We don't know much about it — wait who are we kidding — We know nothing about it other than that the all-new Grand Bentley, as seen in the teaser preview above, will replace the long-in-the-tooth Arnage as Bentley's top model as well as marking the 90th year for Bentley as a company and the 50th anniversary of its storied V8 powerhouse.

We're infinitely curious to learn more about how Bentley plans to combat the newly grown Rolls-Royce lineup, but we expect it'll more luxurious, more powerful and faster than the best offerings from the Spirit of Ecstasy and the spirit-of-poor-marketing, Maybach. It's been rumored that the new Bentley could feature the V12 TDI out of the Audi Q7 TDI as well as a de-tuned version of the W16 from the Veyron, but what about that V8 that the big Bentleys are known for?

We'll continue to collect little luxurious breadcrumbs of information for you prior to the new Grand Bentley's worldwide debut at the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance this August. In the meantime, get that tuxedo of yours steamed and pressed.

And Bentley doesn't skimp when it comes to luxury on these last 150 units of the Arnage. The interior gets "Final Series" treadplates and some really trick toys — a rear cocktail cabinet, a "Final Series" stainless steel flask with shot glasses and a foursome of Bentley umbrellas. Oh, yes, and for an added pound or two, you'll also get an iPod interface. You know, for the kids. Full press release below with all the details.

BENTLEY ARNAGE FINAL SERIES

• Handcrafted at Bentley, Crewe, Arnage Final Series is an exclusive run of 150
cars, celebrating the last of Arnage

• Combining the performance of the T with the refinement of the R, Arnage
Final Series is the ultimate expression of class-leading luxury and effortless
power

• Arnage Final Series is the culmination of 90 years of Bentley heritage and
marks the 50th anniversary of the company’s iconic V8 engine

• Arnage Final Series also signals the end of an era as Bentley prepares for the
future

(PARIS MOTOR SHOW, 2 OCTOBER 2009) Since its debut in 1998 the Arnage has conveyed an air of sophisticated understatement as the four-door flagship of the Bentley range. Over the last decade the car has undergone a process of constant refinement to its body, design, chassis and powertrain to maintain its class-leading position in the high luxury market.

To celebrate 10 years of the Arnage, 50 years of its mighty V8 engine and 90 years of the marque, Bentley Motors launches its limited edition model at the Paris Motor Show today.

Called the Bentley Arnage Final Series, the new model features a unique specification, combining the performance of the 500 bhp Arnage T with the refinement of the Arnage R and design elements from the Brooklands coupe, for the ultimate expression of British luxury and effortless power in a four-door saloon – a grand finale, for the grandest of Bentleys.

Hand crafted at Bentley’s Crewe facility, the Final Series is an exclusive run of 150 cars, a unique example of the marque’s flagship created to bid ‘farewell’ to the highly successful Arnage line in the most appropriate manner and style. Bentley Chairman and Chief Executive, Dr Franz-Josef Paefgen, explains:

“For 10 years, Arnage has enjoyed extraordinary success at the pinnacle of the luxury saloon market. The Final Series is a celebration of the Arnage era as Bentley prepares for the next generation of its flagship model.”

Based on the sporting Arnage T, the Final Series offers a range of discreet exterior cues that further enhance its powerful stance. Key ingredients of the distinctive appearance include a dark-tinted Bentley matrix radiator grille with Flying ‘B’ mascot and dark-tinted lower grille. The iconic Flying ‘B’, which can retract neatly into the grille surround, was originally designed by motoring artist F. Gordon Crosby and was first used on the 1930 Bentley 8-Litre.

The Arnage Final Series is further distinguished by exterior design features first seen on the exclusive Bentley Brooklands coupe, comprising 20-inch five-spoke, two-piece alloy wheels and ‘Le Mans’ lower front wing air vents.

Additional unique features include body-coloured front and rear lamp bezels, ‘jewel’ fuel filler cap (made from billet aluminium) together with ‘Final Series’ wing badges and polished stainless steel treadplates to the front doors.

The engine, transmission, chassis and running gear of the Arnage Final Series are identical to those previously employed in Arnage T. In this specification, Bentley’s remarkable all-aluminium 6 ¾ litre V8 engine produces 500 bhp (507PS/373kW) and 1000 Nm (738lb ft) of torque – figures that ensure that the legendary Bentley ‘wave of torque’ delivers effortless performance for a unique driving experience.

