Ever imagine a luxurious car that can also provide high performance statistics for its customers? The Bentley Arnage series was created to do just that. The less powerful sister of the ‘T’ variant, Bentley’s R model focused more on luxury and therefore, allowed a smaller sacrifice on torque and handling. It was an upgrade to the ‘Red’ and ‘Green label’ variants that were powered by a much smaller BMW engine. Where in the early 20th century, Bentley’s were known for powerful engines that could even win races like the Le Mans, the current world Bentley’s are more associated with luxury and comfort. The Model ‘R’ of the Arnage series was a perfect depiction that the company could provide both, Luxury and Performance if it utilized its resources properly.
Bentley Motors Limited was bought by Volkswagen back in 1998 while its closest rival Rolls-Royce was placed under the ownership of BMW. The Arnage was originally released as a successor to the Bentley Turbo R, which represented the Bentley independence as the company now had its own recognition and a unique style. However, the subsequent release of Silver Seraph by Rolls-Royce intensified the luxury car market and hence, the Arnage R model was released. This 2002 machine was made with a local Rolls-Royce engine, relieving the company of its BMW dependency like in the earlier versions of the model. The 2003 Arnage not only brought the original Bentley cues back, it gave stiff competition to the then market leaders Mercedes-Benz, Audi and BMW.
Weighing a whopping 5,700 lbs., 2003 Arnage R had an incredible center of gravity which would also explain the 616 lb.-ft torque produced by the car. This low center of gravity meant that the grip offered by Arnage was almost unparalleled, considering the car was able to sit comfortably at speeds over 250 kmph (155 mph). This is rarely the case for luxury cars since they are extremely heavy due to all the luxury amenities and are only meant to be relaxing, not necessarily high-performing cars. This is made possible by the 6.75L twin-turbo V8 engine which is able to generate a horsepower of more than 400 HP, allowing it to pull heavy weights with relative ease. This also means that now the 2003 Arnage R could outperform its predecessor by topping 0-100 in less than 6 seconds. Cruising at above 200 with ease generally requires an excellent transmission system and, indeed the 2003 Arnage was packing one. A 4-gear automatic transmission allowed extremely smooth transitions making the drive all very seamless. Since Luxury cars are meant to be easier to navigate, the 4-Gear automatic system makes sure that the driver or the passenger don’t even feel the shifting of gears and the ride remains stable throughout. Ever wondered why despite the low clearance, luxury cars don’t touch the ground so often? This is due to the advanced suspension systems, like the adaptive dampers on the Arnage R. Here the drivers do not have to adjust their driving according to the road since the car understands the atmosphere and adjusts accordingly.
The craftsmanship from the wooden veneers to hand-stitched upholstery has been the USP for Bentley for several years. The initial release of The Bentley Continental back in the 1950’s exemplified the craftsmanship of the company, where the world was introduced with premium leather and shining alloy wheels. This attention to detail is omnipresent in a Bentley car even to this day, with this Bentley Continental Convertible sold by Exotic Car Trader being a prime example. This was also the case with the Arnage R, where the Lavish interior was made up of polished metal accents and finest of leathers, complimenting the precision engineering. The car preserved its iconic look to commemorate the antique Bentley designs. The Arnage R was released in several colors for better customer satisfaction, as the model was all about setting your own luxury. The company provided extensive customization options for owners, akin to the bespoke offerings of Rolls-Royce, ensuring that each car was uniquely tailored to its owner's preferences, creating a personalized and exclusive experience.
Where companies were focusing on improving the leg-space and the width of the car, Bentley, were more focused on improving the behavior of the car so much so that the car was able to aid the driver with driving. This was not restricted to power-adjustable seats or the automatic navigation systems; it was the cool new feature of cruise control as well. The car virtually drove itself in a suitable environment and did so very accurately as compared to the competition back then. Other than the comfort and convenience, the super-sedan offered great new safety features as well that began in the 2003 Arnage and have stayed to this day. These include the Seatbelt pre-tensioners as well as reinforced chassis construction. These features were not known to exist in luxurious cars, instead were an important aspect of sports cars that were made to accelerate and brake under tough conditions. This amalgamation of beauty, luxury and performance is what made a 2003 Arnage R standout from its competition and to this day remains a stalemate for Bentley.
The Bentley iconic front grill still looks the best on an Arnage R, which might be the reason why the car is still so in demand. While people today prefer the newer upgrades like this for regular use or long-distance luxury travels, the Arnage R still remains one of the collector’s items. The unique combination of luxury and performance that started a new market trend represents a new identity for Bentley while also allowing us to understand the possibilities. Here at Exotic Car Trader, we understand the luxury represented by Bentley and promise to preserve the beauty and performance of unique engineering marvels.
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