The 'grand new Bentley' photos leaked

[smolik]

Bentley Arnage RIP. CAR's scooped the 2010 Bentley Arnage replacement – these world exclusive spy photos reveal Bentley's new limo in production guise. They were smuggled out of the company's Crewe headquarters weeks ahead of the new Arnage's debut expected later in summer 2009.

Today we publish our first instalment of Bentley scoop photos. Make sure you come back on Monday 6 July for the second batch of spyshots and more news on this important new Bentley.

What's the new Bentley Arnage successor going to be called?

That's still shrouded in mystery, but we hear the Grand badge is mooted. While the name might be uncertain at this stage, our pictures leave none of the look and shape to the imagination. It's being developed under the Project Kimberley codename.

At first glance, the car is much more modern than the outgoing Arnage, which is essentially a Rolls-era limo. The new saloon has been developed entirely under the watch of new masters Volkswagen – and takes a technological leap forward accordingly.

New Bentley Arnage (2010) – the design story

The new Arnage is clearly aimed squarely at the Rolls-Royce Phantom end of the market. There's an imposing front end, the visage dominated by an huge mesh grille bisected by a chrome upright and bordered by a pair of lights. Each lamp is ringed by a corona of LEDs and there's a matching mini chicken-mesh grille below.

Bentley's official teaser photo above confirms the snout in high-res, and confirms there will also be a pop-up mascot, missing from our unauthorised photos of the production car.

Note the curvy tension built into the Arnage replacement's bonnet; there's real form, and the swelling peaks and troughs of the bodywork hark back to the 1950s R-type and other classic Bentleys.

Is the new Bentley Arnage a saloon?

Yes, although styling chief Dirk van Braeckel's design team has spirited in the feeling of a long, luxurious coupé. It's not clearly visible on these shots, but the rear door handles will be hidden and the bootline arcs downwards with a decidedly retro flourish.

http://www.carmagazine.co.uk/Secret-...f-2010-Arnage/

[Reckoning]

Hard to tell at this stage, but I'm intrigued to see better pics.

[Aston Martin]

Happy car is happy... and ugly.

[Polly]

Looks quite ghastly so far, doesn't it?

[bartboy9891]

It looks kind of like a wider Mitsuoka Galue.

[BlaRo]

That smaller driving light on the side looks like a sticker somebody slapped on.

Still, I hope this car has more presence than the Flying Spur, which doesn't look like a six-figure car at all.

[_HighVoltage_]

That smaller driving light on the side looks like a sticker somebody slapped on.

More to the point - what would be its purpose?

[matyas]

The door/window ratio is really small...I don't like that trend in most modern cars

[FleeceLINER]

Nice smiley face, and MINI headlights.

[Rokovak]

The Grand Old Bentley looks like a Heinous Old Bentley. They better use these last few weeks to do something about the lower outside lights.

[Aston Martin]

This going head-to-head with a Phantom? Thats like me going head-to-head with Lennox Lewis.

[Shawn]

Hopping on the LED bandwagon, hooray!

It's not offensively ugly from those pictures, but you can't really tell much. Not that such cars appeal to me that much.

[ahpadt]

Front is god-awful.

[Loop]

Bentley + LEDs =

[Pedrocas]

Note to Bentley: Mitsuoka called. They want their blueprints back.

Also, how come these super-luxury-sedans don't have to comply to pedestrian safety measures? That huge and tall bonnet looks homicidal if it hits a pedestrian.

[watto]

That front looks terrible. I look forward to seeing the whole product.

[otispunkmeyer]

thats fucking gash


to put it bluntly

[VMLN8R]

Disappointed Please fix those lights, the rest is nice-ish.

[Magnet]

Christ, it's just one horrid mistake after another today.

[Aston Martin]

There are still rumours floating about, that it may end up with the Veyron engine, sadly without the turbos.