1999 BENTLEY Arnage Red Label 6.75L V8 4AT (405 HP)

Vehicle Overview

The Arnage RL was the result of the battle between Volkswagen and BMW war for the usage rights over the Rolls-Royce ownership. A battle lost by the latter, due to the unexpected help from the Bentley customers.

At the beginning of the ’90s, Vickers Plc was the owner of Rolls-Royce and Bentley brands. It decided to refresh the old models and looked for new engines and BMW was selected. The design for both models was made in-house and the result was Rolls-Royce Silver Seraph and Bentley Arnage. While the first received a naturally aspirated 6.75-liter V12 engine, the latter got a 4.4-liter V8 upgraded by Cosworth Engineering with a pair of turbochargers and that was the Arnage R.

From the outside, the Arnage looked modern when compared with its predecessor. It was sleeker, had a better aerodynamic, and its fuel-efficiency was improved. The dual headlights covered with a clear-lens was a first for Bentley. The Arnage RL featured a mesh-grille, in the spirit of its former racing glory. The swept-back beltline was similar to the Seraph.

Inside, the Arnage RL featured a luxurious interior with leather, wood, and aluminum. In its pure tradition, the instrument panel was flat with silver circles around the gauges. The atmosphere resembled a British gentlemen club. In the back, there was enough room for two occupants, but due to the thick front seats, the legroom was limited for tall passengers.

The 4.4-liter version was criticized by customers for the lack of torque and that helped Volkswagen to make a change for the Arnage. The Red Label version was fitted with the older 6.75-liter V8 engine, upgraded with a Garret T4 turbocharger. The result met the customer’s requests. It was the luxury sedan fitted with an engine that offered the highest torque on the market.