Bentley will offer a hybrid version of its Arnage after the car’s redesign in 2010, a new report finds. Power is still expected to come from the current car’s 6.75-liter V8, but it will be mated to an Audi -derived hybrid system. It’s possible the next-generation Arnage would use Audi’s new-generation quattro hybrid, or a new system being developed for the Q7 SUV.
To further improve the Arnage’s fuel economy, Bentley engineers will also likely use a version of Audi’s spaceframe, saving an additional 150 kg.
“This will be a totally independent car,†Bentley boss Franz-Josef Paefgen told AutoCar in a recent interview. “It will not be like the Continental, a derivative of a VW Group product, although it will use components from the group.â€
Paefgen also wants to make sure the Arnage’s 6.75L V8 — which dates back to the 1950s — finds its way into the next-generation car. “Meeting the 2009 EU5 emissions limits with this V8 can be done. We are now working on the proposed EU6 limits for 2013-15. All our engineers want to keep the engine alive.â€
Paefgen also said the company is committed to reducing emissions while still offering its customers Bentley quality. “If we have to reduce fuel consumption by 20 per cent, we will do it. But we have to satisfy our customers and build a proper Bentley.â€
While Bentley plans to offer lighter hybrids in the future, the automaker has no intentions of making a smaller car. “We may need to shed weight, but we still need to produce cars of a Bentley size,†Paefgen said.
The news of Bentley going green comes on the heels of a report that the automaker is experimenting with a Bugatti W16-powered Arnage. It would seem that the two reports are polar opposites, indicating a 900+ horsepower Arnage might be reserved for the show circuit or an extremely limited production run.
