Bentley Arnage bows out

Production of Bentley's flagship Arnage saloon ends early next year and the Crewe firm is building 150 Final Series models to send off the aging saloon.

Based on the Arnage T, the Final Series is powered by Bentley's 500bhp turbocharged 6.7-litre V8 powerplant.

Special editions don't come much more expensive than the Final Series Arnage, customers unlikely to see any change from £200,000.

For that huge sum you get some unique Final Series touches inside and out, such as the front wings and front door treadplates wearing Final Series badges.

Inside, Bentley Final Series owners can toast their good fortune with a Final Series stainless steel flask and shot glasses.

Being a Bentley, customers can ask for any degree of additional personalisation they like; a 1,100-watt stereo is offered along with iPod integration.

Huge power and that massive price tag add up to quite staggering performance: the Arnage Final Series is capable of sprinting to 62mph in just 5.5 seconds.

Hopefully the Arnage's eventual replacement is able to return better economy and emissions than the Final Series' official combined consumption figure of 14.5mpg and CO₂ emissions of 465g/km.

The Final Series will be shown for the first time at the Paris motor show next week.

Kyle Fortune