All Entries Tagged With: "bentley arnage"
Go On, Party Like It’s 1999: Bentley Arnage
by Gunnar Heinrich ::: img via eBay ::: 1999 Bentley Arnage Red Label
SEEMS like, well, yesterday that Bentley’s terribly grand Arnage was the über chariot of über chariots. Parading alone on the London stage (and others), Crewe’s posh tank wafted Rolls-like in splendid isolation from unseemly competition. Of course, that’s since changed.
How Do You Like Me Now? Bentley Mulsanne
by Gunnar Heinrich ::: img Bentley Motors ::: 2011 Bentley Mulsanne
IT’S been a full trip around the sun since the “Grand Bentley’s” red-carpet début at Pebble Beach. Ample time to absorb the 2011 Mulsanne’s battleship proportions, rounded contours, and new design hallmarks that have already trickled down to the new Continental GT.
Has time and familiarity treated this bold new flagship kindly? Or does the 2011 Mulsanne have us longing for the Arnage? Have your say in comments. For a better look, hit the jump for more Mulsanne & Arnage pictures.
Lasting First Impression: Rolls-Royce Silver Seraph
By Gunnar Heinrich ::: img Rolls-Royce Motor Cars ::: Rolls-Royce Silver Seraph 1998-2002
SEEMS like yesterday. In point of fact, it was at least 11 years ago. The first time yours laid eyes on a spanking new Rolls-Royce Silver Seraph. Allow me to reflect – it was an early June day in New York. The sun shone on the spring green trees that tickle the townhouses lining 64th and Madison.
My perch, the sill of a tall French casement window on the fourth floor provided visibility of the street’s length. Suddenly, the light caught this chariot; shimmering in its movement. Majestic. The finish was so rich that I couldn’t initially make out the color – it was, in fact, silver that was reflecting a brilliant champagne from the sun’s rays.
Having read a Forbes review previously, I knew instantly it was the new Rolls-Royce Silver Seraph.
In the late 90s, the graceful Silver Seraph was something of a big deal for Royce aficionados. It ended the Silver Spur’s marvelous, if interminable reign. The Seraph also marked the start of a beautiful relationship with BMW and featured a smarter 0-60 time of roughly seven seconds thanks to a new BMW sourced 5.4 L V12.
The Silver Seraph had the press’ attention only for brief spell before Bentley won hearts and minds with the nearly identical Arnage.
With the advent of VW buying Bentley in 1999 and managing both labels, for the first time in decades, marketing funds were lavished on Bentley at Rolls’ expense.
And without so much as an epitaph, the Silver Seraph faded into Rolls-Royce history. Little more than fifteen hundred units sold.
Some time later, perhaps the winter of 2005, I spied another Silver Seraph parked anonymously behind an old Accord somewhere along 6th near Bleecker . This car’s white coat and gold (gag!) Spirit of Ecstasy was covered in NY grit. A somber sight, to be sure.
But like so many other great cars that tarnish with time and neglect, it’s important never to let one poor example affect the golden cast of original memory. And so, it hasn’t.
Graceful chariots, Silver Seraphs.
Coming Down From Heavenly Perch: Exotic “Bargains” on eBay
- ‘Tis the season to be inventive with your car purchases
- Bargains by the Bentley-full
- Maserati Spyder for $38K? SL55 AMG for $34K?
By Gunnar Heinrich | IMG via eBay
BARGAINS to be had! Bargains to be had!
It would seem that with a little money, poseurs and the thrifty rich alike have options this Christmas season.
The exclusive toys of the last decade are about to avail themselves to a new clientele at clearance prices. But caveat emptor! These are entry prices – maintenance, insurance, taxes, and even petrol will take their pound of flesh, to be sure.
Let’s do a little window shopping shall we?
2000 Bentley Arnage R with 36K miles on eBay. White on Tan. Buy-it-now price: $49,888.
Not keen on chrome matrix grilles for newer generation Bentleys, but this Texan example has an interior that’s been well loved – which sadly isn’t common among older Arnages.
2004 Maserati Spyder with 24K miles on eBay. Blue on tan. Buy-It-Now Price: $38,990.
Let’s see. A droptop equipped with a modern Ferrari V8 plus exotic Italian cache to be had for less money than a new Boxster? Si, grazie!
2003 Mercedes-Benz SL55 AMG with 65K miles on eBay. Black on ash. Buy-It-Now price: $34,988.
For the price of a stripped, year-end C-Class, you could have a drop top that’s faster then everything else on the road. Sexier than most everything else, too. This particular car’s had couple of fender benders, though… Used means used.
