| Year
(of specifications) |
2011 |
| Engine |
6.75
litre twin-turbo V8 |
| Transmission |
8-speed
automatic, RWD |
| Max
speed |
184
mph |
| 0-60 |
5.1
seconds |
| Horsepower |
505
horspower |
| weight |
- |
Bentley chose the 2009 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance to unveil
their next-generation flagship model, the Mulsanne. The vehicle
gets its name from a 90 degree corner at the Le Mans race track.
Conceived, styled and engineered entirely at Bentley's headquarters
in Crewe, England, the Mulsanne is an entirely new car which
features completely new technology. It is not an evolution of
an existing model, and the drivetrain required a complete redesign
of the famous 6.75L V8 and replacing every significant part
to improve acceleration, performance throughout the range and
fuel efficiency and emissions.
Powering the 2010 Bentley Mulsanne is a twin-turbocharged, 6.75
litre V8 which develops 505 horsepower and 752 lb/ft (1020 Nm)
of torque from 1,800 rpm. Power is sent to the rear wheels through
an 8-speed automatic.
The Bentley Mulsanne's styling was inspired by the Bentley 8-litre
model from 1930 - 1931. In particular the unusual, and dare
I say rather ugly headlight arrangement was one such feature
lifted from the 8-litre. However despite the awkward front end
styling there is no doubting the exceptional engineering which
lies beneath the imposing bodywork.
Dr. Franz-Josef Paefgen, Chairman and Chief Executive of Bentley
Motors, said of the Mulsanne: "The challenge we set
our engineers was to create a grand new Bentley that would stand
as the pinnacle of British luxury motoring, offering the world's
most exclusive driving experience. They have responded to this
challenge with real passion and the result is a luxury grand
tourer that sets new standards in terms of comfort, effortless
performance and hand-crafted refinement – the very qualities
for which Bentley is renowned."
With the Mulsanne, Bentley hope to position themselves at the
top of the ultra-luxury segment
Similar and related vehicles:
2005 Bentley Arnage 6.7T
2005 Bentley Continental Flying Spur
2010 Bentley Mulsanne information from Bentley:
Exterior
The design of the new Mulsanne is a unique fusion of sportiness,
coachbuilt elegance and solidity. Echoing the Bentley S -Type
of the 1950s, the Mulsanne features a bold frontal design dominated
by the traditional Bentley matrix grille and highly prominent,
classic round inner headlamps with chrome surrounds, flanked
by two, smaller outboard lamp clusters, all featuring the latest
in lighting technology. The iconic 'Flying B' retractable radiator
mascot is available as an option.
The long bonnet, short front overhang and long rear overhang
help to convey a sense of power and movement, reinforced by
muscular haunches and sharply sculptured lines which flow gracefully
from the front wings to the rear. Uniquely designed 20-inch
wheels (and optional 21-inch) reinforce the Mulsanne's powerful,
sporting stance.
Design Director Dirk van Braeckel explains the inspiration behind
the Mulsanne's distinctive appearance: "The opportunity to design
a new flagship Bentley is something afforded to very few designers.
The team set out to create a sculpted form that blended classic
Bentley heritage cues with modern lines that allow the marque
to stride confidently into the 21st century."
The body is produced in a new manufacturing facility at Bentley's
headquarters in Crewe where traditional metalworking skills,
developed over six decades, are still used extensively during
the nine-week build process. It is the very opposite of volume-production
car-building... but the very epitome of Bentley.
The rear screen, for example is fully enveloped by the coachwork.
This provides a flowing, flawless line to the rear of the car,
complementing the exquisitely formed D-pillars – whose complex
curves can only be created by skilled coach-builders. All spot
welds are performed by hand during the Mulsanne's construction
and all panel joints are hand-brazed. These further enhance
that 'hewn from solid' appearance and result in an extremely
stiff body.
The complex form of the aluminium front wings, impossible to
achieve with normal pressing techniques, is created using superforming,
a technology usually reserved for the aerospace industry. This
also makes the wings both lighter, stiffer and provides superb
surface definition. Other lightweight materials, such as the
composite bootlid, are used to remove mass wherever possible
without compromising quality. New construction techniques meant
the designers could also incorporate details such as the 'floating'
elliptical LED tail lights, which uniquely echo the shape of
the exhaust tailpipes.
To accentuate the beauty of the bodywork, the Mulsanne features
'brightware' exclusively in polished stainless steel, including
sill treadplates and matrix grilles. Bentley is the only manufacturer
in the world to do this. The stainless steel door handles also
incorporate the traditional Bentley 'knurling' to their inboard
surface for enhanced grip, reflecting the company's typical
attention to detail. The sporting character of the Mulsanne
is reinforced by front wing vents, large diameter tailpipe finishers
and a choice of 20-inch or 21-inch wheels.
Bentley customers have a world of infinite choice when commissioning
their cars. There are 114 paint colours in the range that include
everything from unusual heritage colours, special satin and
pearlescent finishes and duo-tone combinations. But the choice
does not end there. Through the bespoke world of Bentley Mulliner,
unique colours can exactly match a customer's vision and taste.
Interior
The latest in-car technologies are discretely placed within
the Mulsanne's sumptuous interior. A multimedia system with
40 GB hard disc drives satellite navigation, audio/video, personal
data, telephone and Bluetooth connectivity. The upper dashboard
houses an 8-inch multimedia screen, positioned unobtrusively
behind an electrically operated veneered door, while below sits
a stylish, leather-lined MP3-player stowage drawer.
A state-of-the-art 14-speaker audio system with Digital Signal
Processing (DSP) and 6-CD autochanger is provided as standard
while the Naim for Bentley premium audio system may be specified
as an option. This forging of two British luxury brands provides
customers with the world's most powerful 2200 Watt, in-car amplifier,
eight dedicated DSP modes and 20 custom-made speakers, delivering
an unparalleled sound quality.
A personalised keyless entry system allows multiple pre-programmed
configurations and automatically sets radio stations, phone
books, seat (including ventilation and massage modes, both front
and rear), steering column and seatbelt settings and even the
electrically operated rear-seat blinds for side and rear windows.
As a world-first, the keyless system operates with the stainless
steel door handles which incorporate touch points to initiate
communication with the key for verification and entry. The Mulsanne
also features keyless start, having a stop/start button on the
centre console.
The Bentley interior design team has continued to develop and
evolve the luxurious interiors for which their cars are renowned,
based on a large-scale, research programme to identify the classic
signature features that have defined Bentleys from the 1920s
to the present day.
Armed with this invaluable resource, the Mulsanne's design team
set itself highly challenging targets for key interior characteristics
such as material design, smell, colour harmony and handcrafting.
Similar targets were set for the operational refinement and
robustness of all control mechanisms. The result is a hand crafted
interior that fully reflects traditional Bentley values, executed
to the highest possible standards, where customers may tailor
their cars to their individual specification.
|
|
