The New Bentley Mulsanne Speed Photos Specs & Pricing

But before you settle in for a night at the opera, let’s set the stage a bit. The Mulsanne Speed is an upgraded version of the Mulsanne, launched by Bentley just two years ago, yet with a much more powerful and responsive engine beneath the aircraft carrier–sized hood. With a top speed of 190 mph, the Mulsanne Speed barely feels like it’s starting to get warmed up as you rush past 60 mph and soar rapidly toward the century mark. Assuming traffic laws allow, you will reach top speed easily, hardly noticing that you are going faster than any other luxury vehicle on the market. That’s because the handcrafted body and polished chrome interior are designed with comfort and quiet as top priorities.

"The Mulsanne Speed is for customers who want a distinguished, elegant and exceptionally refined ultra–luxury limousine that also offers a dynamic and exciting driving experience," explained Erin Bronner, Bentley communications manager. "The Mulsanne Speed is for customers who demand a car without compromise to either luxury or performance."

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​Named after the famous Le Mans racetrack corner in Monte Carlo, the Mulsanne Speed is a contrast in characters. A stately exterior, high–performance powerplant and luxurious cabin all lead to a truly unique blend of experiences. Bentley’s mighty 6.75–litre twin–turbo V8 engine propels the Mulsanne Speed to 60 mph in 4.8 seconds, while passengers enjoy contemporary exterior and interior styling features that define the Mulsanne Speed as a statement in quintessential British luxury.

It’s truly a lion of an engine positioned within a very regal exterior.

But that begs the question: Is the Mulsanne Speed meant for driving or for sitting in the back and enjoying the ride? The answer, of course, is both, depending upon one’s mood at the moment. Driving the Mulsanne is an experience in power and performance that one would not expect from such a classically vintage vehicle.

"The Mulsanne Speed is distinguished, calm and relaxing, but always with a connection to the road and relentless dynamic performance on demand," said Wolfgang Durheimer, chairman and chief executive of Bentley Motors. "In this car, every journey becomes a drive."

Indeed, three suspension modes allow the ride to be as comfortable or sporty as one desires, and a custom mode choice gives the driver power to individually determine steering chassis and engine tuning preferences.

But it’s not until you allow someone else to do the driving that one can truly appreciate the luxury and refinement that is the trademark of Bentley. The spacious rear cabin offers diamond quilted door panels and leather seats sporting embroidered Bentley emblems along with limousine–length leg room.  

Yet concealed beneath the exquisite materials that define the Mulsanne Speed cabin is a suite of technology to make any journey as productive or relaxing as one desires. A 60 GB on–board hard drive can store the driver’s collection of music and films. Electrically–operated tables, with recesses and connections for iPads and matching keyboards, can be fitted to the rear of the front seats, while on–board Wi–Fi through a dedicated router keeps the car connected to the outside world.

For refreshment, a frosted glass bottle cooler, complete with crystal champagne flutes, may be installed behind the rear armrest. A 2,200 watt premium audio system expands on the standard 14–speaker system and offers the best in–car sound experience in the world. Entertainment on the move can be provided through the Rear Seat Entertainment system, including two 8–inch screens and Bluetooth headphones. 

Available for a starting MSRP of $335,600, the Mulsanne Speed can be created and ordered through Bentley San Diego in La Jolla. Cheers to the road ahead!