The enduring appeal of the Bentley 6.75-litre V8, and continuing demand for hand-built craftsmanship at the highest level, inspired Bentley to offer a limited-edition coupé based upon the Arnage platform. Shown first at Geneva in 2006, the Bentley Brooklands was limited to a maximum of 550 examples. Customer response was more than positive, and the first year’s production sold out within months. The first models were delivered in 2008; the Bentley Heritage Collection’s example was the final example to be produced, in January 2010.
Unconstrained design
The limited production numbers gave the Bentley design team free rein to create a truly coachbuilt design, with the ‘hewn from solid’ bodywork and floating rear screen that would be impossible to achieve using normal production techniques. Though based upon the Arnage with a front-end treatment that closely resembled that of the saloon, the Brooklands had a distinctive pillarless coupé profile and its sweeping, lowered roofline endowed it with rakish lines.
The interior too was a cocoon of hand-craftsmanship from Mulliner, Bentley’s personalisation and coachbuilding division. The four-seat layout was upholstered with diamond quilted facings; the front seats offered massage settings while the two rears were separated by a veneered centre stowage box.
Immense performance
Further revisions to the twin-turbocharged 6.75-litre V8 from the Arnage T raised the power output to a heady 530 bhp with 1,050 Nm of torque. Top speed was 183 mph (296 km/h) and the 0-6 2mph sprint took 5.3 seconds, remarkable figures for a 2.7 tonne luxury coupé. A carbon fibre-reinforced Silicon Carbide (CSiC) ceramic composite braking system was one of the few optional extras.
The Heritage Collection Example
The Brooklands in the Heritage Collection was the final one to be hand crafted, leaving the production line in January 2010. The exterior is finished in Anthracite Grey, while the interior’s main hide colour is Newmarket Tan with Anthracite secondary hide. The veneer is dark Vavona wood.
| Date Produced | Launched 2008; this model 2010 |
| Body | Coupé; 2-doors, 4-seats; weight 2,725 kg |
| Engine | V8 6,750 cc. pushrod overhead valves; hydraulic tappets; gear-driven central camshaft; aluminium block and heads; Bosch Motronic ME7.1 fuel injection and engine management; two Mitsubishi TD04 turbochargers |
| Power | 530 bhp @ 4,000 rpm; 1,050 Nm @ 3,200 rpm |
| Transmission | Rear wheel drive; 6-speed ZF 6HP-26 automatic transmission |
| Chassis | Steel monocoque with sub-frames; independent suspension by coil springs and wishbones; anti-roll bar; adaptive electro-hydraulic dampers with self-levelling |
| Dimensions | Wheelbase 3,116 mm; track 1,610 mm; length 5,411 mm |
| Performance | Maximum speed 183 mph (296 km/h); 0-100 km/h (62 mph) 5.3 sec |
