2005 Bentley Arnage Limousine Preview

When the automotive era began Mulliner instead produced custom bodies and upgraded interiors for what have become some of

With only 20 Arnage Limousines being built, at 6,000 or so man hours per car, the $645,000 price tag needed to take one home seems reasonable. (Photo: Geneva Auto Salon)

Bentley's most memorable and revered collector cars. The first Bentley to get modified by HJ Mulliner was for the 1924 London Olympia Show, a full 80 years ago, while his most famous car was the R-Type Continental of 1952, considered the fastest 4-seat sports car of the time, and inspirational to the design team of the current Continental GT. Bentley Motors now owns Mulliner, after purchasing it in 1959 under then parent company Rolls-Royce. The tradition of handbuilt luxury continues with all Bentley's massaged by Mulliner, especially the Arnage Limousine.

And when can the car's twenty customers expect to take delivery? Production starts in February of next year, with the end dates appearing some 6,000 or so man hours later, depending on just how many options each buyer specifies. "

The price? It starts at 270,000 British pounds, or the equivalent of about $645,000 Canadian dollars if it were available here. For such exclusivity and otherworldly attention to detail, that seems quite reasonable, don't you think?

Specifications (not available in North America):

• Price (estimated base MSRP): $645,000 (total optioned price N/A)
• Body Type: 4-door limousine
• Layout: front engine, RWD
• Engine (R): 400 hp, 616 lb-ft of torque, 6.75-L, 16-valve, OHV twin-turbocharged V8
• Transmission: 4-spd auto
• Brakes (front/rear): disc/disc, ABS
• Curb Weight: N/A
• Acceleration (0 - 100 km/h): 6.7 seconds
• Top Speed (estimated): 249 km/h (155 mph)
• Seating Cap: 5
• Cargo Volume (trunk): 374 L (13.2 cu ft)
• Fuel Economy (city/hwy): N/A
• Warranty (mo/km): 36 / unlimited comprehensive
• Direct Competitors: Maybach 62, Rolls-Royce
• Web Site: www.bentleymotors.com