Nip And Tuck For Big Bentley

The rich and the famous are the ones who get facelifts - and now so is their car. Oozing exclusivity from every panel, the Bentley Arnage has always been a luxury saloon for traditional buyers. But now bosses at Crewe have decided it needs freshening up to stop well heeled younger drivers choosing the Rolls-Royce Phantom or the Maybach.

Auto Express Car Reviews

By Chris Thorp

26th February 2004

Taking great care not to lose any of the Arnage's imposing muscle, stylists have concentrated on bringing the huge four-door's front end up to date. Falling in line with the Continental GT and Azure, the Arnage boasts new twin headlamps and a reshaped bonnet.

The bumpers have also been changed, and customers now have a choice of two new grille styles. The range of paint colours has been extended from 22 to 40, while a two-tone finish is also available and expected to be popular. Inside, the dash has been redesigned to add more hi-tech features without losing any of the Arnage's 'gentleman's club' character. DVD-based sat-nav is included, as are new dials, and most non-essential switchgear has been hidden beneath sliding wooden panels.

To keep the Arnage competitive on the road, engineers have modified the suspension to improve both ride and handling. Under the bonnet, the 6.75-litre twin-turbo has been revised to meet Euro IV emissions rules and ensure the car stays in production for a while yet.

The bad news is that the facelifted Arnage is more expensive than the outgoing model. The entry-level R is priced ΂£160,000 - an ΂£11,000 increase - with the sporty T ΂£3,500 more at ΂£170,000. Anyone fortunate enough to be in the market for a revised Arnage can expect to take delivery of their car in June.