Overview
Bentley's 2011 Mulsanne is the first big sedan from the automaker in more than half a century. You'd expect such an engineering effort to result in a car with stunning attention to detail -- and you'd be right.
It takes more than two months to make one Mulsanne sedan, but the wait for wealthy consumers should be worth it. Bentley's $285,000 flagship blends the type of craftsmanship you'd expect from the British brand with new technology to assure it can keep pace with its competitors.
At the heart of the car is a 6.75-liter V-8 engine producing 505 horsepower and a monstrous 752 pound-feet of torque. From inside, you're more likely to notice the fine materials and incredibly quiet cabin. Each Mulsanne features 17 leather hides and the wood veneers have been mirror-matched to achieve a symmetrical look.
Bentley's design director has commented that the Mulsanne "oozes emotion" and we wouldn't disagree. On a car with as few compromises as the Mulsanne, though, we wonder whether the droopy front styling will wear well with time.
It takes more than two months to make one Mulsanne sedan, but the wait for wealthy consumers should be worth it. Bentley's $285,000 flagship blends the type of craftsmanship you'd expect from the British brand with new technology to assure it can keep pace with its competitors.
At the heart of the car is a 6.75-liter V-8 engine producing 505 horsepower and a monstrous 752 pound-feet of torque. From inside, you're more likely to notice the fine materials and incredibly quiet cabin. Each Mulsanne features 17 leather hides and the wood veneers have been mirror-matched to achieve a symmetrical look.
Bentley's design director has commented that the Mulsanne "oozes emotion" and we wouldn't disagree. On a car with as few compromises as the Mulsanne, though, we wonder whether the droopy front styling will wear well with time.
The Range
Bodystyles: Sedan
Engines: 6.75L V-8
Transmissions: 8-speed automatic
Models: Mulsanne
Engines: 6.75L V-8
Transmissions: 8-speed automatic
Models: Mulsanne
What's New
Everything. From the new 6.75-liter V-8 engine producing 505 horsepower and a monstrous 752 pound-feet of torque, to the optional 2200-watt sound system, the Mulsanne is as new as it gets. Even so, Bentley continues to use traditional craftsmanship at its Crewe headquarters to appeal to existing customers looking for an upgrade from their Arnage sedans.
Exterior
From the inset headlights with the inscription "Bentley Motors" to the LED taillights, the Mulsanne was designed to make an impression. The appearance of visible seams has been minimized to make the sedan look as though it was created from a single block.
Interior
Nearly half of the overall build process of a Mulsanne is devoted to the interior. The Bentley's steering wheel alone takes 15 hours to hand-stitch. Four-zone air conditioning is just one example of how much technology you'll find inside this car.
Performance & Handling
The 2011 Bentley Mulsanne's 6.75-liter twin turbo V-8 produces 505 horsepower and 752 pound-feet of torque and is mated to an 8-speed automatic. Helping make the Mulsanne a more manageable driver than its Arnage predecessor is a computer-controlled air suspension that has three settings varying stiffness and steering feel as well as a fourth setting allowing the driver to customize dynamic settings.
Safety
Radar sensors warn of potential collisions visually or by tapping the brakes, optional rear and side-view cameras, optional Adaptive Cruise Control can adjust the speed of the car down to a stop, steel monocoque body structure with front and rear energy-absorbing crumple zones.
0 comments:
Post a Comment