Bentley is to reduce output this year of its top model the Arnage from 1,000 planned units to 800, chairman Franz-Josef Paefgen has told media in Germany.

The prestige subsidiary of the VW Group is anxious to ensure that production volume is geared to maintaining waiting lists. Other super-luxury brands are also thought to be coming under some pressure as new models from firms including the now-separate Bentley and Rolls-Royce pile into the market – DaimlerChrysler's Maybach was reportedly targeting 800 sales for 2003, but had taken orders for less than 300 by the end of July.