Bentley, BMW, and the Arnage That Bridged Two Eras

BMW engines have a behavior of turning up the place you least anticipate them. In any case, you wouldn’t guess that obscure vehicles like these from Morgan would tout BMW-sourced powertrains, however right here we’re. The checklist is lengthy and fascinating, too; yow will discover BMW mills beneath the hood of Land Rovers, INEOS vehicles, the Toyota Supra, and even the legendary McLaren F1. However you in all probability are already acquainted with all, or a minimum of most, of these. You may not bear in mind (or learn about) one extraordinarily underappreciated collaboration: Bentley. The Bentley Arnage initially relied on BMW energy to get round. Right this moment, it stands the check of time higher than you would possibly anticipate.

The Bentley Powered by a BMW V8: The Arnage

The Bentley Arnage debuted in 1998 alongside its platform mate, the Rolls-Royce Silver Seraph. Thoughts you, this was effectively earlier than VW and BMW took possession of every respective model. BMW mills would finally energy all Rolls fashions, and the Silver Seraph kicked the brand new period off, donning the M73 V12 engine. Much more intriguing was the truth that the Bentley Arnage additionally acquired a BMW mill, relatively than the 6.75-liter V8 present in practically each Rolls and Bentley previous it. Beneath the hood of the primary Bentley Arnage was a BMW twin-turbocharged 4.4-liter V8.

Whereas that doesn’t sound so unique at first — in any case, BMW makes use of twin-turbo 4.4-liter V8s to this very day — we’ve buried the lede a bit bit. The ability plant powering the early Arnage was none aside from the M62 V8, which was solely ever utilized as a naturally aspirated engine. Even in vehicles as unique because the ALPINA Roadster V8, the M62 remained freed from turbochargers. BMW didn’t even add turbos when it got here time to develop a high-output model of the M62 — the legendary S62 engine. Because it occurs, the Bentley Arnage’s M62 received a bit little bit of remedy from historic British tuning home Cosworth — much less of a coincidence once you notice that Bentley’s father or mother firm, Vickers, owned each subsidiaries. The completed product debuted with 350 horsepower and 413 pound-feet of torque, way more energy than any BMW M62 variant on the time.

Saying Goodbye With the Inexperienced Label

Whereas a critically spectacular engine, the M62-powered Bentley Arnage was not lengthy for the world. Bentley produced just one,123 examples earlier than switching again to the acquainted 6.75-liter unit. Bentley claims the shift was resulting from buyer demand — not inconceivable. But it surely was additionally a product of the continued warfare between VW and BMW over Rolls-Royce/Bentley ownership, a battle which started across the identical time the Arnage launched. The change in powertrains got here in 2000, and Bentley bid farewell to BMW with the Bentley Arnage Inexperienced Label. The brand new, 6.75-liter automobile was given the Crimson Label moniker.

Solely a handful of Inexperienced Labels have been ever produced, with sources citing as few as 7 coming to market other than the 52 particular editions constructed because the Bentley Arnage 4.4L Birkin or “Birkin Arnage.” The Arnage Inexperienced Label featured the enhancements Bentley dropped at the Crimson Label. Most notably, these included a stiffer suspension and greater brakes, whereas retaining the automobile’s BMW coronary heart. The Inexperienced Label retained its five-speed ZF transmission. Bentley selected a GM four-speed transmission to switch it within the Crimson Label.

The only real BMW-powered Bentley is an fascinating story over 25 years later. Arguably, the Inexperienced Label was one of the best Arnage produced; the 4.4-liter was extra gas environment friendly and weighed much less, and due to the engine’s markedly larger manufacturing quantity, significantly simpler and cheaper to keep up. Right this moment, these BMW-powered Bentleys might be had for round 10% of their authentic MSRP, which hovered round $215,000. Not unhealthy for what’s unquestionably one of many extra fascinating highlights of each BMW and Bentley historical past.