Bentleymulsanne Essentials
FIRST DRIVE We see if upgrades keep luxury car at top of its game Bentley Mulsanne
WITH Rolls-royce set to discontinue production of the current Phantom this year, Bentley will, for a time, have the global ultra-luxury saloon market all to itself.
Not that the new Mulsanne is in any way a poor substitute for a Phantom – the latest revisions aim to make the car more refined, luxurious and imperious than ever.
You might initially struggle to see exactly what Bentley has changed with the latest Mulsanne, as its exterior and interior styling are much the same as before. Peer hard enough, and differences do start to emerge: the imposing front grille is 80mm wider, now using vertical vanes like some of the firm’s historic models. The traditional round headlamps are still present and correct, but they now feature LEDS.
The cabin’s design is restrained but undeniably luxurious – there’s wood and leather all over. A new infotainment system brings Bentley’s grandest model up to date technologically, with an eightinch display and 60GB hard drive.
While passengers in the back will be more than comfortable, it’s those in the front who’ll enjoy the greatest entertainment, courtesy of the latest version of Bentley’s venerable 6.75-litre V8.
In standard form, the twin-turbocharged engine, now featuring cylinder deactivation, develops 505bhp and a walloping 1,020Nm of torque, taking the car from 0-62mph in 5.3 seconds and over 180mph. The Mulsanne thunders down the road with the slightest pressure on the accelerator, and you’d need to be in a serious hurry to toy with the rest of the pedal’s travel. The seemingly endless urge available is a defining characteristic of the car and utterly addictive to experience.
At the same time, it’s whisper quiet unless fully roused, thanks in part to vibration-reducing active engine mounts.
The ride quality is wonderfully controlled, insulating you from the wind noise and road surface in a way few other cars can match. The steering feels somewhat disconnected from the tarmac, which might be undesirable anywhere else, but perfectly matches the silken feeling of the Mulsanne’s other controls.
This isn’t a car for fast cornering – it’s too heavy for that – but high levels of grip and that mighty engine mean it’s still possible to cover ground at quite a lick.
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