Bentley Arnage I gallery (1998–2009)
The Bentley Arnage was a flagship full-size luxury saloon that marked the brand's pivotal transition under Volkswagen Group ownership.
The Bentley Arnage was introduced in the spring of 1998 as the brand's flagship luxury saloon, replacing the Turbo R and Brooklands lineage. Built on a shared architecture with the Rolls-Royce Silver Seraph, the Arnage was originally powered by a 4.4-litre BMW twin-turbocharged M62 V8 engine generating 354 hp mated to a 5-speed ZF automatic transmission (known as the Green Label). Following the acquisition of Bentley by the Volkswagen Group and the subsequent separation from Rolls-Royce, Bentley engineers extensively re-engineered the classic British 6.75-litre L-Series V8 with a single Garrett turbocharger to create the Red Label with a 4-speed GM 4L80-E transmission. In 2002, the lineup was completely overhauled with structural stiffening, launching the refined Arnage R and the high-performance Arnage T boasting a twin-turbocharged 456 hp 6.75-litre engine. A major facelift arrived for 2005 featuring quad round headlamps inspired by the Continental GT, followed by an upgraded powertrain in 2007 featuring a 6-speed ZF 6HP26 automatic transmission, increased power up to 507 hp on the Arnage T, and extended-wheelbase RL variants. It was exported globally to key luxury markets across Europe, North America, the Middle East, and Asia.
