German Car Zone

Rain spatters the windshield as the clouds hang low, kissing russet-colored heather and glistening grey slate. I'm high in the hills of north Wales, a rolling open landscape dotted with sheep, snug stone farmhouses, and tiny villages suffering severe vowel shortages -- Cyffylliog; Llanfihangel Glyn Myfyr; Bettws Gerfil Goch. I'm here to say goodbye to an old friend.

The streaming wet road swoops down from the crest of the hill, sweeping gently to the right before arcing back to the left and over a bridge. There's a right hander just over the bridge that I now realize is sharper than it looked. I squeeze the brakes hard, flick the shifter back -- fourth, third -- and wait until the last second before coming off the stoppers and turning the steering wheel. The big Bentley turns in obediently, and with little body roll. Just as we sweep past the apex of the turn, I squeeze the gas pedal. It's like opening the floodgates of the Hoover Dam: 738 lb-ft of torque momentarily overwhelms the traction control, and 5699 lb of hand-built British luxury sedan starts drifting elegantly through the turn.


Full Story: Motor Trend - 2009 Bentley Arnage Final Series: A Mighty Heart


M

Still the most beautiful (modern) car money can buy.

Thanks so much for this review!!! It's my favourite car of all time with unbeatable design!!!

Love the photos in the countryside!! Sth. new for "my" Arnage Picture thread

Such an amazing work of art...it will be missed.

I cringe when I think about a VW/Audi based replacement.

M

I'm actually not that worried. VAG has a solid line of top end cars. The R8, Panamera, Veyron and LP560 are divine. They've got than enough creative and talented engineers to pull off a master piece. Plus Bentley profits have been in the green for the last 3-4 years, so they have no excuse for screwing up the replacement.

With the economy predicted to turn around next year, I hope that Bentley will bring forward the launch to late 2009. I'm sure they don't want the RR Ghost to have a ball on its own.

What Bentley needs to do it keep the overall "Identity of the Arnage", but make it more modern. What they do not need to do is build a glorified Bentley Flying Spur. Another words this doesn't need to come out looking like a bubble. It should be distinctive, exclusive and sophisticated.

Yes, angular shapes with soft contours will be highly appreciated. But I don't think that Bentley will turn the car into a monument a'la Phantom. The Arnage customers are of a discrete nature. They can afford the Phantom but they don't want to flaunt their wealth that loud. Still today the Arnage is a spectacle and all that's needed is an evolutionary exterior design and a major overhaul of the interior. It really doesn't need to be reinvented or carry a bulbous shape.

Even now, it's still a handsome car. I actually want to see how VW is going to f__k this up.

LOL

It's funny because we all know it's true..