2003 Aston Martin DB7 Vantage with 10K miles on eBay. Silver on gray.
Pluses: It’s an Aston. Droptop. Only 10K miles. 5.9 liter V12. Minuses: Silver on gray? It’s got an Automatic. Summary: Did I mention it’s a V12 Aston for $57K?
What Price Change? Mulsanne’s New V8 Saves 15%
By Gunnar Heinrich | IMG Bentley Motors
EARLIER this Autumn there was much-a-do about the Bentley Mulsanne.
Bentley leaked images for what seemed like ages of an under-wraps car that they cryptically referred to as the “Grand Bentley”. Finally, the Arnage successor, and Bentley flagship was unveiled at Pebble Beach and then again at Frankfurt. We oohed. We aahed. Forgot to ask questions. And simply marveled.
And then…
Nothing.
It doesn’t take much more than a Bugatti’s involuntary off-road excursion or leaked images of new midsized Bavarian saloon to nicely divert the blogosphere’s inattention attention. But rest assured, friends, we’ve not lost track here.
So let’s cover a pretty important point.
Was an all new engine really necessary?
The established Bentley buyer took some comfort in knowing that the same push-rod V8 that powered his Arnage, was the same old cast-iron block that powered almost every Bentley since time immemorial (or 1959).
Why the need to replace the same engine that powered the S3? Why displace what was likely for many knowledgeable owners a source of pride? Fifteen percent fuel savings?
From BentleyMotors.com:
[The new V8] contribute[s] towards meeting three key objectives: maximising torque, refinement and efficiency. Nowhere is this better demonstrated than in the introduction of two new electro-mechanical control systems: cam phasing and variable displacement. The pioneering use of these two technologies in combination allows the Mulsanne’s engine management system not only to actively adjust the V8’s breathing, but to effectively throttle back four of the cylinders entirely, independently of the others, when not required.
Cylinder cut-offs. Mercedes tried it. GM gave it a shot. Now Bentley’s in for a turn at what may prove to be a very finnicky engine management system that most owners won’t appreciate anyway.
Design Detail: Bentley Mulsanne
Cutting a new shape from an old premise.
By Gunnar Heinrich | IMG BentleyMotors.com
BENTLEY’S Mulsanne is growing on me.
While I, along with a quizzical handful of Bentley aficionados, await with baited breath to see what (doubtless plush) interior Crewe has crafted for its latest grand chariot, I’ve been pouring over the exterior shots of this handsome sedan (saloon, if we’re British).
The Mulsanne picks up where the Arnage left off by maintaining the earlier car’s préstance but they’ve adopted cues from a few other uber sedans.
Of course, there’s Rolls-Royce in those lines. The tall, cliff-face front fenders belong to both marques as they recall the Silver Shadow / T-Series from the 60s and 70s.
And there’s Audi, too. The way the rear door’s line ignores the wheel well’s curvature in its diagonal straight-shot comes direct from a new-wave of German design theory that we’ve seen in every Audi sedan in the past decade (thought the A8 comes first to mind, somehow).
Finally, there’s the trunk (or boot, if you prefer).
The C-pillar descends softly into a high deck-lid. This is another classic Rolls/Bentley feature, albeit lifted for aerodynamics. It’s very modern to the point of being almost generic in its Euro-slickness. There’s practically no definition to the bumper from the rear three quarter profile.
In this respect, it takes what the (Maybach influenced) S-Class and CL-Class have achieved and pushed the envelope further.
Kudos to the ordinarily stolid British manufacturer carrying automotive design theory forward (in stead of backwards). Let’s just see if wears with time. If the short spell since the Mulsanne’s Pebble Beach debut are anything to judge by, chances are it’ll grow on me.
Bugatti Royale May Share Platform With Bentley
The next Bugatti may have a Flying B under its bonnet
By Gunnar Heinrich | IMG via CAR
ETTORE Bugatti famously spoke of Bentleys as “fast trucks”.
Funny, that off-hand remark.
Rumor has is that Sr. Bugatti’s namesake company – the world’s most exclusive marque – will produce a successor to the original Type 41 Royale sometime before 2018; the kicker being that the hyper-chariot may share platforms with the next generation Bentley Arnage.
According to CAR, Volkswagen’s top brass see platform sharing as the only way to ensure that ultra-low volume Bugatti actually turns a profit.
How ironic then that Bentley’s best may one day provide the pedestal on which Bugatti builds its next colossus de luxe.
Notes From Miami
Welcome, car enthusiast. Bienvenidos.
By Gunnar Heinrich
LONELY PLANET puts it best about Miami. That is, they nailed it.
