Frankfurt  - Celebrating its first public debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September is the new "grand" Bentley Mulsanne, which will replace the Arnage next year. It is expected to cost well over 300,000 euros (430,000 dollars).

In keeping the basic Bentley design, the Mulsanne features a massive front radiator grille with oval headlamps on either side flanked by foglights in the fenders. A flowing bumper-design separates the grille from the lower skirt.

The Mulsanne was first revealed to a limited audience at the Pebble Beach Concours D' Elegance in California, where Bentley CEO Franz-Josef Paefgen announced that the vehicle was "significantly lighter" than its predecessor.

The 6.75-litre engine with an output of 550 hp and 1,000 Nm of torque is almost a complete redesign. It is built on a new platform that makes it 30 cm longer than the Arnage which got its platform from Rolls Royce. (dpa)