Bentley Mulsanne Speed: ‘The silent sports car’

By Ghaith Madadha - May 23,2016 - Last updated at May 23,2016

Photo courtesy of Bentley

A more sportingly flavoured and more powerful version of British ultra-luxury carmaker Bentley’s flagship Mulsanne model, the Speed was introduced in 2014. Derives its name from the high-speed straight at the Le Mans endurance race, the Mulsanne Speed epitomises Bentley’s impeccably established luxury credentials and early motor sport heritage, including five Le Mans victories during 1924-30.

A modern post-Rolls Royce, modern Volkswagen group-era car the Mulsanne Speed, however, best reflects the brand’s historic and engineering continuity. Not unpleasantly disconcerting in how a car so large, heavy, comfortable and luxurious could be so fluent, manageable and effortlessly swift, the Mulsanne Speed captures the brand’s “gentleman racer” image and brings to mind the “silent sports car” adage of the Bentley’s early 1930s Rolls Royce era.

Grand impression

Luxuriously proportioned with indulgently long tall bonnet and distance between wheels and A-pillar, upright wire mesh grille, short front overhang, flowingly curved hips and tapered boot, the Mulsanne’s design pays homage to past designs. Its defined bonnet and grille edges and big central headlight and lower smaller outward lights are particularly reminiscent of the 1955-65 Continental saloons, while its rear quarter design evolves from the previous generation Arnage.

The direct successor to the Arnage, the Mulsanne is based on a similar rear-drive platform, rather than other modern Bentleys’ Volkswagen-Audi derived platform and four-wheel drive. Hand built at the brand’s historic factory in Crewe, UK, the Mulsanne is also uniquely powered by an updated version of the same large displacement L-Series V8 engine as its predecessors, the rights to which Volkswagen owns since 1998.

A grand car in the full sense of the word, the Mulsanne nonetheless enjoys a subtle sense of dynamic tension, with its more sporting Speed variant distinguished from the regular Mulsanne by its darker tinted metallic brightware and grille, stainless steel tailpipes and side fender badges. Just larger, the Speed’s huge 21-inch alloys and 265/40R21 tyres are well proportioned to the Mulsanne’s 5575mm length, 1926mm width and high waistline.

Tsunami of torque

Part and parcel of Volkswagen’s wholesale acquisition of Rolls Royce and Bentley in 1998 and retained after the Rolls Royce brand name moved to BMW in 2003, the Bentley Mulsanne is powered by the long-serving traditional L-Series V8 engine. First introduced in 1959 and in continual development since, the latest version deployed in the Mulsanne is a much more powerful, refined and efficient evolution.

A traditional 16-valve pushrod OHV design, the Mulsanne’s giant 6.75-litre V8 is mated to twin-turbochargers and in Mulsanne Speed guise is retuned to produce an additional 25BHP and 59lb/ft. Developing a total of 530BHP at 4200rpm, the Mulsanne Speed’s engine may be low-revving in nature and less powerful than smaller more modern engines, but is instead characterised by its enormous indefatigable 811lb/ft tsunami of torque, peaking at just 1750rpm.

Whisper quite from inside save for a distant yet deep rumble on heavy load, the Mulsanne Speed’s formidable V8 is never caught short, with an enormous torque reservoir from tick over through to a rev limit of around 4500rpm. Effortlessly launching from standstill, the 2685kg Mulsanne Speed digs in, squats and swiftly wells up with an abundant force as its turbos swiftly spool up, the Mulsanne Speed’s performance simply belies its size and weight.

Supple and sophisticated

Crossing the 0-100km/h dash in 4.9 seconds, 0-160km/h in 11.1 seconds and capable of 305km/h, the Mulsanne Speed is effortlessly responsive and flexible, accumulated speed with disdainful ease and refinement. Putting its power down well owing to sticky rear tyres, weight and subtle electronic traction and stability controls, the Mulsanne Speed is driven through a silky smooth and sportily responsive 8-speed automatic gearbox with manual paddle shift mode for more driver involvement.

Impeccably refined and comfortable and more agile and intuitive than expected for such a grand vehicle, the Mulsanne Speed rides with a velvety suppleness. Dispatching imperfect textures with poised unperturbed fluency, the Mulsanne Speed’s ride comfort is sublime whether pottering around town or at speed. Stable, reassuring and smooth at speed, it is settled on rebound, while enormous 400mm front and 370mm rear ventilated disc brakes prove highly effective in shedding speed.

Riding on double wishbone front and multi-link rear suspension with adaptive dampers tightening for corners and softening for straights, the Mulsanne Speed features three individually selectable sport modes, including steering, engine and gearbox, and suspension. Rather than altering its character, the Speed’s sport damper mode dials out some of the waft in its ride, lends it a more buttoned down feel and tightened body control through corners, but without making it stiff, crashy or uncomfortable.

Exquisitely crafted comfort

Stiffer and weightier, sport steering mode does not provide and additional layer of connection, but is more intuitive, natural and in tune with the Speed’s character feeling in comfort mode. Turning tidily in with well-balanced weighting and chassis set-up, the Speed can be hustled through corners with more confidence and agility than expected. Weight transfer is well managed, with the Speed settling in after initial lean into a corner and digging its heels ready to exit on a wave of irrepressible torque.

Perched high in comfortable, highly adjustable and supportive seats, one has a commanding view of the road and can place and manoeuvre the massive Mulsanne with relative ease, while cabin space all round is generous. With an indulgently and delightfully airy old-world approach to luxury, the Mulsanne Speed’s cabin features an upright design with round chrome ringed dials, vents and organ-stop controls.

Swathed in the finest and richest hand crafted double contrasting stitched leathers, woods and metals, the Mulsanne’s cabin is encased with natural materials and has a luxuriously feel good yet warm and sporting ambiance. Personalisation and choice of materials are extensive to tailor the Mulsanne to one’s personal taste. Meanwhile, equipment levels are generously high from infotainment and sound system to cabin amenities and safety features.

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

Engine: 6.75-litre, twin-turbo, in-line V8 cylinders

Bore x stroke: 104.1 x 99.1mm

Valve-train: 16-valve, OHV

Gearbox: 8-speed automatic, rear-wheel drive

Top gear/final drive ratios: 0.67:1 / 2.92:1

Power, BHP (PS) [kW]: 537 (530) [395] @ 4200rpm

Specific power: 78.5BHP/litre

Power -to-weight ratio: 197.4BHP/tonne

Torque, lb/ft (Nm): 811 (1100) @1750rpm

Specific torque: 163Nm/litre

Torque-to-weight ratio: 409.68Nm/tonne