Review
Still one of the most exclusive saloon cars in the world, the Arnage exists in the same super-rarefied league as the Rolls-Royce Phantom and Maybach 57/62 - appealing to a different type of customer to the newer Continental Flying Spur.
Although the fundamental structure of the Arnage dates back to the mid 1990s, it has been extensively re-engineered since VW took over Bentley, with a recent facelift giving it the (not altogether successful) front-end treatment of the Continental. Behind that it's all reassuringly familiar, though. As always, the Arnage gets a proper "gentleman's club" interior of the old school - leather, wood and carpets that you practically lose your ankles in.
On the road, the Arnage is starting to feel very old-fashioned, with the driving experience revolving almost entirely around the massive performance delivered by the turbocharged 6.75 litre V8 engine. The ride quality can feel surprisingly harsh over rougher road surfaces, while the driver struggles with feel-free steering and a what feels like a worrying lack of brakes under hard use. It's nothing like as refined as the Continental Flying Spur either.
But as an automotive statement, the Arnage still stands pretty much in a league of its own - with super yacht-rivalling running costs to match. Just be glad that it still exists.