation were its Le Mans victories, the notoriety and wealth of Bentley owners and the exciting experience of driving one. James Bond drove a classic Bentley in the early Bond books, although early Bond movies put him in a modern Aston Martin DB5 sports car. Bentley was in and out of financial trouble in the 1920s, and even major assistance from Bentley Boy Woolf Barnato, who became company chairman, couldn't make it profitable. It was swallowed up by Rolls-Royce in 1931, although Walter Owen Bentley stayed on until 1934 to keep the Bentley operation sporty. Amazingly, he was patron of the Bentley Drivers Club until his death in 1971. The 1952-55 Bentley R-Type Continental coupe had outstanding styling and superb handling—and could run all day in Europe at three-figure speeds. This 120-mph model was the world's fastest four-seater and reestablished Bentley's pre-World War II high-performance reputation. Later turbocharged Bentleys kept up the car's sporting reputation. And now we have the Arnage R, which is a car that James Bond would feel right at home in. More car reviews: 2003
Bentley Arnage -Jan 2003 Promotional
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Americans are familiar with the Rolls-Royce nameplate than with Bentley's. While
Bentleys were based on a Rolls-Royce chassis for years, they were built with an
emphasis on power, performance and handling. It was said that "one is driven
in a Rolls-Royce, but one drives a Bentley." Bentley was one of the crown
jewels of the British auto empire. Never mind that Bentley now is owned by Volkswagen,
with Rolls controlled by BMW. Blame an upside-down auto world for that. At least
Bentleys still are made in Crewe, England, where the car has been built since
1946 and skills to make it have been handed down through generations.