And just when you thought things couldn’t get any better, at cruising speed the engine is able to shut down four of its eight cylinders to improve fuel economysomething you might be glad of after shelling out $300k to own the car instead of that nice beachfront apartment the wife had her eye on. That it pulls off this trick without any perceptible difference in driving feel is incredible and it makes you wonder why more manufacturers haven’t woken up to the potential it offers for reducing carbon quotas. With this one feat alone Bentley has managed to improve fuel consumption by 15 percent.
It’s an incredible car, the Mulsanne. For the fortunate few that are sufficiently well-heeled to own one, it will be something to treasure and, above all, drive at every opportunity. For the rest of us, well, it’s just comforting to know that a quintessential English company like Bentley has been allowed to retain its defining characteristics by the mighty Volkswagen. Sehr gut, ja? Absolutely.
2010 Bentley Mulsanne
Layout
Longitudinal front engine, rear-wheel drive
Engine
6.75-liter V8, four overhead cams, four valves per cylinder, twin turbochargers
Transmission
Eight-speed automatic
Suspension
Fully independent, adjustable continuous damping front and rear
Brakes
Six-piston calipers, 15.7-inch ventilated rotors (f), four-piston calipers, 14.6-inch ventilated rotors (r), ABS, electronic park brake
Dimensions
Length/Width/Height (in.): 219.5/75.8/59.8
Wheelbase: 128.6 in.
Curb Weight: 5,700 lb
Performance
Peak Power: 505 hp @ 4200 rpm
Peak Torque: 752 lb-ft @ 1750 rpm
0-60 mph: 5.1 sec.
Top Speed: 184 mph
MSRP: $300,000