Bentley Motors

By Colleen Hensley

The classic appeals of the first Bentley cars come with an even more powerful motoring at the creation of the 2010 Bentley Mulsanne. Designed as a grand tourist car, it is the new flagship vehicle of the luxury line automaker. And what can be said about performance? Its engineers put our expectations forward to an effortless performance of an energy efficient and fuel conserving technology.

Named after the highly esteemed curve and straight of Le Mans 24 Hours where the racing cars push the limits of their speed to the maximum, the Mulsanne will take a smooth and speedy roll in the streets. In the words of Chairman and Chief Executive Dr Franz-Josef Paefgen: “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 handcrafted refinement – the very qualities for which Bentley is renowned.”

The Mulsanne will go on sale from mid 2010 but after marking its highly anticipated debut at Pebble Beach Concours D’Elegance in California, the first unit was straight off to the auction block and was sold at a half-million mark to an undisclosed bidder over the phone. The price of the auctioned car almost swung down to $300K from the starting bid of $500K simply because Bentley remains tight-lipped about the many other features of the car, which are usually of interest to collectors. There is little detail about the car available for Bentley fans and followers.

A full-size luxury, it is roomy and definitely embodies the precision of handcrafted artistry. In the eyes of its originators, it holds the passion of the artisan, devoting one of the ever-sought-for resources in the world if only to achieve the perfected built of the concept drawn in their minds: TIME. Despite of its volume, it carries a refined look, making it a comfortable luxury passenger carrier.

There is little that we know as of this time about the many other details which are of interest to most buyers. But with six victories at the 24 Hours of Le Mans throughout their years of racing, it will be the iconic 6.75 L V8 for this all-new Mulsanne designed entirely by Bentley. The car is equipped with a light but potent V8 engine. The 2010 Bentley Mulsanne integrates modern technologies into its system for reduced vibration and noise, which should clear the AC Condenser and the rest of the components of the air conditioning system from being supposed the culprit of the noise when the AC is turned on and running. If for one thing, this distinctly serene exhaust sound buys the V8 engine its popularity for high performance autos and racecars. This also makes it is perfect for the speedy luxury tourist car which in Bentley language is “made by individuals for individuals” with great attention to the details of its quality.

Continue Reading

By Tom Sangers

In their newest offering, the Bentley Mulsanne 2010, Bentley blends their familiar 6.75 litre V8 configuration with an entirely new engine. It’s a combination that marries all the good parts of a solid design with the most advanced engineering available to produce continuity, familiarity, luxury, and performance. On the whole, the Mulsanne rated high on handling, performance, and usability, making it a desirable luxury car model. It is also the first entirely bespoke Bentley to have been produced in the last 80 years and it remains true to the core values of the brand.

The Mulsanne’s Innovations

The new car’s stats, at a glance:

Price: 220,000

On Sale: Now

Engine: 6750cc twin-turbocharged v8, 505bhp at 4200rpm, 752lb ft at 1750rpm Continue Reading

By Steve Siler

Bucking industry convention, Bentley chose not to unveil its glitzy new flagship at an auto show, instead taking it to this year’s Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, where many attendees can afford to buy one on sight. But no one was allowed in the car, and very few details were provided.

Now, however, at the Frankfurt auto show, we have been given much more information and access to the car itself, and we can say wholeheartedly that it is a worthy and thoroughly modern replacement for the grand old Arnage.

My, What Big Eyes You Have!

Bentley describes the Mulsanne’s design as a “unique fusion of sportiness, coachbuilt elegance, and solidity.” Six inches longer than the Arnage but similar in height and width, the Mulsanne is indeed flagship-sized. The most dominant aspect of the big Arnage’s design is the pair of “highly prominent” Gatling-gun headlamps—some nine inches in diameter—flanked by smaller ancillary lights, an arrangement that recalls some Bentley grand sedans of the past. The “matrix” grille is huge and cliff-like, while the lower air intake spans the width of the car and features matching mesh. It is, as intended, unmistakably a Bentley, with a nod to the present in the form of an octet of Audi-like LED driving lights. Oh, and not to be outdone by Rolls-Royce, a “Flying B” radiator mascot is available as an option—and is retractable, of course.

Moving down the body and around the back, one encounters plenty of pretty surface detailing but exactly no surprises. It’s easy to pick out cues from the Arnage (the chrome latticework around the windows), the Brooklands (C-pillar, taillamps) and the Continental Flying Spur. The body side rises over the rear fender, keeping the rear, which elegantly slopes down to the rear bumper and its pancake-flat twin exhaust tips, from looking droopy in spite of its long overhang. The base wheels are 20 inches in diameter, and two 21-inch variants are optional, the latter wrapped in 265/40 series Pirelli P Zeros like the ones found on Bentley’s Speed variants.

Customers will be able to select from no fewer than 114 colors, including some “unusual heritage” colors, satin and pearlescent finishes, and two-tone combos. Of course, they can always mix up a batch of your favorite color should you not find what you’re looking for in the Bentley palette. Continue Reading