The 2.5-ton Bentley Arnage is unveiled before the public at the Sarthe Circuit in France, home of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, on April 26, 1998.
Bentley’s newest flagship four-door sedan was designed by British designer Stephen Harper and powered by a BMW V-8 engine, with twin-turbos engineered by Cosworth. It was 212 inches long and 75 inches wide.
The Arnage and its Rolls-Royce-branded sibling, the Silver Seraph, were the first all-new designs for the two ultraluxury marques since 1980.
And for a short period, the Arnage was the most powerful and fastest four-door saloon — with a top speed of 180 mph — on the market.
A long-wheel base variant became available in 2000.
In 2001, The New York Times called the Arnage Red Label an “extraordinary motor car” with an exhilarating, steady surge of power.
“The look is powerful, from the mesh grill to the 18-inch alloy wheels, from the classic lines to the paint that seems yards deep,” the newspaper said. “Every sensation is one of opulence: The parchment gauges glow gold through chrome ports, the seats are softer than a baby’s nape, the rear sofas adjust electrically and the wooden folding trays are perfectly finished in a rich gloss.”
A convertible version of the Arnage, the Azure, was added in spring 2006. And in 2007, Bentley introduced the Brooklands, a coupe derivative of the Arnage.
In September 2008, Bentley announced Arnage production would cease during 2009.