Bentley Arnage Model T 2007 Pictures

Bentley Arnage Model T 2007 Pictures High Res

             

more bentley arnage model t 2007 pictures...

Bentley Arnage Model T 2007

Peep under the bonnet of the 2007 Arnage T model and you’ll note that the 1958 V8 block is ageing beautifully. Just a few little tweaks and that formidable engine has re-invented itself yet again.

It seems pretty quaint that in the same year of 1958, Britain’s first Motorway was still being built, Frank Sinatra was in the charts and the noble prize in medicine was awarded to three men who had unravelled some of the mysteries of genetics – something we all take for granted today. Strangely that year also saw Iraq stage a dramatic coup - all on their own; obviously they made it look too easy as today a so-called superpower is still struggling to re-invent the wheel.

We may be a ‘civilised’ nation with a multitude of science and technology at our finger tips but sometimes we clearly forget to go back to basics. If we took a step back sometimes to take note of the things we weren’t responsible for discovering or those that seem too basic or old hat, we may realise why they were invented in the first place – because they work.

Take the Bentley Arnage’s V8 for example, it may be an old relic and apparently have a very simple infrastructure but recently there’s been an uprising of 500bhp which is not to be sniffed at. The massive 6.75litre engine in the 2007 T model has benefitted from an 11% increase in performance over the outgoing model. This is largely due to its two new low-inertia turbochargers which reach their maximum turbine speed in half the time of the previous unit. This also means that there is significantly less turbo lag and the torque is on tap no matter what the rev counter reads. At its peak there’s 1000Nm of twisting force available on the Arnage’s flagship model so it certainly isn’t short of pulling power.

But what type of drivetrain have the top bods at Bentley matched with the V8? It seems the six-speed ZF automatic transmission is still in play however there are two new ratios which provide more refinement and flexibility, the throttle response also has a more efficient bearing over the car’s the road speed so that less power gets dissipated along the way. There are three transmission modes for the driver to select from, these being Drive, Sport and Semi-Automatic. The engine and transmission are now also governed by just the one Bosch computer-controlled management system which means its delegation is pretty instantaneous.

While some components are more compatible as a two-some others have gone through an amicable divorce; these being the sports suspension and sports gearbox settings. This decision may sound a little perplexing as surely when you opt for a sports mode you want the full shebang, right? Well apparently Bentley want to give the driver much more choice to experiment. They also want to allow you to experience the full extent of the engine’s power without unnecessary intervention from the ESP. In order to achieve this the Traction Control System has been recalibrated to optimise all available torque and therefore judge the Arnage’s overall stability rather than just the loss of grip to the wheels. The benefits of this are more dynamic handling as well as all the safety and stability you need to rectify any over ambitious occurrences.

There is nothing ambitious about the design of the Arnage T either; this is a car that had clearly arrived before it even set off. The rich dark finish to its front radiator and bumper grilles are a rather distinctive reminder of its opulent background as is the black crackle finish on the Arnage T’s Inlet manifold. Then there`s the Bentley logo proudly embossed on the turbocharger plenum chambers and in case anybody dares to question the V8’s capacity, an engine plaque that spells it out.

Adorning the cabin is a new hide-trimmed gearlever with chrome detailing and a more comprehensive information display panel. The accessibility of the dials was another reason to revise the dash, the visuals are now etter and the lay-out more driver-focused.

As with all Bentley’s, the art of customising is a very individual and creative process with such a multitude of extras to choose from. Among them you can opt for 19” five-spoke Blade sports wheels on the Arnage T and across the range the winged ‘B’ mascot is another classic touch.

Bentley’s will always create a lot of hype due to their elite status and part of their success appears to be down to their subtle yet effective upgrades. So long as Bentley stays true to its brand values, its customers will stay true to their age old mantra.

Verdict

FOR: The Arnage T model is an incredible diplomat. Even though it stands to be an aristocratic super power it has all the finesse to win it the admiration.

AGAINST: It doesn’t really have the right image for anyone under 40 but then you’ve always got the Bentley Coupe if you want something more overtly sporty.

CONCLUSION: It’s all about the smaller details that help define the bigger picture. Essentially the Arnage model T can afford to be demure because its blend of luxury and performance is something rather special.

Spec
ENGINE: Turbocharged 6.75litre V8
Co2 (g/km)/tax: 465g/-
POWER: 500bhp
TORQUE (lb/ft): 1000Nm
0-60mph (sec): 5.2
TOP SPEED: 179mph
MPG: /-/-/14 (urban/extra-urban/combined)
WEIGHT: 2585kg
PRICE: £170,198
RIVALS: Rolls-Royce Phantom 6.75 V12, Mercedes-Benz S-Class 65 AMG, Bentley Flying Spur 6.0 W12 , Jaguar XJ8 3.5 V8 Sport