RESURGENT British brand Bentley came out in force in Sydney this year by giving its Continental GTC convertible and model year 2007 Arnage sedan their Asia-Pacific debuts.
The GT coupe-based GTC convertible brings to three the number of models in the Continental range and was revealed in 2005 – the same year the Continental Flying Spur sedan was launched here.
The Continental GT coupe was released in Australia in 2003. First deliveries of the Continental GTC, powered by a 411kW/650Nm 6.0-litre W12 that propels the 2+2 convertible to 100km/h in a supercar-style 5.1 seconds, will arrive in Australia by late this year, priced at $399,500 plus stamp duty and on-road costs.
Also on display in Sydney is the range-topper of a revised MY2007 Arnage line-up, which similarly goes on sale here in late 2006.
With 11 per cent more power, 14 per cent more torque and now featuring a six-speed ZF auto, Bentley’s flagship saloon offers a 373kW/1000Nm 6.75-litre twin-turbo V8 and, in top-shelf (2585kg) Arnage T guise, sprints to 100km/h in just 5.2 seconds. It is priced at $545,000.
The long-wheelbase Arnage RL (2655kg) is priced at $599,000 and blasts to 100km/h in a claimed 5.5 seconds, while the entry-level Arnage R is priced at $505,000.
Also on display in Sydney is an example of Bentley’s Continental GT Diamond Series, built to commemorate 60 years of car manufacturing at Crewe and featuring carbon ceramic brakes.