35 things you should know about the Bentley Mulsanne

Diana Bell-Heather   |   21-07-2015

As Bentley Motors welcomes the world’s fastest ultra-luxury saloon in the shape of the new Mulsanne Speed to the Middle East, we take a look at the elements that represent the pinnacle of Bentley’s design, craft and engineering skills, 35 years after the first Mulsanne took to the roads.

 

  1. The first Bentley Mulsanne was produced by Bentley Motors in 1980, with production continuing through to 1992. Bentley then revived the Mulsanne name with a redesigned flagship model in 2010, making the famous name over 35 years old.

 

  1. The name “Mulsanne” is derived from Bentley’s famous racing history, which included five victories at the 24 Hours of Le Mans between 1924 and 1930 – the ‘Mulsanne Straight’ being the stretch of the Le Mans race course where cars reach their highest speeds.

 

  1. Mulsanne is also the name of part of the Sarthe department in the region of Pays-de-la-Loire in north western France, which is home to the Le Mans circuit, where the 24 hour endurance race is held.

 

  1. It takes nine weeks to build a Mulsanne, with the engine alone taking up to 30 hours to assemble.

 

  1. The front fenders are created using a process called “superforming”. This technique is also used in aerospace manufacturing.

 

  1. Exclusivity when building a Mulsanne starts from the exterior, with customers having a paint palette of over 100 colours to choose from. There is also a two tone option available.

 

  1. In an age of mass production in the automotive sector, Bentley has stayed true to its roots and continues to create models with true craftsmanship in each and every model built. A testament to this is the 170 hours it takes to create the interior of one Mulsanne.

 

  1. Customers have a large number of options to personalise their Mulsanne, starting with the broad palette of leather, including a range of 24 ‘standard’ colours. In keeping with its heritage Bentley also give customers the option to choose from a wide range of rich ‘heritage’ colours from previous Bentley models, including the famous British racing green.

 

  1. The traditional leather tanning process has been kept to ensure the leathery smell, creating the aroma of vintage Bentleys.

 

  1. Part of the Mulliner Specification includes diamond-quilted leather hides on the seats and door casings, providing that classic and sporting Bentley ambience.

 

  1. Bentley customers also have a wealth of extra options to personalise their car, including 23 individual seatbelt colours to choose from. The level of customization customers have with Bentley has no limits. Customers can even have custom stitched emblems on the headrests.

 

  1. All the wood used in the cabin of the Mulsanne is sourced from sustainable forests. The premium quality veneers include walnut, oak, bird’s eye maple, vavona, olive ash and sapelli pommele.

 

  1. The Mulsanne is encased with a ring of wood that goes around the whole of the cabin, forming one unbroken piece of wood that is unbleached for a natural appearance.

 

  1. The V8 engine that has been re-engineered for the Mulsanne is hand built by the craftsmen and women at the factory in Crewe.

 

  1. The body of the Mulsanne comes from one smooth, sleek sheet of metal. The body has no visible joints anywhere on the surface, with any imperfections smoothed out by hand and rechecked. This technique is only possible with hand-built automobiles produced in limited numbers.
  2. It takes over 125 hours to make just one Mulsanne bodyshell.

 

  1. A number of components in the cabin of the Mulsanne are hand stitched, insuring both quality and authenticity. The steering wheels alone will take Bentley’s interior team up to 15 hour to make.

 

  1. The Mulsanne sound system is one of the most powerful available with 2,200 watt amplifiers and 20- speakers.

 

  1. For the first time ever in a Bentley, the Mulsanne’s engine features cylinder deactivation. This feature enables the engine to shut down four of the eight cylinders when operating at lower speeds, helping to reduce fuel consumption.

 

  1. The wood used in every Bentley is derived from the ‘root ball’ of the tree, which has been individually selected by Bentley experts. The rough root ball is then turned into a full set of mirror-matched polished leaves that will go around the cabin of the car. Each piece of veneer is carefully stored in a special humidity-controlled chamber and then applied onto a solid walnut base, a process that alone takes two weeks to complete. Veneers are then polished to a perfect mirror finish. The process from the root ball to the finished product takes up to five weeks to complete.
  2. The hide used for the Mulsanne’s seats are tested over 20,000 times by a team of people of varying height and weight, providing the most authentic, real-world assessment possible. Other manufacturers use robots to test the durability of the hides.

 

  1. In 2014, Bentley created just 15 limited edition Mulsanne models called the ‘Mulsanne Majestic’. Five models were created specifically for the UAE, five for KSA and five for Qatar. All 15 models were designed exclusively for the markets in question.

 

  1. The Mulsanne has an upright grille and huge round headlights to evoke the spirit of Bentleys of the 1920s and ‘30s, acting as a reminder of Bentley’s sporting heritage.

 

  1. Once the Mulsanne V8 is finished each car is tested over an 80-minute cycle by the team. The ‘hot testing’ process checks the engine from idle through to maximum revs. The load on the engine is varied to simulate real-world driving conditions.

 

  1. By the time the Mulsanne nears the end of the assembly line it will have undergone over 2,000 checks. One section manager alone will need to complete up to 100 checks before releasing the car to the next stage.
  2. In keeping with its heritage and insuring customers experience the best in luxury and performance, Bentley has also ensured that their cars are technology friendly. The Executive interior specification comes with picnic tables designed for an iPad and includes a wireless keyboard. The cabin of the Mulsanne can also become a Wi-Fi Hotspot.
  3. In 2012 Wing Commander Andy Green, the world land speed record holder for the past 15 years, took the Mulsanne to speeds of up to 305km/h on the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah, USA.

 

  1. In 2013, Bentley produced a special edition Mulsanne, designed exclusively for the Middle East market. The car was named Mulsanne Shaheen, inspired by the Shaheen eagle, a bird of prey found in the Middle East region.

 

  1. In 2012, to commemorate Queen Elizabeth II’s birthday and Diamond Jubilee in 2012, Bentley built 60 units of a special edition Mulsanne. The limited edition model included bespoke embroidery and gold stitching, veneered picnic tables decorated with gold overlay depicting a royal carriage, hide cushions featuring the same motif and polished stainless steel treadplate plaques with ‘Bentley Mulliner, England’ and ‘Diamond Jubilee Edition’ script.

 

  1. The Mulsanne competed in the 2012 Goodwood Festival of Speed hill climb. The annual event takes place in the UK and consists of a huge range of new and historic motor racing and road vehicles.

 

  1. The Mulsanne was used as the 2012 Nürburgring 24 Hour Race official parade car.

 

  1. Breitling, the official watch maker for Bentley, created an exclusive Breitling for Bentley BO4 GMT Mulsanne wrist watch in 2010.

 

  1. Schedoni the luxury Italian luggage designer partnered with Bentley to create bespoke fitted luggage for the Mulsanne, compromising of two large cases, two small cases and two foldable garment bags. The luggage design was inspired by the inner door panels of the car.

 

  1. The lead designer of the Mulsanne is Dirk van Braeckel a Belgian designer who also assisted in the design of the Continental GT range.

 

  1. The newest pinnacle of Bentley luxury performance, the Mulsanne Speed, defines quintessential British luxury and delivers 1,100 Nm of torque and13% more efficiency via the legendary 6¾ litre V8 engine. The new sports suspension and steering creates a tailored driving experience while the assertive styling offers new exclusive and contemporary features.

 

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