2012 Bentley Mulsanne: To heck with the budget!
Long ago, when the wealthy wanted to get noticed for their cars, they had to turn to independent coachbuilders for help. For a hefty price, these coachbuilders would design a body and passenger compartment according the tastes of the client. These days, this practice has almost disappeared, it’s still possible for well-heeled people to strut their stuff in a unique car.
Last week, Bentley and Décarie Motors of Montreal gave journalists the chance to test drive a few of its creations. After spending some time at the wheel of a Flying Spur Series 51, the www.carguideweb.com team was given the opportunity to test drive the new Mulsanne. Contrary to what the introduction paragraph suggested, the Mulsanne is not unique. It’s actually manufactured in limited quantities. But seeing the reactions of the people we encountered, it certainly felt like we were driving a one-of-a-kind car!
Let’s begin by saying that the Mulsanne, which is replacing the aging Arnage, is b-i-g. Actually, gigantic is the better word for it. Parking it requires a certain amount of skill, but numerous sensors on bumpers warn the driver of any objects that could ruin the vehicle’s superb paint job. After all, a Mulsanne worth more than $400,000 with a scratch on its bumper is just not cool.
The charming English tradition
The car’s interior also suffers from gigantism. If the Mulsanne isn’t spacious enough for you, consider getting a bus! Although it features all the latest technology, the folks at the plant in Crewe, England, made it a point to hide that fact. The dashboard has old-time charm with real wood covered in countless coats of lacquer. The buttons are actually made of chrome, and are not simply chrome-plated. Bentley uses so much leather on board that cows have taken to sleeping with one eye open... By the way, the Naim audio system, a Scottish brand, will thrill even the harshest critics.
The seats can be adjusted in countless ways and are extremely accommodating, so finding a perfect driving position is no problem. And there aren’t any major issues in the back seats either. It’s sufficiently roomy and the comfort is beyond words. The experience is so out of the ordinary that the amount of buttons and settings is both impressive and disconcerting at the same time. Strangely, the trunk is rather small and you can’t lower the seatbacks to make it bigger. Then again, how many Mulsanne owners are going to load it up with 2x4s?
Now that’s what I call an engine!
At almost three tonnes, the Mulsanne is hefty, and a big engine is needed to move all that weight. So, Bentley’s engineers opted for something a little more substantial, namely a 6.8-litre (or, in keeping with tradition, 6 ¾ litres) V8 producing 505 HPand 752 lbs-ft of torque at 1,750 rpm. The transmission is an eight-speed automatic.
Calling the Mulsanne powerful would be the understatement of the century. When you first press down on the accelerator, you’ll be surprised by the car’s lack of reaction. For about a second, nothing happens, almost as though the on-board computer is wondering what you’re up to. Then, suddenly, it realizes that you’re asking it to activate the machine. “Oh, is that what you want? OK, hold on tight. Here we go!” And it takes off. The mass bursts out of inertia with exceptional force. And, though only a second ago you were wondering if the car was going to move, you suddenly find yourself staring at an odometer climbing from 60 to 70 to 80 to 90 km/hr. It goes from 0-100 in 5.0 seconds (6 seconds with the 21-inch wheels). Once you hit 150 km/hr, you start to ask yourself if the car will ever run out of steam. By 180 km/hr, you ease up on the accelerator for fear of attracting the attention of the police. But according to Bentley, the Mulsanne can easily keep you spellbound up to 296 km/hr.
More powerful than sporty
The Mulsanne cannot be called a sports car. It’s too heavy to have true sport capabilities. What’s more, the steering is over-assisted and offers too little feedback, which takes away from the fun of driving it. Of course, the suspensions are made for comfort with a capital C.
A corner taken too quickly translates into a certain amount of roll, but it’s not as bad as you would expect. The brakes are surprisingly efficient; except for an unexpected spring sound I noticed when I simulated an emergency stop at 100 km/hr. Nonetheless, its braking distances are more than acceptable – although if we were using it on a track, they wouldn’t be that way for long.
But you don’t ride in a Bentley Mulsanne just to listen to the fantastic muffled sound of the exhaust in accelerations. The holes and bumps of our roadways were happily swallowed up by the suspensions and the air-tight silence of the passenger compartment, regardless of the type of tires equipping the car, is impressive.
Before wrapping up this overview of the new Bentley Mulsanne, www.carguideweb.com wants to make it abundantly clear that unless your means are well above average, you’ll only ever get to drive this car in your dreams. Not only is its $358,595 price tag off-putting, but this boat’s outrageous fuel consumption (32.2 L/100 km, in town, admittedly with some energetic accelerations). And it takes only high octane gazoline, of course. And don’t forget the repair and maintenance costs. But then again, if trivial things are crossing your mind, the Bentley Mulsanne is definitely not for you. In any case, it’s not for me. Unfortunately. Oh, and if you’re rich enough to consider the Mulsanne, don’t forget that the coachbuilder Mulliner customizes Bentleys to suit individual tastes – for a small fee...
