2011 Bentley Mulsanne Reviews

2011 Bentley Mulsanne.
Bentley describes the Mulsanne’s design as a “unique fusion of sportiness, coachbuilt elegance, and solidity.” Six inches longer than the Arnage but similar in height and width, the Mulsanne is indeed flagship-sized. The base wheels are 20 inches in diameter, and two 21-inch variants are optional, the latter wrapped in 265/40 series Pirelli P Zeros like the ones found on Bentley’s Speed variants.

Arguably the most important part of any luxury car is its interior, and the Mulsanne’s is both loaded with modern technology and lined in traditional luxury. A Naim for Bentley premium audio system is available as an option, complete with 20 speakers, eight DSP modes, and—get this—a 2200-watt in-car amplifier. “It will be priced at the pinnacle of the ultra-luxury segment,” said a Bentley insider.

It harnesses near-absolute power in the form of a big, low-revving V-8 engine, swaths of wood and leather and real chrome, and elegant proportions, staking its claim as one of the finest four-doors on the planet.

According to Bentley executives, the 2011 Mulsanne is "a big, heavy car, and unashamedly so." The engine is a 6.75-liter V-8 engine, which drives the rear wheels through a ZF eight-speed automatic transmission. When pushed, the engine noise is a muted roar, and the Mulsanne gathers speed swiftly but almost discreetly. Details matter inside the Mulsanne.

TheCarConnection focuses on reviewing mass-market vehicles. Our sister site MotorAuthority covers the world of luxury and performance vehicles--and they've filed this first drive of the 2011 Bentley Mulsanne.

The 2011 Bentley Mulsanne is the best car for you if you desire the latest in automotive luxury and status – and are only peripherally concerned about what it costs.

The 2011 Bentley Mulsanne is the magnificent new flagship from the marque second only to Rolls-Royce as Britain’s best-known purveyor of sumptuous motorcars. Should you wait for the 2011 Bentley Mulsanne or redecorate the cottage on Martha’s Vineyard?

The 2011 Bentley Mulsanne styling builds on the tradition of classic Bentleys and manages to look both extravagant and tasteful. Present is the upright Bentley crosshatch grille, long bonnet (hood to us Yanks), and sweeping rear overhang. Bentley employs aerospace technology called superforming to shape the complex aluminum front fenders. Dimensionally, the Mulsanne is assertive. An entire Mini Cooper would just about fit within the Mulsanne’s 128.6-inch wheelbase.

The "2011 Mulsanne" symbolizes a sort of closure to a confusing Bentley odyssey. It’s the first car designed and built purely as a Bentley since the 1930s. Volkswagen took over Bentley in 1998, and the smaller, highly successful Bentley Continental series launched in 2004 was based on VW’s Phaeton sedan. Bentley acknowledges VW’s financial backing in the creation of the Mulsanne. The origins of Mulsanne’s 6.8-liter V-8 can be traced to classic Bentley V-8s of that displacement. Torque is the force that does the heavy lifting during acceleration and the Bentley ideal is seemingly effortless torque. Unlike the all-wheel-drive Continental series, the 2011 Mulsanne is strictly rear-wheel drive to preserve styling objectives and a certain Bentley driving feel. Standard wheels are fulsome 20-inch alloys; 21s are optional.

The 2011 Bentley Mulsanne features story is one of opulence and opportunity. “Our customers are individualists,” Bentley sales and marketing chief Stuart McCullough says. A 40 GB hard disc drives the navigation functions and the standard 14-speaker audio system, which includes USB iPod interface and Bluetooth connectivity.