Bentley engines are some of the biggest, most powerful old-school units on the market, and that’s not about to change. This, despite earlier reports that Crewe was considering utilizing diesel engines or even the powerplant from the Bugatti Veyron, which now appear off the table… in the short run at least.

Although Bugatti and Bentley are now united under common leadership, Bugatti is rumored to be working on its own luxury limousine, so shoehorning its engine into the production Arnage could cut down its legs prematurely. As for the diesel, Bentley’s position remains that customers aren’t ready for oil-burning Bentleys at this point. In the short term, then, Bentley customers will just have to make do with 6.75-liter V8s and 6-liter W12s. Dang.

[Source: AutoBlog]

There’s badass, there’s relentlessly badass, and then there’s this. This is what happens when you dream up an idea that combines a vintage Bentley S3′s coachwork and chassis with a 300-horsepower BMW 4.4L V8, a ZF 5-speed auto, a custom dual exhaust, and a deluxe interior with all the modern amenities. Tweak the look to give it the feel of a late-model Bentley, add 20-inch forged wheels, slam it to the ground and you have Arturo Alonso’s Bentley S3 E design concept. Word is, Alonso and his team at Bentley Boys USA will build three of the cars over 8-month intervals to sell at $150K a pop. We want one. If it really does come to pass, this could wind up being as cool as John Fluevog’s Flueguar

[Source: AutoBlog]

2007 was good to the folks in Crewe, as Bentley Motors had its best year ever. (What, no VH1 special?) For the first time, the automaker surpassed the 10,000 mark in terms of vehicles sold — a tenfold increase over where it stood just five years ago. Both Arnage and Continental family sales were up — 45-percent for the former, thanks to the arrival of the new Azure, and 5-percent for the latter with the GTC leading the way. The record-high sales led to new high points for both net revenue (€1.37 billion) and operating profit (€155 million). This level of volume is pretty much where the automaker would like to settle going forward, as it lets Bentley stay exclusive while still returning a profit. Us? We’re just trying to figure out a way to tap into the joys of ownership ourselves. Follow the jump for Bentley’s full press release and some assorted eye candy.

[Source: AutoBlog]

This may come as a bit of a surprise to anyone who’s been following the agonizing bit-by-bit release of a number of concept cars in advance of the Geneva Motor Show, but one Italian design studio has chosen to forgo the teasing and release all the details of its show car all at once. In fact, we hadn’t heard anything about Zagato’s coachbuilt Bentley since the initial report from last December, but the famed Milanese carrozzeria has revealed that it will be unveiling the car at the show now only days away.

Called the Bentley Continental GTZ, following the familiar nomenclature last seen on the 2006 Ferrari 575 GTZ, Zagato’s interpretation on the stately grand tourer manages to be instantly recognizable as both a Bentley and a Zagato design. Based on the effortlessly fast Continental GT Speed, the latest Zagato retains, to the best of our knowledge at this point, the donor car’s considerable mechanics, over which the Zagato Atelier has fitted unique two-tone coachwork in classic British racing green with Zagato’s signature subtle double-bubble contrasting roof in medium silver. Other typically Zagato touches include the sharply-creased fenders, elegant tail and curvy rear window. We have a feeling this is going to be one of those cars that looks even better in person than it does in images, which you can see for yourself in the gallery below, and we’re looking forward to getting up close and personal with this custom Anglo-Italian creation on the show floor

[Source: AutoBlog]

The Arnage is the last of the old school Bentleys, the final model designed before the British brand was scooped up by Volkswagen a decade ago. We reported the other day that the team from Crewe wanted the Arnage to be back on top of the Bentley lineup in terms of performance. To achieve that they are considered using a detuned version of the Bugatti Veyron engine in the big sedan.

Now comes word from AutoCar that Bentley boss Franz-Josef Paefgen also wants to keep the near half century old 6.75L V-8 alive in the Arnage as well. With plans for a redesigned Arnage around the end of the decade, the old engine will need updates to meet new emissions requirements. One option for helping it achieve its clean-living goal is to mate it up with the new hybrid powertrain being developed for the Audi Q7, VW Touareg, and Porsche Cayenne. Paefgen acknowledges Bentley will have to face up to new fuel economy requirements and will do what is necessary to meet them. But in doing so they will continue to build “proper” Bentleys.

[Source: AutoBlog]

We’re all about synergies between sister companies when the result could be a Bentley Arnage powered by the Bugatti Veyron’s 1,000+ horsepower quad-turbo W16 engine. That’s the rumor coming out of Crewe, and we couldn’t be happier to hear it. AutoCar is reporting that Bentley head honcho Franz-Josef Paefgen wants the Arnage to outgun the less expensive Continental Flying Spur again. The larger and older car is currently powered by a 6.75L V8 producing 500 HP. The Flying Spur, meanwhile, gets 552 HP from its twin-turbo W12. In order for the Arnage to trump the Flying Spur, a new engine is needed. Enter the Veyron from fellow VW/Audi Group member Bugatti. While the Veyron fits its engine like a tailored suit around a WWE Wrestler, the same powerplant in the Arnage would likely be significantly detuned. The Veyron has the benefit of all four wheels to help it hook up while the Arnage uses just its rears, so power would have to come down to a more manageable level. Nevertheless, a significantly detuned TT W16 would be more than enough to embarrass the Continental Flying Spur in a straight line.

[Source: AutoCar]