A Pedigree that counts: sensuous and sleek, Bentley's Arnage R commands attention - wheels - Product/Service Evaluation

Chief Executive, The, August-Sept, 2003 by Kate McLeod

Just the thought of a Bentley is enough to make you believe that your social circle encompasses princes and queens. Could your trailer of polo ponies be far behind? Whatever circle you travel in, it is certain to be more fun in a Bentley.

The sensuous burled wood on the door panels and the dashboard is worthy material for the vehicle's finely crafted cabinetry--so much so that it feels as if famed cabinetmaker Thomas Moser had spent several weeks personally fashioning the cabin. The understated cream background of the instrument faces is offset with typography and numericals in brown and rust-red. A hint of chrome, just enough to accent the details, completes the classic beauty of the dash. My only disappointment as I slid behind the wheel was the thought that the smoke-blue color of the top-stitched, leather upholstery was a tad dowdy. But the overall conservative styling belies what awaits you as you start the engine.

The hood stretches out before you, a sleek, gently curved plane of steel with the Bentley emblem proudly affixed. There is not a nanosecond of hesitation off the mark as the lungs of this big baritone, with twin turbochargers, swoosh you down the road. This three-ton chariot, with a 6.75-liter V8, really moves. While the engine, which produces 400 horsepower at 4,000 rpm, has been used in every Bentley since 1970, this version has undergone radical changes. Only the basic architecture and internal dimensions remain.

Top speed for the Arnage R is 155 mph; it takes a mere 5.9 seconds to get from zero to 60. Passing anything on the road--including tractor trailers--is a rush. A quick glance at the rear-view mirror shows the vehicle you just passed as small as a speck. Call it warp speed for superachievers. Bentley tapped its speed and sport roots this year at Le Mans, scoring 1-2 and showing the world that, indeed, pedigree counts. It's a tad surprising to learn that the transmission is made by General Motors.

Dramatic emissions reductions are part of the Arnage R package. Close-coupled catalytic converters tuck in near the exhaust manifold, heating up quickly. The faster they reach operating temperature, the quicker emissions are reduced.

Commanding this luxury ship offers a lovely combination of comfort and performance. Bentley engineers have softened the springs and added variable-rate dampers that are tuned to suit the owner. In fact, they will tune the engine to suit as well. The end result is a vehicle that feels like an untamed stallion on the straightaways and corners like a tiger, with help from a rear anti-roll bar. The gearbox is exceptionally smooth, with great torque and handling. Bentley has stiffened the body frame of the R, improving handling over previous models and giving the car a better ride and better crash protection. Among other things, the vehicle has electronic stability control.

Now, anyone would agree that if you buy a car with a $200,000-plus price tag, you have an inalienable right to nitpick the finer points. My view is that once you actually drive the Arnage R, you will never want to ride in the not-terribly-comfortable backseat, even with the ample reading light and a mirror cleverly set into the C pillar to check your ascot. Furthermore, the arm rest, with no phones or other toys, seems lacking, and the fabric upholstered onto the back window frame on my test car had come unglued and was dangling. This might have more to do with the fact that my vehicle had been manhandled by the previous journalist who drove it than that Bentley is falling down on the job of customizing and hand-building its cars.

If I was feeling not suffciently pampered in the base model R, I could make myself cozier by adding options like a DVD player with headrest sound systems and veneered cocktail cabinets. Yes, these touches would certainly make the rear seats homier.

While I'm quibbling, the gorgeous optional hurled wood table that folds down from the back of the front seat is too small, too far away--even though the back seats move forward--and at an awkward height for a worktable. And with no recesses carved into the top to hold cocktail glasses--one swift corner and the fine carpet will be soaked with your martini. One of my passengers also noticed that you could feel the rotation of the engine sitting in the back. No, this is not a backseat car. This luxury rocket needs to be driven.

Trunk storage allows for plenty of luggage and sports equipment, but that is not its most amazing aspect. The interior of this trunk is like a living room. You could serve hors d'oeuvres off the floor.

A suggested manufacturer's price of $207,385 for the R and $256,990 for the RL, before options, clearly puts the Bentley owner in a rarified atmosphere. The Arnage demands a reserved parking spot and special attention for its owner. But isn't that precisely the point?

2004 Bentley Arnage R

* 6.75-liter displacement V8 cylinder, 16 valves

* 400 hp @ 4,000 rpm

* Rear-wheel drive, 4-wheel independent suspension