Bentley Arnage
1998–2009 · Bentley Arnage — Luxury Saloon, V8 Twin-Turbo, designed by Graham Hull.
The Story
The Arnage is the last of the old world. Launched in spring 1998 alongside its Rolls-Royce twin, the Silver Seraph — the first all-new cars from either marque since 1980 — it arrived just as VW and BMW were about to split the two brands forever. It would soldier on, hand-built at Crewe, until 2009.
Its engine history reads like a corporate thriller: early ‘Green Label’ cars used a BMW 4.4 twin-turbo V8 (only seven built, all left-hand drive) before Volkswagen reinstated the redeveloped 6.75 ‘Red Label,’ which grew into the ~500-hp Arnage T. Skilled hands fitted the wood and leather; the Arnage was craftsmanship as resistance to the modern world.
The Numbers
Benchmarked against its class
Each dial ranks this car within its Luxury Saloon class — fuller means higher, and the tick marks the class midpoint.
Signature Colors
The Designer
Graham Hull
Graham Hull was Rolls-Royce/Bentley’s chief stylist (1971–2001), responsible for the Arnage and the related RR Silver Seraph, and author of ‘Bentley & Rolls-Royce: The Crewe Years.’ FLAG: Arnage/Azure attribution from general references.
Studio Motors POV
The last of the old-world Crewe Bentleys — hand-built craftsmanship before the VW-era volume cars — and quietly one of the most car-for-the-money routes into a genuine hand-made Bentley today.
The Engine
Rolls-Royce / Bentley L-Series 6¾ V8
Lineage
Where it sits in the bloodline
Market & Value
Values on cars like this move monthly. Our brokers price from real transactions.
What Reviewers Said About Arnage
Worth Knowing About the Arnage
3 Things You Didn’t Know
- 1. It launched alongside the Rolls-Royce Silver Seraph — the first all-new designs from either marque since 1980 — just before VW and BMW divided the two brands.
- 2. The original 'Green Label' Arnage used a BMW 4.4 twin-turbo V8; only seven were built, all left-hand drive, before the 6.75 'Red Label' returned.
- 3. Production ended in 2009 with a planned 150-car 'Final Series' — of which only 96 were actually built.
5 Fast Facts
- 1. Built 1998–2009 at Crewe — one of the last truly hand-assembled British saloons.
- 2. Three engines over its life: BMW 4.4 V8 TT → 6.75 single-turbo → 6.75 twin-turbo (Arnage T, ~500 hp).
- 3. ~8,500 built across all variants.
- 4. Twin of the Rolls-Royce Silver Seraph (1998–2002).
- 5. 'Final Series': 150 planned, 96 built.
Provenance
Owners & what to look for
Famous Owners
David Beckham — owned a Bentley Arnage T and drove it to Buckingham Palace to receive his OBE in 2003. Jennifer Lopez is also a documented Bentley owner whose cars include an Arnage. (Documented; celebrity press.)
Studio Buyer’s Brief
The twin-turbo Arnage T or a late ‘Final Series’ are the ones to have; the BMW-engined Green Label is a rare curiosity rather than a smart buy. Budget for the hand-built complexity; demand full history.
Full Specifications
- Make / Model
- Bentley Arnage
- Class
- Luxury Saloon
- Production years
- 1998–2009
- Units built
- ~8,500 total (all Arnage)
- Variants
- Arnage R; Arnage T (444 bhp); Red Label & Green Label; RL (long wheelbase)
- Engine layout
- Front
- Engine
- V8 Twin-Turbo
- Engine family
- Rolls-Royce / Bentley L-Series 6¾ V8
- Displacement
- 6,750 cc (6.75 L)
- Power
- 500 hp
- Torque
- 738 lb-ft
- 0–60 mph
- 5.2 s
- Top speed
- 179 mph
- Power-to-weight
- 193 hp/tonne · 11.4 lb/hp
- Transmission
- 6-speed ZF auto (Arnage T from 2007); 4-speed earlier
- Drivetrain
- RWD · Petrol
- Curb weight
- 5699 lb
Questions
Arnage FAQ
What engines did the Bentley Arnage use during its production run?
The Arnage used three engines across its 1998-2009 life: a BMW 4.4-litre twin-turbocharged V8 in the 1998-2000 Green Label, Bentley’s own 6.75-litre single-turbocharged V8 in the Red Label from 2000, and a twin-turbocharged 6.75-litre V8 in the Arnage T — initially 450 hp, raised to 500 hp / 738 lb-ft with the 2007 update.
How fast is the Bentley Arnage T?
The Bentley Arnage T reaches 60 mph from rest in 5.2 seconds and has a top speed of 179 mph, powered by a twin-turbocharged 6.75-litre V8 producing 500 horsepower and 738 lb-ft of torque.
Did David Beckham drive a Bentley Arnage to collect his OBE?
Yes. David Beckham drove his bespoke 2002 Bentley Arnage T to Buckingham Palace to receive his OBE from Queen Elizabeth II, the car fitted with personalised trim including embroidered rear cushions and a custom audio system.
Can you lease a Bentley Arnage?
Yes, specialty lenders structure collector-car leases regardless of model year.
What is the difference between the Bentley Arnage T and the standard Arnage?
The Arnage T uses the twin-turbocharged version of the 6.75-litre V8 (initially 450 hp; raised to 500 hp from 2007) versus the Red Label’s single-turbocharged 6.75-litre output, and from 2007 received a six-speed ZF automatic gearbox in place of the earlier four-speed unit.
The Bentley Lineup
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3 Litre ’216½ Litre / Speed Six ’264½ Litre ’27Blower 4½ Litre ’29
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Mulsanne (1980) ’80Turbo R ’85
Continental R ’91Azure ’95Arnage ’98
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Mulsanne (2010) ’10Continental GT (2nd gen) ’11Flying Spur (2nd gen) ’13Bentayga ’15Continental GT (3rd gen) ’18Flying Spur (3rd gen) ’19
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