Bentley Mulsanne

If you think that the Bentley Mulsanne’s exterior design is ultra-luxurious, then you should definitely see its interior layout. Inside, you are treated to a cabin that is fit for a royal family member or a president. This ultra-luxury sedan’s cabin features very exclusive hand-selected leather finishes that are very plush and satisfying to touch. For a more prestigious vibe inside, the Speed variant gets diamond-quilted door panels, contrast stitching, as well as Speed-styled seats with embroidered Bentley emblems. 

Upfront, you are greeted by an 8-inch high-resolution colour touchscreen infotainment display that comes with Apple CarPlay, voice control, a central multimedia interface, a 60GB hard drive unit, a 4G telephone system with Bluetooth wireless connectivity, WIFI Hotspot, a six-disc DVD changer, as well as a satellite navigation system. Its infotainment is linked to a 14-speaker Mulsanne audio system, which delivers world-class sound acoustics for everyone on board.

Meanwhile, drivers are given an instrument panel with inverted, aviation-style dials and a minor gauges panel, a four-spoke, hide-trimmed, multi-function steering wheel with a paddle shift, and a knurled sports gear lever (exclusive to the Speed variant). 

In terms of practicality, you have loads of room all around the cabin–effectively accommodating five passengers. Additionally, this ultra-luxury sedan also comes with an abundance of compartments, two USB ports (in rear armrest), and three 12V power sockets (glove box: 1, rear center armrest: 1, boot: 1). All in all, the Bentley Mulsanne’s cabin layout is oozing with comfort, practicality, and functionality.

For starters, the Bentley Mulsanne measures 2,208 mm in width. The base and Speed variants are 5,575 mm in length, 1,521 mm in height, and 3,266 mm in wheelbase. On the other hand, the Extended Wheelbase trim is 5,825 mm in length, 1,541 mm in height, and 3,516 mm in wheelbase.

As cliché as it might sound, the Bentley Mulsanne is arguably one of the most beautiful creations of the British brand. Its front end has a strong royalty aura attached to it. It has a beautiful flare courtesy of its crystalline full LED headlamps with an LED halo supplementary main beam, light sensing auto operation, concealed washer jets, as well as a daytime running light signature. A painted radiator shell with stainless steel vertical vanes, a matrix grille, and a 2D winged ‘B’ badge add more depth to its overall demeanor. The Speed variant gets dark-tinted headlamps and matrix grille for a sportier touch. Additionally, a ‘SPEED’ badge is placed on the Speed variant’s front wing lower brightware, emphasizing its high-performance identity on the road. 

Furthermore, it flaunts a very exclusive-looking limousine side profile enhanced by chromed metal door handles, steel door pillar finishers with a gloss black painted finish, as well as polished stainless steel embellishers. The base and Extended Wheelbase variants run on 20-inch light-alloy wheels, while the Speed trim features 21-inch Mulsanne Speed painted wheels.

Its rear is definitely a treat for the eyes thanks to its LED rear light clusters, which follows a ‘Flying B’ style, along with a high-level stop lamp for more visibility, especially at night. Similar to the front, the Speed variant also gets dark-tinted rear light clusters. The base and Extended Wheelbase trims get wide oval polished stainless steel exhaust pipes, while the Speed variant gets the rifled version. 

In terms of suspension, the Bentley Mulsanne comes with a Double Wishbone at the front, while a Multi-Link at the rear. Its suspension setup is equipped with electronically-controlled air springs with continuous damping control. Thanks to this advanced suspension setup, you and all your passengers can enjoy a very dynamic yet comfortable ride inside this ultra-luxury sedan. It is nimble to maneuver through traffic and handles sharp turns or corners with precision despite its frame. On top of this, it delivers impeccable absorption of bumps and other road imperfections.

All variants of the Bentley Mulsanne are powered by a 6.8L twin-turbocharged engine that is tuned differently. First, the base and Extended Wheelbase variants’ V8 engines produce a maximum power output of 512 PS and a maximum torque of 1,020 Nm. Meanwhile, the Speed trim features a V8 engine that delivers 537 PS and an outstanding 1,100 Nm of torque. All variants run on an eight-speed automatic transmission system with an electronic shift interface and steering wheel-mounted paddle shift. All variants utilize a rear-wheel drivetrain and are equipped with a Sport mode.

On the open road, this ultra-luxury sedan has a lot of power and torque on tap. It runs with immense enthusiasm and finesse. Like its newer-gen cousins, the Mulsanne comes with an impeccable sound insulation system, which results in a near-quiet riding experience. But, despite this, you’ll feel every bit of the car’s emotions on the highway. In terms of fuel consumption, this is a thirsty beast. 

In terms of safety, the Bentley Mulsanne is equipped with cruise control, blind spot assist, a rear view camera, intelligent driver’s airbag, a passenger airbag with deactivation facility, a direct tyre pressure monitoring system with provision for speed-related warning, as well as a vehicle immobiliser with an interior volumetric alarm system among others. 

Its braking setup is also supported by an anti-lock braking system with electronic stability control, traction control, hydraulic brake assist, electronic brake pre-fill, and automatic hill-hold control. This ultra-luxury sedan comes with a twin-booster braking system with ventilated discs and an electronic brakeforce distribution.

Although the Bentley Mulsanne was discontinued in 2020, this former flagship model still remains as arguably one of the most beautiful, timeless, and capable of its kind.