2013 Bentley Mulsanne: A car to drive before you die

A few weeks ago, Quebec automobile journalists received what appeared to be a rather boring invitation. The province’s Bentley dealership, Décarie Motors, would be leaving a Mulsanne at our disposal for a few hours.

Now, there are always two ways to look at things. An iron can either be a useful household appliance or a weapon. A forest can be seen as one of the Earth’s lungs or a place where you’re likely to get lost. And a car that costs as much as a luxury condo? It’s either heresy or a work of art on wheels.

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These contradictory views competed for my attention as I slid behind the wheel of the Mulsanne, which costs upwards of $400,000.  In this world full of Toyota Corollas and Hyundai Elantras that go for $20,000 a pop, how did they manage to build a car that cost 20 times more?

Your money’s worth

First off, the Mulsanne is big. Huge, actually. From one bumper to the other, it measures 5,575 mm (that’s more than two smart cars lined in a row!). They made this vehicle absolutely massive because affluent folks tend to like things that are oversized. Take their homes, for example. Or their jewels. If you’re going to shell out the big bucks, you want to get your money’s worth!

You’ve just got to see this vehicle’s Interior. Yep, that’s “Interior” with a capital “I”. It’s vast and puts the “ahhh” in “comfort-ahhh-ble.” Every detail is luxurious and everything has been thought of to maximize the comfort of passengers. And the driver. Because, despite what you might think, Bentleys are meant to be driven by their owners and not a chauffeur. The front seats were derived from truck seats and are perfect for long road trips. The back ones are too, believe you me. On the model I tested, there we so many ways to adjust the rear seats that you would need a PhD in ergonomics to know how to find the best position.

The finest of leathers, the most exclusive wood trim and the highest quality chrome abound inside the vehicle. Not to mention the fact that the silence on board the Mulsanne seems so much quieter than anywhere else. I have no idea what kind of material they used to soundproof it, but it’s definitely heavy. It’s no accident that this strong-box on wheels weighs 2,585 kg.  

Faith may move mountains, but this engine can do it faster!

To move 2,585 kg, you need an athletic engine. Correction: an Olympian of an engine! After all, the Mulsanne targets consumers who are used to getting a lot for their money. And since Bentley is asking a hefty price for each unit, the least they could do is equip it with an engine that doesn’t tire easily. Plus, there’s the fact that Bentley has quite a rich history in racing and its cars are known for their power.  

So it is that the Mulsanne comes with a 6.7L V8 – that’s 6 ¾ litres, in the Bentley tradition. With two turbochargers, it develops 505 horsepower, which is not all that impressive nowadays. However, the 752 lbs.-ft. of torque available at 1,750 rpm might raise an eyebrow or two. As a result, accelerations and passing manoeuvres are . . . magic! Press your foot into the right pedal and the engine rumbles (not too loud due to all that soundproofing) and the car is set into motion. And, oh, how she moves! The 0-100 km/h is cinched in 5.3 seconds – a miracle considering the vehicle’s weight. Its fuel consumption is magic too. My test drive comprised 90% highways –  punctuated with several accelerations, admittedly, but only so that I could bring you the most complete information possible and certainly not because I would go over the speed limit purely for my own enjoyment. Err, what was I saying? Right, so during my test drive the vehicle used an average of 18.7L/100 km. Just imagine if I had driven it in the city or on a race track! Ah, and did I mention that it only takes super?

The transmission, an eight-speed automatic, is not the fastest in town, but it gets the job done  transparently. The steering is light, but it asserts itself as you pick up speed. The suspension is calibrated for comfort (what else did you expect?). On corners, however, it mitigated centrifugal force with surprising tenacity. Yes, the Bentley Mulsanne is fun to drive, but it’s not nearly as dynamic as a Continental GT. It simply wasn’t bred for the same purpose.

Add all this together, and you can see why Bentleys cost what they cost. We might also want to add its development. Shortcuts? Definitely not. Yet, I’m fairly sure that if we raised a Muslanne and took a look at its underbelly, we’d find Volkswagen parts, as this company owns the English label. But a piece that works well in a VW (“Is there such a thing?” you may ask), it’s apt to work well in a Bentley. In fact, it should be easy to meet the Mulsanne’s specifications: Create a vehicle that is as comfortable and as fast as possible. Easy, right?

Bentley Mulsanne and Toyota Corolla: same approach?

The basic Mulsanne costs $358,160, but this model is something of a rarity. The Mulsannes built in Crewe, England, are practically all unique, as their owners like to pick and choose from the countless options available. Drivers who want to further customize their ride must turn to Mulliner who, for a “few” extra dollars, can make their dreams come true. “My” car cost a whopping $406,775. That includes $48,615 in options and accessories. At 13.6% of the total cost, it’s the same ratio as a $17,000 Corolla with $2,300 in options. When you look at it that way, it’s actually quite reasonable.

The Mulsanne truly impressed me. But what impressed me even more was the courage demonstrated by Décarie Motors in lending a vehicle worth nearly half a million dollars to automobile journalists!