Bentley has updated the stately Mulsanne sedan with a sharper look, additional tech features, a redesigned interior, and a new long-wheelbase model.
The British carmaker split the Mulsanne range into three separate models called Mulsanne, Mulsanne Speed, and Mulsanne Extended Wheelbase. All three wear a revised front end that gets a larger grille, a sleeker-looking lower bumper, and full LED headlights. In back, Bentley’s flagship receives a new bumper that’s wider than before, and revamped tail lamps with B-shaped inserts.
The 2017 Mulsanne gets a new grille that’s wider than before. It pays homage to historic Bentley models like the R-Type Continental.
The interior benefits from re-styled seats that are more comfortable than ever—with different 24 hides to consider. While you’re at it, you can opt to have the 40 pieces of real wood trim found in the cabin finished in one of 13 different veneers.
The dashboard is largely carried over from the 2016 Mulsanne, but careful observers will notice the addition of a more modern infotainment system displayed on an eight-inch touchscreen.
For audiophiles, the new Mulsanne is available with a 20-speaker, 2,200-watt stereo that earns the honor of being the most powerful sound system currently fitted to a production car. The list of options also includes a pair of 10.2-inch, Wi-Fi-enabled Android tablets integrated into the front seatbacks. They boast a Bentley-specific interface that gives the rear passengers access to countless apps, and lets them send information such as navigation directions to the main infotainment system.
Bentley predicts the long Mulsanne will be particularly popular in China, where wealthy car shoppers prioritize rear leg room.
Customers who’d rather be chauffeured will be delighted to know the Mulsanne Extended Wheelbase offers 10 additional inches of sheet metal between the two axles and rear seats similar to those found in the first class cabin on a trans-Atlantic flight. The One-Percenters who travel in the back can either sit upright or recline the seat backs, close the power-operated curtains, and enjoy the ride.
The long-wheelbase Mulsanne is designed for buyers who’d rather enjoy the prodigious amount of torque generated by the V8 engine from the comfort of the back seat.
Between the Mulsanne’s front fenders lies a 6.75-liter V8 engine that sends 505 horsepower and a mighty 752 pound-feet of torque to the rear wheels via an eight-speed automatic transmission manufactured by ZF. The sedan hits 60 mph from a stop in a brisk 5.1 seconds, and it goes on to an Autobahn-worthy top speed of 184 mph. A cylinder de-activation system boosts fuel economy to a reasonable 16.1 mpg in a mixed European cycle.
Mulsanne Speed buyers—the kind of people who can’t stand the idea of being driven around—are rewarded with an evolution of the aforementioned V8 that has been massaged to provide 530 ponies and a volcano-awakening 811 pound-feet of twist. The extra power helps the behemoth sprint from zero to 60 mph in 4.8 seconds and hit a top speed of 190 mph. The upgraded eight-cylinder is joined by a Speed-specific eight-speed automatic, and a firmer Sport mode for the air suspension.
The Speed stands out from the regular Mulsanne with 21-inch alloy wheels, specific exhaust tips, and dark-tinted chrome trim all around.
The Mulsanne is assembled by hand in Crewe, England, a process that takes approximately 400 hours. Notably, building a Mulsanne requires no less than 5,800 individual welds, and each body is polished for 12 hours with lamb’s wool to achieve a perfect finish.
The 2017 Bentley Mulsanne is set to arrive in showrooms this summer. No definitive word yet on pricing changes compared to the $300,000-plus 2016 model.
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