Bentley Mulsanne Speed Revealed

Bentley has announced it’s plans to give the Mulsanne the “Speed” treatment and revealed pictures and full technical specifications ahead of it’s official debut at the 2014 Paris Motor Show in October. The Bentley Mulsanne Speed gets and subtle changes to the exterior, more power and more torque because some possibly unhinged customers felt the car needed more.

This is the first time Bentley has decided to launch a Speed version of it’s flagship sedan. The car will hit UK showrooms by year end and will carry a price tag of £252,200 (about Rs. 2.5 Crore).

What’s New?

Engine & Transmission

The Bentley Mulsanne Speed uses the iconic 6¾-litre twin-turbo V8 which has been re-engineered slightly with a tweaked combustion system, new variable valve timing and turbocharger controls to churn out 530 BHP of power and 1,100 Nm of torque up from the standard car’s ‘paltry’ 505 BHP and 1,020 Nm power and torque ratings respectively. This increase in power translates to a 0-100 kmph time of just 4.9 seconds which is remarkable considering the car weighs 2,685 kgs and can reach speeds of up to 305 km/h.

The ZF 8 speed automatic gearbox has been recalibrated to handle the higher levels of torque more effectively and is designed for instant torque delivery on throttle application. The Bentley Mulsanne Speed also gets a new driving mode called the “S” mode which maintains engine speeds above 2000 rpm to aid quicker turbocharger response. Bentley has also carried out extensive work on the engine management system which has resulted in smoother transitions between the V4 and V8 running modes depending on engine load and also improved efficiency by 13% to 8.2 KMPL. A Sport suspension mode has also been added to the Bentley Mulsanne Speed along with the existing Bentley and Comfort modes to give better driving dynamics, greater driver control and accuracy by stiffening the air suspension.

Design

One will have to look very hard to spot the changes made to the exteriors which include a dark tint finish applied to the exterior stainless steel matrix grilles with the radiator grille, lower bumper grilles and wing vents all featuring a similar treatment. The headlights of the Bentley Mulsanne Speed show the same dark tint application, and at the rear of the car the taillights retain the “floating ellipse” design, but are similarly finished with a dark tint. The car also features bespoke 21 inch wheels with a “directional” design specific to each side of the car along with twin tailpipes and Speed badging on the front fenders and the door tread plate areas. Along with the “standard” paint range which covers 25 shades, the optional extended range featuring over 100 colours and a fully bespoke paint-matching service available on request there are four new paint shades, as decribed by Bentley, on offer:

Spectre: Seemingly black at first glance, heavy gold metallic and a hint of green result in a rich tone inspired by reptilian skin.
Candy Red: A rich and deep liquid red.
Camel: Reminiscent of golden sands, Camel has a bright metallic highlight with a butterscotch mid-tone.
Marlin: A rich blue with a hint of green, inspired by the shade of deep ocean waters and with a metallic shimmer.

New trims, colours and veneers are available for the interior, which as standard has the Mulliner Driving Specification option on the base Mulsanne. This includes diamond quilting for the seats and door panels, special pedals and a new headlining.

The Bentley Mulsanne Speed will replace the standard Mulsanne as Bentley’s flagship model when it goes on sale after it Paris Motor Show debut on 2nd October. The standard Mulsanne will also get similar tweaks to the engine management system to improve efficiency and the new paint colours, hides and veneers offered on the Speed will also be available on the standard version.