2016 Bentley Mulsanne new review edition

Bentley Mulsanne, Bentley Mulsanne photos, Bentley Mulsanne price, Bentley Mulsanne review, Bentley Mulsanne specs

3/26/2015

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For 2010, the folks in Crewe introduced the Mulsanne, an all-new dreadnought to replace the aging Arnage. At 219.5 inches overall, the Mulsanne is about seven inches long­er than the Arnage and less than three inches shorter than a Chevrolet Suburban. Speaking of Suburban’s, the Mulsanne’s 6036-pound curb weight just trails that of the last four-wheel-drive Suburban we tested. For the first time ever in a Bentley, the Mulsanne’s engine features cylinder deactivation. 

The Mulsanne’s redline is a similarly ­diesel-low 4500 rpm. Based largely on its string of Le Mans 24-hours wins before and after the Great Depression obliterated the car business (plus one repeat victory in 2003), Bentley says it builds cars for drivers, a seemingly preposterous claim. Sounds like cars for residents. To test our theory, we decided to live in the Mulsanne for a weekend. As cars go, the Mulsanne is better suited to living than most. Top right: Drool-proof hides. At the track, our test driver noted that the car was hands-off dead smooth at 170 mph and higher.

The wheel is the Mulsanne captain’s mole, secretly feeding him information—road textures slip angles, and stock options—the rest of the car sugarcoats. Author and outsized bluegrass picker Jared Gall makes even the gargantuan Mulsanne appear petite. Serenity as a car doesn’t necessarily translate to comfort as a home. On the whole, the Mulsanne makes a piss-poor residence. Bentley says as many as 17 hides are used in a single Mulsanne interior, and they cover everything above ankle height. The biggest single investment was $7415 for the 20-speaker, 2200-watt Naim audio system. As extravagant and comfortable as the Mulsanne is, its most impressive trait is its poise.

The notion of building a driver’s car the size and weight of a lavishly appointed Suburban is laughable, but Bentley has succeeded.  Reviews of cars like the Mulsanne inevitably include a comparison between the interior and an English drawing room or library. The idea was to recreate the car’s interior as faithfully as possible but on the scale of Eddie’s lair. The thinking is that the great big oval dinner plate lights do some homage-type harking back to the 80-year-old Bentley 8.0-litre, when lights were big for a reason. Walk around the rest of the Mulsanne. 

The door handles are solid metal, but because keyless entry systems can't work through solid stainless, Bentley has engineered in a glass window on the reverse of the handle itself so that the Mulsanne can have both weighty door-pulls and modern convenience. UK audio heavy hitter Naim Audio has produced a 20-speaker, 2,200-watt system that defies belief. If you're serious, you might buy a Mulsanne just for that. The Mulsanne is a car that covers lots of super-luxury bases. This Mulsanne does not feel like anything else on the market. It's a Bentley before anything else. The Bentley Mulsanne represents the biggest luxury sedan in the storied manufacturer's lineup  replacing the Arnage as the flagship.

As with any Bentley, the Mulsanne's voluminous interior is elegantly appointed with leather and wood trim. Performance remains a mainstay with the Bentley Mulsanne, with a massive "six-and-three-quarter-liter" V8 delivering a good wallop of power. Current Bentley Mulsanne The Bentley Mulsanne was introduced for the 2011 model year and is offered in a single, well-appointed trim level. Feature highlights include 20-inch wheels, bi-xenon headlamps, LED daytime running lights, a power trunk lid, front and rear parking sensors, a self-leveling air suspension, selectable drive control (Comfort, Normal and Sport), leather upholstery for nearly every surface, wood trim, glass switchgear, heated 14-way power front seats, heated eight-way power rear seats (outboard seats only) and four-zone automatic climate control. Indulgent options include, but are not limited to 21-inch wheels, a "Flying B" radiator mascot, chrome exterior accents, rear privacy glass, ventilated seats, a heated and wood-veneered steering wheel, a rearview camera, adaptive cruise control, ambient mood lighting, a premium audio system and twin 8-inch rear-seat monitors. 

The Bentley Mulsanne is powered by a twin-turbo 6.8-liter V8 that produces 505 horsepower and 752 pound-feet of torque. Even the tallest passengers will enjoy an abundance of head- and legroom inside the Bentley Mulsanne. All in all, the Bentley Mulsanne is nearly untouchable in terms of sheer opulence. Bentley’s flagship sedan, the Mulsanne, is a premium full-size that redefines the terms premium and full-size. For more information on the current model, read our brief review of the 2015 Bentley Mulsanne. 

The Bentley Mulsanne was all-new for 2011, reviving a nameplate that went unused from 1992 to 2010. The name is derived from the famous Mulsanne Straight at the legendary Le Mans racing circuit in France. The modern Bentley Mulsanne is powered in standard trim by a 505-horsepower, 6.75-liter twin-turbocharged V-8. The engine makes an impressive 752 pound-feet of torque just off idle, and can whoosh this big luxury sedan to 60 mph in just 5.1 seconds—and on to a top speed of 184 mph. Shifts are handled by a very stout ZF-sourced eight-speed automatic.

The Mulsanne is composed in tight turns, although you do get a sense of the car's 5,700-pound curb weight when tossing it around. The Mulsanne is the only model Bentley builds with rear-wheel drive, making its power and torque that much more entertaining and imparting more of a throwback feel to this big British brute. A new Mulsanne Speed model was added at the top of the range for 2015. It's powered by a higher-output version of the standard car's V-8, offering 530 horsepower and a staggering 811 pound-feet of torque.

With classic proportions, including a long hood, short front overhang, and relatively short trunk, the Mulsanne plays some visual tricks, appearing a bit shorter than its actual 18' 4” length. The interior manages to feature all the expected modern electronics, without tainting the old-world wood-and-leather experience too much. Standard features on the Mulsanne include Bluetooth connectivity, satellite radio, and full iPod integration, as well as heated 14-way front seats and a multi-media, screen-based control system with navigation and voice control. 

A rear entertainment system with dual screens, a heated steering wheel, and ventilated seats are among many additional options. Recently, Bentley has made improvements to the Mulsanne with two new packages, the Comfort Specification and the Entertainment Specification, and for 2014, the Comfort Specification also receives "airline" style headrests, as well as new footrests and cushions. Bentley also unveiled a convertible version of the Mulsanne—dubbed, quite unimaginatively, Grand Convertible—at the 2014 Los Angeles auto show.