BENTLEY Arnage Red Label 1999-2002 Photos, engines & full specs

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.