REPORT: Next Bentley Arnage to feature Audi turbo-diesel
Bentley Arnage Final Series – Click above for high-res gallery
Bentley has long been rumored to be considering the use of diesel engines. The torquey oil-burners would enable Crewe to continue offering the kind of freight-train muscle for which it has become known while living up to the mandate of offering improved fuel economy, and, with the latest developments in particulate filter technology, reduce carbon emissions, as well. The company's marriage to Audi, which has carved out a nice niche for itself in diesel propulsion, seems to be a match made in motor heaven, and now reports suggest that, at long last, the marriage is set to be consummated with the next Arnage sedan.
According to the latest output from the ever-churning rumor-mill, the replacement for the aging Arnage will employ a version of the V12 turbo-diesel used in the current Audi Q7 TDI. With 500 horsepower and 738 lb-ft of torque, the twelve-cylinder oil-burner would prove an ideal power-plant for the big saloon, and could get an even higher output version to join the half-century-old 6 ¾-liter V8 found in 530-horsepower trim in the current Brooklands, all while Bentley continues to toy with ethanol-burning variants of its W12 as previewed in the Continental Supersports show car unveiled just days ago at the Geneva Motor Show and Her Majesty's State Limousine.
Gallery: Bentley Arnage Final Series
[Source: 4wheelsnews]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
BigMcLargeHuge 5:43PM (3/12/2009)
Well, at least its in a car now.
If it moves towards the Audi A8 that would be badass.
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Red 5:41PM (3/12/2009)
Never quite understood why it took so long for them to come around to diesels like this. I'm not the manufacturer, but from this angle, it just makes so much sense. These are extremely large land yachts, exuding opulence and sumptuousness (thus exuding weight, as well). The torque-y nature of a diesel engine just makes too much sense.
Have your V8/V10/V12 and emissions too. :-)
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MikeW 9:13PM (3/12/2009)
The big turbo gas engine makes as much torque as the 6 speed auto can handle. (maybe the guts of the double clutch from the Veyron will be used? then the V12 can be uncorked.)
Brooklands gas pushrod 530hp@4000, 774ft-lbs@3250.
The diesel would be there for better mileage, not necessarily better driving performance.
P.V. 5:46PM (3/12/2009)
I like the idea!
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Khanh 5:48PM (3/12/2009)
Yes but it is still the fuel of Satan
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BigMcLargeHuge 6:03PM (3/12/2009)
Can you blame him?
I mean with a heat pump, Hell would be luke-warm at best.
G-Meister 8:17AM (3/13/2009)
Yes, but with an absorption cooler, you could cool hell with very little energy input.
Javanese 9:24AM (3/13/2009)
Agreed. How can you justify putting a diesel engine in a luxury car? Where's the refinement? the smooth power delivery? If they want more bottom end torque they can just slapped a couple of superchargers instead of turbochargers. Can you imagine cranking up your bentley in the morning only to be greeted with the sound of an Isuzu truck? *horror*
kashif_Zaidi24 6:32PM (3/12/2009)
How often do the owner have to change the rear tires ??
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superman211 8:29PM (3/12/2009)
Every other weekend.
Edmond Dantes 6:41PM (3/12/2009)
Man. I love these Bentleys.
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superman211 9:09PM (3/12/2009)
I knew they would do this! I heard a test mule the other day as it was starting up. I used to have my office right across from a Maserati/Bentley dealer and I head them all the time. This sounded like a diesel A8.
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Benoit Cerrina 10:50PM (3/12/2009)
the particulate filter has nothing to do with carbon emmission reductions. When talking about carbon emmissions one is talking about CO2 which goes into the atmosphere and is a cause for global warming.
Particulate filter prevent particulate from going in the atmosphere but those are bad for other reasons, they are the cause of the diesel black smoke and are cancerigene.
A particulate filter actually lowers the mileage and increases CO2 emmissions by a bit due to added back pressure and the need to regenerate it from time to time by using a post injection which will burn the particulate trapped in the filter
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Other Man 11:11PM (3/12/2009)
I can't say I dislike the idea, AS LONG AS the refinement rivals the V-12 competitors from Rolls and Maybach.
I would like, however, to see more differentiation. I would hope it won't be just a lightly tweaked 5.9TT lifted from the Q7 and dropped in. Make it the traditional 6.75L and give it Maybach Zeppelin-crushing more (ie- more than 640 hp).
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loser40 9:05AM (3/13/2009)
Bentley would NEVER just drop in an Audi engine, or any other engine for that matter - they will heavily adapt an existing unit though, so much so that it will be very different from what they started with.
With good sound insulation in the cabin and the engine bay, a diesel Bentely will be just as quiet as a petrol engined car IMO.
It's interesting that Audi have just developed a new super quick diesel engine for there track racing - maybe a version of this unit will find it's way into the new Bentley !
M
ZeeGerman 12:54AM (3/13/2009)
I think it's brilliant. The overwhelming torque from a well-made diesel engine is perfect for a large saloon like a Bentley, and it'll mean that the car has excellent freeway manners.
Good move, Bentley.
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Mehul Kamdar 12:01PM (3/13/2009)
This is an excellent idea. A racing proven diesel engine that is quiet and pulls like a train is an ideal fit for a top of the line Bentley. If they put this engine into a new Arnage (isn't the present one being retired and a completely new one designed?) the car would be a monster in every sense. Thword "monster," of course, is an ultimate compliment.
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