“Here’s how it works: cruise down I-95 from the northeast corridor and at some point, near Richmond, you cross the invisible line separating the North from the South. Now go further, all the way to America’s tip. Somewhere around Orlando, you crossed another line, separating the rest of Florida from reality.”
Truer words were never written about South Flo-RIDA’s melting pot of Cubanic surrealism.
This splendid madness extends to cars, of course.
For having just recently mentioned that my only earthly sightings of the brilliant and now discontinued Porsche Carrera GT were in Miami-Dade County – once again, I saw the $400K super car parked innocently between a chewed Toyota Corolla and a Chryco-for-Hertz-Sebring in a South Beach parking lot.
Damn, son. Fer real.
But that’s not all. That rare, four leaf clover of Italian beauties – the Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione was found in a particularly verdant patch at The Collection – Coral Gables’ hottest Maserporsaudilambo dealer located on Bird Road.
Bird’s the word.
The hot car now is the Porsche 911 replacing the Lamborghini Gallardo (2007) and the Bentley Continental GT (2006). They’re everywhere and nary a Boxster or Cayman to be found.
Miami magazine even orgasms about 911 therapy – see p. 72, “My Porsche, My Therapist.” The article features a hypnotic shot of a cool blue Carrera 4S.
Tailgating at a close second is the standard variant of the latest plastic fantastic that Corvette makes. There was one for every color of the rainbow and a few examples that seemed to use as many hues as the owner could get away with before reaching black.
And after only spying one (1) ! Arnage on the city’s mean streets, I left Miami convinced that the local glitterati quietly gave their old chariots to a community collection that shipped a container brimming with Red Labels, T’s, R’s, and RL’s off to the needy, coupon clipping trust funders of Rolls-ravaged Palm Beach County.
A noble cause.
Oh, forgot to mention, newly fashioned rap sensation Joaquin Phoenix went postal on a vocal, um, fan.
ADL needs to fly south with greater frequency.
Out ‘N ‘Bout: Snow Capped Arnage
Odd to see a snow-covered Bentley, to say nothing of an Arnage.
By Gunnar Heinrich
LOVING the snow that’s hit the Northeast today, I found an excuse (none was really needed) to take the old Benz 300E 4-Matic out to play. The first-generation Mercedes all wheel drive system really does go over snow drifts like a tank. There’s a reason I call the car “li’l Panzer”.
That said, there were others that we encountered on our foray out into the elements that were, shall we say, less inclined.
There is something frustratingly democratic about Mother Nature.
In Praise of the C-Pillar
Bentley’s elegant hommage to a certain former stablemate at Crewe.
By Gunnar Heinrich
DEFINING what constitutes the C-Pillar (or C-Post) is simple: it’s the bit of metal (or other material) that supports the aft section of a car’s roof and rear windscreen. How automotive designers pen a C-Pillar on a given model will in turn determine much of the car’s structural purpose and overall character.
For this reason, the C-Pillar is something that immediately catches the eye.
The Rolls-Royce Phantom’s C-Pillars are more than two feet in width. Their thickness register to a Victorian method that carriages once employed to obscure the inward view of occupants. Needless to say, it works. It’s so effective, in fact, that mirrors are on the inside walls of the pillars are used to deflect the sense that you might otherwise be riding in a leather padded cell.
The iconic Ferrari Testarossa’s flying buttresses must have taken flight from any of Europe’s gothic cathedrals…
Or perhaps from Jaguar’s XJS coupe. The 2+2 GT was a cat whose sly shape owed much to the two flamboyant arcs that extended from roof to cat eared taillamps.
Benz’s “Pagoda” SL (W113) seems to be hiding the fact that it even has a roof. The last pillar is relatively wide at the roofline then narrows to an improbably thin width where it meets the trunk. “Wispy” seems to be the moment’s descriptor.
The 2010 Mercedes-Benz (C216) CL-Class benefits from a series of complimenting arcs. That the rear windscreen mimics the car’s semi-circular profile glass is a nice visual coup.
The 90′s Cadillac Eldorado or ETC (WTF?) features a retro “rocket fin” that partly cuts through a right triangle. It looks sharp until we consider the uninspired rectangular rear window.
Arguably the most famous and copied series of C-Pillars; here we find BMW’s hoffmeister kink as displayed on the newest 7er. The F01 generation takes the hallmark concept further with a raised edge to the surrounding sheetmetal.
The slightly skewed block that separated the miniscule cabin from the acres of trunk on the Continental is a study in design simplicity.
Bruno Sacco’s proportionally strong yet fluid sheetmetal creates the perfect bow from the stately roofline to the boot of the W126 generation Mercedes-Benz S-Class. This most pleasing shape is lined by chrome and echoed by a lip of plastic window trim in the rear window. Genius.
