Bentley Mulsanne Speed
FIRST DRIVE Is top-spec limo really the driver’s choice in the range?
THE Mulsanne is Bentley’s flagship limousine. Sitting above the Flying Spur, it’s a car often enjoyed from the rear seats. A light facelift in 2016 saw designers and engineers apply a selection of tweaks inside and out, while also adding the garish Extended Wheelbase model to the range.
But at more than 5.5 metres long, the standard Mulsanne offers more than enough space in the back for lanky-legged bosses, with room to work, rest or play as they see fit. The Mulsanne Speed, though, is a car best enjoyed from the front, says Bentley.
It gets the same nips and tucks as the standard car, including the revised front end and LED lights, wider grille and new bumper. At the rear, there’s a set of tweaked tail-lamps with bold ‘B’ signature, while to the side, you’ll find exclusive 21-inch alloys.
Inside, the sumptuous leather seats are now available in two styles and 24 colours. Our car was finished in Fireglow red – a deep, rich shade that covers every piece of trim as far as the eye can see. It won’t be to all tastes, but it certainly makes a statement.
The aviation-style dials remain, although Bentley has added a colour screen between the speedometer and rev counter to display the nav, media and trip information.
With Bentley’s Mulliner department offering a seemingly endless list of options, buyers can customise their Mulsanne to their heart’s content. Our car came with the Entertainment Specification (£14,890), including ‘picnic tables’ with rear-seat screens, a Naim stereo and Wi-fi hotspot.
The refrigerated bottle cooler with bespoke tumblers is an eye-watering £8,225, while carbon ceramic brakes are a further £13,000. Everything is finished with the utmost attention to detail, and the new Mulsanne feels a step above anything else from the British brand – including the Bentayga SUV. The knurled metal buttons and switches add a desirable weight to the controls, while the leather-covered dash and veneered doors offer a sense of prestige missing from lesser rivals.
Also new is an eight-inch touchscreen, which includes Apple Carplay as standard. It’s quick and responsive to use, but the deep and extensive sub-menus can get confusing – especially on the move. The hidden USB port in the damped drawer above the climate controls is discreet, but ill-placed, and a faff to get to in a hurry.
On the road, the Mulsanne Speed feels like a rocket ship. Despite its 1,100Nm of torque, it never pins you back in your seat. Instead, it builds speed at a gentle yet alarming rate – passing the national speed limit in the blink of an eye. The 0-62mph dash takes just 4.9 seconds, and the car will hit 190mph on a deserted German autobahn.
However, given this is supposed to be the driver’s Mulsanne, the Speed can’t hide its size – or indeed its 2,685kg kerbweight. Rarely does it feel designed to fit on UK roads, and only on empty motorways do you feel at ease. It’s here that the limousine is most at home, pulling a whisper-quiet 1,550rpm at 70mph. Refinement is excellent, matched only by the Rolls-royce Ghost.
Switch things to Sport mode and the Speed stiffens up and hunkers to the road. The body will still roll, but the gearbox shifts sweetly – and if you keep the car in its raciest settings, it’ll maintain the revs above 2,000rpm for instant throttle response. But no matter which mode you select, the Mulsanne maintains a beautiful balance between composure and comfort.
That gargantuan bulk results in frankly appalling fuel economy and skyhigh CO2 emissions – not that anyone in the market for a £250k limousine will be too concerned with running costs.
“Bentley’s Mulliner department lets buyers customise their Mulsanne to their heart’s content”