Acceleration to 60 mph is accomplished in 5.2 seconds (0-100km/h in 5.5 secs) with 100 mph reached in 12.1 seconds (0-160km/h in 12.0 seconds). Top speed of the Final Series is 179 mph / 288 km/h. Each V8 engine bears the signature of the team leader who oversaw its hand-built construction in the Crewe factory.

The six-speed ZF automatic transmission, first introduced for the 2007 model, ensures optimum flexibility, response and refinement. Three transmission modes (Drive, Sport and Semi-Automatic) allow the driver to take full advantage of the powerful 500 bhp V8 engine.

Press release September 2008

Featuring sleek luxury in design and polished perfection in technology, Bentley’s new partnership with Stockinger Safety First Class exemplifies a singular level of commitment to engineering and craftsmanship.

The new Stockinger for Bentley safes combine technological innovation with aesthetic distinction, joining security technology with designer looks. Bentley’s famous commitment to the highest quality of craftsmanship and customer personalisation is highlighted through the enhanced choice of beautiful exterior colours and interior materials available in the two editions of the “Stockinger for Bentley” series: The “Arnage” for watch collectors and the “Continental” for jewellery lovers. Both editions have been designed in conjunction with Bentley’s world-class design studio, situated at Bentley’s head office in Crewe, England.

As a Bentley is unmistakable, so too is a Stockinger safe. Hallmarks of luxury such as the leather linings and the brushed aluminium interior finish unite with the seven layer lacquer and design elements typical of Bentley interiors to create its exciting beauty. The “Stockinger for Bentley” line will be limited to 400 safes for the two models.

Every single Stockinger safe is a unique and bespoke masterpiece. The surface of each piece is carefully and conscientiously primed, painted and sanded off during an 18-stage manufacturing process. This process takes several weeks and is completed with a finish of the finest carnauba wax, which produces a softer look and lends an unusual optical depth to the paint.

The safe is available in all standard Bentley exterior colours, 10 interior leather hides and 3 wood veneer panels. This gives the customers an almost infinite number of combinations for commissioning just the look they desire.

The Bentley handle itself weighs 3.5 kilograms and has been milled in a 16-hour process from a single block of brass. In four more refining steps, the grip has been sanded, polished, chromed and lacquered to provide the jewel-like finish. Complete with the Bentley “B” at the centre of the handle, the “Stockinger for Bentley” provides the ideal, secure environment for your valuables.

For devotees of fine mechanisms, the “Arnage” is an elaborate watch safe equipped with state-of-the-art watch winders for exceptional timepieces, such as the “Breitling for Bentley” range. For more than 20 years Stockinger has been integrating watch winder technology into safes. The watch winder run almost noiselessly, an extremely long, disturbance and maintenance free life is guaranteed. The design captures traditional craftsmanship qualities and techniques and reveals compelling design clues.

The “Continental” has a finish on the drawers and on the safe door which is identical to the Bentley dashboard texture, known as engine turning. Engine turning is a labour-intensive process associated with high quality luxury items and is traditionally found on the racing cockpit interiors of one of Bentley’s earliest cars, the Bentley Blower. For the first time, the engine turning technique has been applied to the interior of a safe.

The “Continental”, with its 6 different trays, provides the ultimate storage solution for jewellery. Whether it be large or small rings, brooches, earrings, wide or narrow necklaces, chokers, cufflinks and bangles, customers can present their precious objects at home in a style befitting the finest items made by master jewellers and goldsmiths. Your finest pieces of jewellery and your dearest watches are treated the way they deserve.

Both the “Arnage” and the “Continental” place beautiful goods in an attractive environment and liberate them from wall safes and basement or bank vaults. About 30 different teams of experts are involved in the manufacture of the safes, engineers, technicians, craftsmen and artists, all with many years of experience.

Dominik von Ribbentrop, owner of Stockinger, says: “Style, grace and security: A Stockinger safe will give you freedom and independence and will increase your peace of mind - in style and at all times.

“Stockinger’s passion is to enrich the grey world of bulky safes with a high-class product that is as secure as a bank, as precise as a master time piece, and as beautiful as a piece of the finest art.”

To date, safes have often been grey and ugly, sitting in the cellar or basement of a house, difficult to operate and far from being convenient. Stockinger Safes are the opposite, manufactured exclusively with Swiss and German components, combining the strongest materials, amazing outside lacquering work and a tailor-made, beautiful interior. Stockinger safes are mainly manufactured for watch collectors and jewellery lovers, in which the inside drawers display special watch winders and jewellery trays.

[Sybarites]