There are a few cars in the world that an auto writer like me just has to drive once a year – and the big Bentley Mulsanne is always at the top of my list. OK, it’s not exactly a practical or affordable car for the motoring public, but it is a genuine work of motoring art that is deeply rooted in history, and it’s the very stuff motoring legends are made of.
Bentley and Rolls Royce for decades were the same models produced by the same English company based at Crewe, England – but today, they are separate entities. They share a past, not a present.
Bentley is the performance brand of the two – having competed and won over the years at the 24 hours of Le Mans and various other racing circuits. It is a unique blend of ultra-high performance and bespoke over-the-top luxury. And the Mulsanne is the flagship model in stable that also includes the iconic Continental GT and Convertible supercars. The Mulsanne is by definition a personal limousine, a direct descendant of the legendary Bentley 8.
The design of the Mulsanne is a compelling fusion of sportiness, solidity and coach-built elegance – created on a grand scale. Its sweeping bonnet and long overhang convey a sense of power and movement, enhanced by the muscular haunches and sharply sculpted lines flowing gracefully from the front wings to the rear. It is a gorgeous automobile – and its scale and presence are remarkable.
Bentley’s unique ability to combine hand-craftsmanship with new technology and modern precision manufacturing techniques permeates every aspect of the build process for the new Mulsanne. A team of just 98 craftsmen build each Bentley, responsible for bringing together the painted body, handcrafted leather hides and wood veneers, the 6 ¾ liter V8 engine and myriad electrical components.
Each worker employs skills passed down through generations of Crewe car makers. They’re also masters of new techniques, such as the handling of the extremely delicate fiber-optic cables and a highly sophisticated electronic alignment system to ensure perfect installation of the wiring harness. Hundreds of exacting quality tests are conducted throughout the build process, utilizing some of the automotive industry’s most advanced software.
Building each Bentley by hand is also a high-tech process. Each car is given a unique electronic “Bentley passport number,” which ensures that its complete build specification is available to production operatives at the tap of a button. There is a range of more than 100 paint colors alone.
Bentley’s new 6¾ liter, twin-turbocharged V-8 engine blends state-of-the-art technology with a classic configuration that has propelled Crewe’s finest cars for more than 50 years. Like the rest of the Mulsanne, every 505-bhp V8 is hand-assembled and fully tested by Bentley’s technicians. It takes several days to handcraft the engine alone – and the payoff is extraordinary. This is possibly the finest engine in the world.
The interior is by far the highlight of the car – it is a cocoon of hand-made luxury, blending the finest materials with the most elegant designs, which have been the hallmark of Bentley since the 1920s. Every seat in the Mulsanne is the best seat in the house – with every creature comfort and electronic accessory within a fingertip reach.
While the all-new Bentley Mulsanne pays respect to the past, it is a thoroughly modern luxury car that offers the world’s most exclusive driving experience – a unique fusion of power, refinement and elegance. Driving the Mulsanne is without equal, and the car stands in a class of its own.
Pricing starts at $290,000 for the base model, and our test model contained every available option, with a final price of just more than $320,000.
For more information, visit your local Bentley dealer or visit bentleymotors.com.
