It's been eighteen years since we've witnessed a new Bentley Mulsanne and the latest incarnation of this revered automobile would make W.O. Bentley proud. Named after the Mulsanne straight at the Le Mans racecourse, the 2011 model is Bentley's answer to the pinnacle of British luxury motoring. Bentley has won the Le Mans 24 Hours on six different occasions and the race has also inspired the name of the current Bentley Arnage; a model that is making its final exit from the market as the entrance of the Mulsanne begins.

The Mulsanne's heritage and technology

The design of the new Mulsanne is a combination of equal parts classic Bentley styling and state of the art technology. Design Director Dirk van Braeckel sums up the Mulsanne's distinctive appearance: "The opportunity to design a new flagship Bentley is something afforded to very few designers. The team set out to create a sculpted form that blended classic Bentley heritage cues with modern lines that allow the marque to stride confidently into the 21st century." The car echoes the 1950 S-type with its bold frontal design, large rounded headlights and matrix grille while the iconic "Flying B" retractable radiator mascot has become an option. Produced at a new manufacturing facility at Bentley's headquarters in Crewe, the body of the car takes nine weeks to build and encompasses traditional metalworking skills developed over the last sixty years. In addition, the complex form of the aluminum front wings is created using superforming, a technology normally used in the aerospace industry. Other technological feats include satellite navigation, telephone and Bluetooth connectivity and the world's first keyless system, which operates via touch points incorporated stainless steel door handles initiating communication with the key for verification and entry.

The Mulsanne's Interior

Bentley's heritage is synonymous with luxurious interiors. To that end the design team has engaged a large-scale program that identifies all the classic signature features that define Bentleys from the 1920s until now. The result is a sumptuous cabin with a significantly increased use of wood and leather hides and classic stainless steel accoutrements mixed with new finishing touches such as beautiful glass switches. Robin Page, Head of Interior Design notes: "Over 170 hours – almost half the entire build process – goes into crafting the interior of the new Mulsanne. At Crewe, Bentley's way of working is the opposite of mass production – we start where others stop." In the spirit of luxury customization, buyers may select from an extensive range of premium quality veneers, leather hides and paint colors thereby ensuring complete customer satisfaction. The sheer number of working hours that is invested in each and every one of these automobiles demonstrates the level of craftsmanship in the execution of such world-class luxury cars. A steering wheel can take anywhere from 15 to 45 hours to hand-stitch while a wood veneer takes two weeks to complete.

The Mulsanne's Engine & Chassis

The Mulsanne carries a 6.75-liter V8 engine – a configuration successfully used in past Bentleys. For the 2011 Mulsanne, all the major building blocks of the engine have been re-engineered and updated with the latest technologies. Dr Ulrich Eichhorn, Bentley Motors' Director of Engineering, elaborates on the Mulsanne's V8: "Using our V8 guaranteed the immense power at low revs and unstressed performance that are the hallmarks of a flagship Bentley. But we also set our engineers the challenge of maintaining high levels of refinement at any speed and, equally important, improving efficiency." To achieve a significant reduction in fuel consumption and CO2 emissions, the Mulsanne V8 sees the introduction of two new control systems: cam phasing and, a first for the ultra-luxury sector, variable displacement. The pioneering use of these two technologies in combination allows the Mulsanne's engine management system not only to adjust the V8's breathing for improved engine idle quality and torque delivery, but also to close the valves of four of the eight cylinders for maximum fuel economy when cruising. These new technologies are complemented by the new eight-speed automatic transmission, which, for the first time on a flagship Bentley, comes with steering wheel mounted gearshift. Overall, CO2 emissions and fuel consumption are reduced by more than 15 percent, in line with Bentley's environmental commitment. An all-new chassis, unique to the new Mulsanne, complements prodigious power and torque. Lighter and stiffer than previous flagship Bentleys, the new chassis benefits both ride and handling. A new air suspension system with continuously variable dampers creates an even more refined and comfortable ride at lower speeds, yet can reduce the Mulsanne's ride height automatically at high speeds to reduce lift and improve aerodynamic stability.

Simply put, the 2011 Bentley Mulsanne not only adds to the impressive heritage of the Bentley brand… with its exterior presence, interior elegance, high technology and core power; it is also the epitome of what a modern grand luxury car should be.

-Victor Vargas