2004 BENTLEY ARNAGE T 4 DOOR SEDAN

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The Arnage T is named for a famous racing corner at LeMans. The circuit that is the wellspring of Bentley fame thanks to five victories in the famous 24-hour race, including a string of four straight. Never mind that the last of these victories occurred in 1930, the mystique endures. The T stands for twin turbocharged, a pair of Garrett T3 blowers replacing the bigger T4 singleton previously employed. The new force-feeding arrangement, plus a nearly total overhaul of the aluminum V8 engine,

conspire to make this big sedan the fastest four door Bentley has ever made. It is the first Bentley designed entirely on a computer and the first Bentley engine built essentially with VW's toolbox. Rated at 450hp and 646lb/ft of torque. Bentley has been turbocharging its 6.8 Liter pushrod V8 engines since 1982 but this is a thoroughly revamped 6.8 Liter and it packs a thoroughly modern big-league punch. When the twin turbo hits 13psi max boost, a process that is far from instantaneous, the Arnage T makes its best move, straight ahead at full gallop. Although this car's mass ranks up there with that of the heaviest sport utility vehicles, there is enough thrust to hurl its 5,750lbs from 0-60 in 5.7 seconds, 0-100 in 13.5 seconds and through the 1/4 mile in 14.1 seconds at 102mph.