Description
** Chapter 1: The Model** Since the integration into the VW group in 1998, a true revolution has allowed Bentley to rise again, by offering from 2003 the Continental range, which borrows components from the group’s high-end models, notably the Phaeton. A very beautiful luxury car, the Continental GT was also developed as a convertible, the GTC, as well as a saloon, the Flying Spur. However, the Continental range constitutes the “entry level”, the catalogue being headed by the Arnage, which, despite several evolutions, is a dinosaur in 2000s production. To assert its position as a maker of ultra-luxury cars, Bentley introduced in 2009 a 100% new model: the Mulsanne. It takes its name from the 1980s, always linked with the 24 Hours of Le Mans. A delicious blend of novelty and tradition, the Mulsanne receives the legendary V8 “six three quarter”, developed in the 1950s by Rolls-Royce. A true mechanical cathedral, this engine is one of the largest in automotive production, with a displacement of 6750 cm3. Accumulating superlatives and aided by two turbochargers, the good old 8-cylinder develops 510 horsepower, and above all a torque of 1020 Nm, a figure still utterly staggering today, and which, as we shall see later, is largely responsible for the superb driving comfort. Remarkable is the fact, and now unthinkable for the group’s accountants, that the Mulsanne shares no common parts with other models. Suspension, running gear, interior… everything was developed specially for this car. It is at this price that a true automobile of very great luxury is created, and it would be the last Bentley designed and built in this way. It is also a resounding success on the design front, adopting some codes from the old Bentleys, without slipping into the easy neo-retro trap. This vast saloon contrasts with its main rival, the Rolls-Royce Phantom, with a line of great finesse given its dimensions. The Mulsanne perfectly embodies the values that have built the brand’s reputation: elegance and sportiness. The interior is an invitation to travel, the plush welcome of the seats and the tall waistline make you feel cocooned. The build quality defies comprehension, with a multitude of details that constitute the very essence of luxury, such as the guilloché interior door handles. Plastic is banished; anything that shines is cut from metal, guaranteeing first‑class quality. The equipment leaves nothing to be desired, since all seats are heated, ventilated and massaging, the cruise control is auto-adaptive, the rear compartment has sun blinds on all windows, the soft close doors you, the double glazing filters noise and UV, and the audio system designed specially by the British hi‑fi brand Naim delivers 2200W of power through 20 speakers…even placed in the ceiling console. If everything has been designed to deliver the greatest softness and comfort to the occupants, the driver cannot escape the fact that they are at the controls of an exceptional machine. In gentle starts you can feel the engine spilling over with torque, and the slightest press on the accelerator is enough to wrench this real jet from the road, taking it to a record speed of nearly 300 km/ h. It is absolutely astonishing, especially knowing that the car weighs over 2700 kg. Thanks to the different driving modes that adapt suspension, steering and gearbox management, you have at your disposal as much a luxury limousine as a sports limousine, depending on the mood of the commandant of the board. In terms of driving pleasure, the Mulsanne outclasses its rivals, thanks in particular to its incredible engine that delivers unexpected sensations, and to a filtration quality at the top of automotive production. Stopped in 2020 after around 7300 units produced, the Mulsanne was not replaced, as it was too costly to produce. With it disappears also the in-house V8, originally developed by Rolls-Royce, and which had been produced for nearly 70 years. ** Chapter 2: The history of this Bentley Mulsanne** If the Mulsanne is a rarity, this exemplar is even more so, due to its exceptional configuration. It must be admitted that the colours chosen by the first owners on this type of car are very often the same, in shades of grey or black. This Mulsanne leaves the beaten track without falling into bad taste. Its Peacock metallic exterior bodywork pairs perfectly with a Saddle upholstery, enhanced with blue piping. The walnut burl, less common on modern Bentleys, was chosen, and once again one cannot help but praise the taste of the first owner. The wood trim extends even to the…
