Review of the new Bentley Arnage R

Charisma. Some cars have it, some don't. Then there are the cars that have it leaching from every component part. These are few and far between and time with these cars is something to be treasured. It's about setting the alarm for that 4am blast through the city, plotting a route across a continent that takes in roads that look like an industrial accident in a noodle factory and never being able to walk away from the car without a backwards glance. Cars like the Bentley Arnage R do that to you.

It's tempting to think that the Arnage's charm comes from it being essentially an anachronism, a glacial erratic left behind when modern car manufacture receded from building vehicles of this labour intensity. Whilst it's true that the number of man hours that go into crafting an Arnage R made Volkswagen's management gurus eyes water, it's also something that to alter would change the way we view Bentley cars. There's already a palpable gulf between the way that the Arnage series and the Continentalmodels are designed and built and it's good to see the old ways prevailing.

First a short history lesson. Back in 2004, Bentley realised the game had moved on. Even its prototype Continentalflying spur models were both more capacious and better riding, especially in the rear, than the existing Arnage models and if the Arnage was to maintain its place in the hierarchy, something clearly needed to be done. Rolling comfort was improved by dint of revised rear suspension geometry, changes to spring, damper and bush rates and the adoption of specially developed Pirelli P-Zero Rosso tyres. The engines for the Arnage Range at that juncture saw little change, the only key development being compliance with Euro IV emissions regulations.

With the ride quality squared away and the launch of the Flying Spur dealt with, Bentley then had time and resource to direct at improving the engines of the Arnage line up and this R model now features a 450bhp variant of the engine that can be traced back to 1959, albeit in a '12 heads and 15 handles on this mop' manner. It's come quite some way from the original 6.25-litre unit that struggled to crack 200bhp. It was the introduction of turbocharging in the early 1980s that really started cranking horsepower figures skywards and the latest generation turbo system sees the twin blowers operating with greater efficiency at low engine speeds, reaching maximum turbine speed in half the time of their predecessors.

"The Bentley Arnage R is just hauntingly beautiful"

The camshafts and valve timing system has also been improved. It's easy to take progress for granted but some perspective is granted by the fact that the modern Arnage R not only produces 250bhp more than its 1959 predecessor but only consumes 60 per cent as much fuel and, thanks to improved fuel injection and exhaust controls, its emissions output is an astonishing 99 per cent lower than Bentley's first V8.

Power is nothing without control, however, and Bentley has quietly introduced a ZF six-speed automatic transmission to replace the old four-speeder. Each Arnage model has had its gear ratios especially tuned, Plus there is a more sophisticated locking torque converter that acts even more rapidly to throttle inputs, ensuring seamless acceleration. Three transmission modes (Drive, Sport and Semi-Automatic) allow the driver to take full advantage of the improved 'box. The semi auto mode works by allowing the driver to prod the lever backwards and forwards to select gears sequentially for ultimate control.

There are other, even less obvious ways that the Arnage's power delivery and control has been finessed. Where previous Arnage models featured engine and transmissions that were governed by separate electronic control systems, this generation features a much smarter Bosch unit. Going the other way are the sport modes for the suspension and gearbox which can now be activated independently of the other for better control. The traction control and ESP stability control systems have also been recalibrated to restore full power earlier after an intervention.

Options include a 19-inch six-spoke disc wheel. Also available across the Range is the winged 'B' mascot, which saw a welcome return on the special edition Diamond Series Arnage. The iconic mascot - which can retract neatly into the grille surround - was originally designed by motoring artist F. Gordon Crosby and first used on the 1930 Bentley 8-litre. Interior design updates include a hide-trimmed gearlever, chrome gearlever bezel, and a 'Thin Film Technology' driver information panel to display more comprehensive and clearly accessible information. The Arnage RL model receives additional standard specification including a rear centre armrest bottle cooler, veneered rear centre cushion box, rear Bluetooth master telephone system and a reversing camera.

Although the figures may be impressive, nothing prepares you for the moment you drop behind the wheel. Virtually everything is extravagantly, voluptuously over-engineered. The turned aluminium fascia and door inserts of the test car were beautifully finished, as was the pleated hidework on the doors and seats. You find yourself dipping switches and twisting exquisitely knurled knobs just to feel the sheer oily quality of their motion. Such is the overwhelming sense of haptic surprise and delight that merely operating the big Bentley becomes a pleasure in itself.

Driving it is another story. The breathy sigh of the turbochargers and the muted howl of the engine are a prelude to the most astonishing surge of power, the prow rising slightly like a Riva speedboat as the scenery explodes through the windscreen, the behemoth tyres creating a muted thump as they traverse surface imperfections. The power feels more relentless, if slightly less explosive than of old, with a broader flatter serving of that prodigious torque. The steering at first feels disconcertingly light, but work with it and you'll find that turn in is surprisingly sharp. The superb Electronic Stability Programme helps prevent 2,655kg of metal, leather, wood and fluids getting away from underneath you.

If the Bentley Arnage R represents a sterile collection of metal, wood, plastic and leather parts, then there is no spark in your soul. The alchemists at Bentley have breathed life into inanimate objects and most can see the magic of their creation. For that we should be thankful.