As Bentley gears up for the launch of its Arnage in 2010 it also looks considerate for the new emission standards that will be in force after two years of the new Arnage making it to the market. As the company wished its current 6.75L V8 to stay, it looks somewhat seriously towards the EU6 emission limits which are due for 2013-2015. The company of course is setting it as a target for its up-coming models.
The new engine is being derived out of a 50 year old design as the company officials want to stick to the oldie. For the new emission standards, the company has plans of coming up with a hybrid option borrowed from Audi.
In response to a question from Autocar UK, Bentley CEO Franz-Joseph Paefgen said,
We are looking at a long-term problem that will develop over decades and centuries...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.
It is assumed that the new car will employ numerous weight shedding techniques. Bentley is planning on making its upcoming cars with an aluminum space-frame chassis which comes straight out of Audi and helps removing a heavy 150 kgs off it. Its Body panels will also be carved out in aluminum, but all of this requires a prior factory upgradation.
The new Arnage will be both interesting and significant, it will be interesting for us and significant for the company as it is all in all an in-house Bentley project which will definitely form a base for its forthcoming models. According to Paefgen, this new product will be a total independent work from the company and surely not anything like continental, which had its origin in Volkswagen Group products. However it will use some components from the group.
Bentleys have always been figured as large cars with massive engines, and from the turnout of things it seems that the company is not in any mood to drop its image any time soon.
[Source: Motorautority]
