(Tue 28 Feb 06)

Bentley has been building cars since 1919, but this year it is celebrating 60 years of production at its factory in Crewe (previously it operated first from London and then from Derby) with two new limited edition models. One of these is the Arnage Diamond Series, based on the Arnage R and sharing that model's 400bhp 6.75-litre twin-turbocharged V8 engine, though an upgrade to 450bhp is available at extra cost.

Standard features on the Arnage Diamond Series include 19" alloy wheels, a stainless steel front bumper matrix, Union flag badges on the front wings, a windscreen shade band, a Mulliner "jewel" fuel filler cap and a chromed rear number plate surround. A "Flying B" mascot, last used in the T-Series of the late 1970s, appears above the radiator.

Inside, there are veneered steering wheel control surrounds, Bentley emblems embroidered on the headrests, a "60 Years" badge on the front console and "Diamond Series" emblems on the tread plates and companion mirrors. Optional extras include a wood/leather steering wheel, auto-massaging front seats, leather-trimmed cocktail cabinets, a DVD system and an electric rear blind.

Diamond-quilted cowhide leather is standard, and available in 27 specified colours, though others may be chosen by owners. They can go for other upholstery materials, too, such as ostrich leather, cavalry twill, silk, velvet or - as required by Her Majesty the Queen for the Golden Jubilee State Limousine - West of England cloth.

The waist rails and folding picnic tables of the Diamond Series represent a first for Bentley. In other Arnage models these feature two identical grains of wood, symmetrically arranged, but in the Diamond Series there is a more complex pattern which uses four pieces, adding yet more time to the 65 hours normally required for the job.
 
Appropriately enough, 60 Diamond Series Arnages will be built. The US is Bentley's largest market, so half the production run will go there, but 19 are destined for UK customers.

Bentley is also launching a Diamond Series version of the Continental GT coupé. Based on the 2007 model year Mulliner Driving Specification model, a rare enough car in itself, this Diamond Series uses the standard 552bhp six-litre twin turbo W12 engine and six-speed automatic transmission, but gets new 20" alloy wheels and - for the first time on any production Bentley - carbon ceramic brakes. These reduce the car's unsprung weight by 23kg, yet the front discs are the largest on any production car in the world at 420mm, and the rears are larger than those on the standard Continental GT at 356mm.

Several unique styling features are included, and to emphasise this car's sporting nature there are drilled alloy pedals and a sports gearlever. Less exclusive than the Arnage but still unlikely to be a familiar sight on the roads, the Continental's production run is limited to 400 vehicles.

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