German Car Zone

EnI · 07-04-2009, 03:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HighestOfHigh

This is more then exciting...this is a phenomenon. Where not talking about regular car like your everyday BMW or Mercedes-Benz (except for the S-class). We are talking about one of the Greatest Luxury Automakers on earth. A Supreme Automotive expression of the highest Authority.

This is a all New Grand Bentley...something that could possible smack the TASTE out of Rolls-Royce and Maybach. Nothing in this world outclasses a Ultra-Luxury Car.

You are about to experience History.......Get ready!

Do I really have to comment?

Yes, we have experienced History. And it wasn't nice at all ...

Ultimate Car Guy · 07-04-2009, 07:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EnI

Do I really have to comment?

Yes, we have experienced History. And it wasn't nice at all ...

Good response!

HighestOfHigh · 07-04-2009, 08:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EnI

Do I really have to comment?

Yes, we have experienced History. And it wasn't nice at all ...

What in the world are you talking about now?

The Artist · 07-04-2009, 09:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EnI

Obviously the car will be called "Continental Arnage"

OK, the front is horrible. Air intake & Grill look cheap. As do the headlights. Are those holes around xenon lamps meant for LEDs??? I hope not. That would be just awful.

The rear is typical Bentley - nothing new there. The rear lights seem to feature those ellipsoid rings as seen already on Continental series.

The profile seem long & beefy. With VERY low roofline & shallow greenhouse. Very CLS or Cadillac Sixteen like. Wheels look huge. The stance is sporty & powerful.

The whole design looks like an evolution of Arnage - with modern (convex - concave) surfaces, sharp thin creases - as already seen on Continental series. Looks like very neo-retro. Much more than the Continentals. No more pioneering, leading position. Neo-retro instead of new-modern. Continentals were much more a push further - although some sharpness was lost. But this "Grand Bentley" is just ... not doing it well. Where's the statement? Such brands are not about cars, they are about philosophy & statements.

Yes, the stance will be sporty - but the look won't be aggressive at all. IMO even the Rollses today look more aggressive compared to the bug-eyed Bentleys.

*****

Unfortunately Bentley brand is becoming "das Auto" - another typical car product under VW phylosophy. The point behind the brand is vanisihing. The products & the brand don't make any statement anymore. They are ... just cars. Very good & excellent cars. But just cars.

IMO - what BMW Group did with the RR was much better - regardless the design: they just knew & understand what RR is all about.
I'm not sure VW Group understands whats the point behind Bentley. Or .... They are making Bentley tame - so they will be able to position other brand above it: Bugatti. The ultimate luxury.

Who knows. IMO VAG brand management isn't the best possible. Bentley would do much better under eg. Daimler AG (instead of Maybach brand).

Earlier you said that you are happy? and now you say you dont like this..??
Why are you happy then?

SCOTT27 · 07-04-2009, 09:07 PM

Personally I think Bentley are trying to regain their "old money" clientle who have been Bentley enthusiasts since they stepped in their first many moons ago who have been turned off by the mass produced Continental GT series making Bentley entirely mainstream and watching in horror as Paris Hilton paints her's in loud pink and falls out of the passenger side with no underwear on for the paparazzi.

I have met Rolls-Royce customers who own an Arnage but keep the Continental away with a 60 ft pole. So the return to classic , vintage excellence as demonstrated by the Grand Bentley could be the tonic for some who despise the Continental series.

Although the Continental series has been a success and profitable. To these old money clientle the Continental series is too popular or indeed too "common". Which is why the 200EX (Ghost) is not a direct rival for the Continental. Although you would be surprised by how many Bentley Continental owners have ordered the Ghost.

As you have no doubt seen Munich is full of Continental GT's , GTC's and Flying Spurs.

HighestOfHigh · 07-04-2009, 09:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Artist

Earlier you said that you are happy? and now you say you dont like this..??
Why are you happy then?

That's because he is praying Rolls-Royce wins the war between Bentley and Maybach only because BMW owns Rolls-Royce. The usual fan boy BS.

Centurion · 07-05-2009, 05:13 AM

Another day, another look at the photos. Yesterday I felt completely gutted when I saw the photographs. The sight is far from what I expected. But today I'm not equally as horrified though I'm still oppossed to what choice of head light arrangement. I'd say is highly unorthodox and I'm lukewarm regarding the sloping Exelero-esque bonnet and roofing too. There seem to be a conflict on whether or not to be evolutionary and revolutionary. But I'll give the car a second chance until I've seen the press photo as it might all come together when we see the car in its full entity. So far I feel let done by Dirk van Braeckel who is single handedly killing Bentley's image.

BMW Power · 07-05-2009, 06:52 AM

omg, im waiting for this bad dream to end and wake up to reality.

jsciales · 07-05-2009, 08:10 AM

This car better have a stunning interior...

EnI · 07-05-2009, 08:35 AM

I'm sure the stance (profile) will be superb & sporty - in a traditional way. Very Brooklands like - muscular, long, low roof line, big wheels etc.

The rear will be typical Bentley - done in the Continetal way.

What seems problematic is the front fascia. Particularly headights, grille & airintake.

Headlights due cluster designs with very exposed LEDs. Air intake is not shaped in a Bentley-like tasteful way. Especially on a top-end model. While the grille doesn't do well in a combination with the headlights & air inatke.

Otherwise styling language is typical new Bentley seen on Continentals: softer shapes, thin & sharp lines, convex - concave surfaces ... while design cues are evolutionary ... especially taken from Brooklands (incl. lots of chrome).

So, a new styling language (from Continentals) on evolutionary traditional design (from Brooklands).

I guess the interior will be typical Bentley - soft, round shapes & lines, lots of wood etc Very baroquescue.

So ... I'm eager to see more photos & the car IRL. The front appearenc will make or break the deal.

But so far I'm concerned.

What I miss on new Bentleys is the aggressiveness - since the brand is sportier than RR, and now RR looks more aggressive & powerful. Although the Bentleys still look more athletic.

And even more: the lack of statement. What does contemporary Bentley communicate, and what's its intention & purpose. To be just an excelelnt car isn't enouugh for such a top-end brand. The same issue killed the Maybach. An excellent car - but without any true meaning. And ultra-luxury brands are more about meaning than physical appearence.

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
2010 BMW 5er (F10): spy pics & info	Deutsch	5 Series	3843	Yesterday 01:22 PM
On Her Majesty's Service: 2002 Bentley State Limousine	Bartek Sikorski	The Bentley Lounge	9	12-31-2008 07:27 PM
Bentley R-Type Continental, Bentley Continental GT: The old king meets the new prince	Bartek Sikorski	Continental GT	0	03-28-2008 12:33 AM
Wheels.ca: 2008 Bentley Brooklands	Bartek Sikorski	Brooklands	1	02-10-2008 04:32 AM
Top Gear (Jeremy Clarkson) reviews the BMW powered Bentley Arnage.	Kowalski	Sound and Vision	0	08-22-2007 11:19 PM

German Car Zone

2010 Bentley Arnage Spypics & Info