Reviewing the Bentley Mulsanne

The ultra-luxury automotive segment is dominated by two giants that previously belonged under the same umbrella. Both build monuments of motion, in factories only 300 kms apart, and despite their British roots, are currently owned by German conglomerates. and, now, are rivals. Their names: Rolls-Royce and Bentley.
Bentley's flagship is the Mulsanne. Its sheer size and price are overwhelming. Purchasing one can be considered a great charity to oneself. But, it wasn't free from fault. For 2017, the Bentley comes with tweaks to the face, fuselage and digital works. Here's what it's like to drive a Mulsanne!

DESIGN & AESTHETICS    
It's a momentous occasion to see a Bentley Mulsanne pass by. It moves down the street with sheer authority and poise, leaving you wondering who the occupants are. A tycoon, celebrity or your friendly-neighbourhood auto journalist perhaps. Either way, it's someone you'd want to be.
This effect is neither a mistake, a matter of mystery or a child of chance! It was designed to be a rolling piece of grandeur. Bentley has achieved that by making it big, broad and full of brightwork. The imposing face can be credited to the tall, upright grille, with its lustrous stainless steel finish and two sets of round headlamps that form the magnetic eyes of the beauty. It is followed by acres of flat body panels - finished with exquisite paintwork - with a gentle hump over the rear wheels and a tapering rear end.
The revamp brings a few changes. A more planted stance is delivered, thanks to a wider radiator grille, that has stainless steel vertical vanes instead of the predecessor's mesh grille, and the wider grilles and front bumper down low. The daylight-running LED rims now align with the intelligent main lamps that adjust range to city and highway situations automatically; the washers have been cleverly concealed behind pop-up bright chrome discs.
Around the corner of those front bumpers are wheel wells that house standard 20-inch wheels. But as Bentley customers, I'm guessing it's hard not to say yes to the options, so getting the 21-inch wheels, fitted with 265/40 ZR 21 tyres, is imperative. It is available in three styles, but you've got to love the shiny, silver dinner plate design seen here, as compared to the spidery spoke design on other alloys.
The brightware continues on either side of the Mulsanne with a new B-shaped wing vent incorporated into the chrome strips that underline the door panel. At the rear, the 3-D form of the Bentley Flying 'B' replace the stacked triple ellipse design for the lamps. I like how they've placed 'B's all over! Bentley has added two more to the multitude of exterior colours: Rose Gold and Julep. So you won't have trouble getting one that matches your personality, but I'd go with a dual-tone livery.
It's important to note that having it parked away from traffic allows the complete opening of the doors which facilitates a swift and graceful entry/exit. On the inside, it's grand, exquisite and rich and you better be dressed for the black-tie journey - else you'd look and feel out of place. You should know that it takes more than 150 hours to create the sumptuous, soft-touch upholstery seen on the seats, doors and dashboard. Though much of it is new, the difference is almost imperceptible. The seats come with a fluted or quilted design, and you have a choice of 24 hide colours. Again, duo-tone finishes are our choice! Also, in the driver's seat, you sit unexpectedly higher, mid-way between car and crossover.
And the wood! It's neither faux, nor sparse; it's chunky and all over the cabin - 40 separate pieces from a choice of 13 different veneers. There is a 4-spoke steering wheel, polished stainless steel and glass switchgear, traditional knurled controls. and deep-pile carpets so soft and squishy, you'd refrain from stepping on them.
But the rear cabin is where you want to be: it's spacious, cosy, and you can exercise your capitalist actions with ease, thanks to a fold-out wooden table. You can also opt for the 250mm wheelbase extension (from 3,266mm up to 3,516mm) for that true business-class travel.

POWERTRAIN & PERFORMANCE
As I started driving, I found that the consequence of having ample interior room is a large external footprint, which means you need to drive with caution. But the steering is so buttery light, it makes less of a task. It's on the highway where it's most comfortable, and drives like a luxury locomotive.
You get that hushed cabin and soft ride quality you expect from a near 2-million-dirham car here. With heavily padded panels, double pane glass, insulated tyres and an engine that loves low rpms, you are guaranteed a silent journey, while ride compliance comes from pillow-like air suspension system with Continuous Damping Control that absorbs the effects of broken bits of tarmac. Dare I say, it does feel a tad stiffer - read: sportier - than a Rolls-Royce Phantom, but, rest assured, your drink won't be spilt!
Speed is also something the Mulsanne manages easily, thanks to its potent V8. The right pedal is linked to a traditional 6 ¾-litre engine, prepped by twin turbo-chargers that put you in command of 505 horses. and the 1,020Nm - the most torque in a production car, if you discount the Bugatti Veyron. So if you really want to gun it, you can: getting to 100 km/h in just 5.3 seconds, all the way up to a top speed of 296 km/h.
If you are one to rally for sustainability, hauling a 2.5-ton metal contraption is perhaps the worst way to convey your intentions. However, unlike the 170 world leaders who were being flown down in their individual jets for the climate change summit, asking the people to be frugal, the Mulsanne is more honest and less ironic! The 15.0 litres/100km is an optimistic but reachable figure; the 342g/km emissions add to greenhouse gases.

FEATURES & FUNCTIONALITY
In an age where the Mercedes S-Class has two very large infotainment screens and even the cheaper Tesla Model 3 has a 15-inch variety, the decently-sized 8-inch touch-screen doesn't suffice. it's a bit of a technological dinosaur, especially at this price point. You do get 4G connectivity and Apple CarPlay though, but no Google Maps navigation - at least, not for this region. Smart devices can be connected via Bluetooth or chargeable USB ports in the media drawer or glove box. An in-car WiFi hotspot provides high-speed access for eight such devices. It's even got 60 GB solid-state hard drive to rip music, which you can play using the Naim audio system - Bentley's trusted sound source. It has been spec'ed with 20 speakers. 20 channels with a 2,200-watt amplifier that makes music loud and clear.
The optional Bentley theatre rear seat entertainment system features twin 10.4-inch touch-screen tablets which can also be removed from the car. It, too, gets 32 GB of storage (expandable to 128 GB), USB ports and a front-facing camera for that quintessential car selfie. The 443-litre cargo capacity may be smaller than that of a Nissan Sunny, but it's all the boot space you want.

VERDICT
So, after a 400-hour production journey - which includes inspection by hand and eye, 5,800 individual welds and contrast stitching that takes 37 long hours - you end up with an imposing and exclusive larger-than-large full-size sedan wearing a badge that speaks of heritage and wealth. The 2017 adjustments are little, and the 8-inch screen isn't enough, but, otherwise, it's only a question of an unexpected inheritance that separates you from this beauty!  

FUN FACT
After lacquering, each Mulsanne is fine-sanded before being polished with lamb's wool for 12 hours to achieve that highly reflective 'Bentley Mirror Finish'.

SPECIFICATIONS  
Body type: 5-seater; 4-door ultra-premium full-size sedan
Engine: Front-engine; twin-turbo 6.75-litre V8; all-wheel drive
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
Peak output: 505bhp @ 4,000rpm; 1020Nm @ 1,750rpm
0 to 100km/h: 5.3 seconds (claimed)
Top speed: 296 km/h (drag limited; claimed)
Price: Starting at Dh1.5 million and a lot of courage!

Pros: Visual grandeur; cosseting interior; endless customisations; relentless power
Cons: Pricey; tiny infotainment screen; the Bentayga SUV is the Bentley of the season
Editor's rating: 8/10 stars
wknd@khaleejtimes.com