Tuesday 16th September 2014

Bentley Mulsanne Speed confirmed

In a fluster having to mosey along with a proletariat spec Mulsanne? Bentley can remedy that

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Obviously 752lb ft of torque just isn't enough for some people. That's what the standard Bentley Mulsanne makes do with - poor thing - and there's been enough customer demand for a mega-saloon with an even dafter output that the company has finally created a Speed version. With an altogether more acceptable 811lb ft.

55 years old, pushrods, turbos, 530hp

The Mulsanne Speed makes its official debut at the Paris motor show next month, and will be powered by the brawniest iteration so far of Bentley's practically pensionable 6.75-litre V8, with the stonking torque figure now accompanied by a claimed 530hp - 25hp more than the standard Mulsanne. This is a development of the L-series engine that Rolls-Royce launched back in 1959, remember, and although much has changed in the subsequent five-and-a-half decades, not least the addition of twin turbochargers, it still operates its valves via pushrods.

The V8 has also been cleaned up to meet Euro 6 emissions, securing its medium-term future, although it still does without direct injection. Redesigned pistons and combustion chambers have also boosted economy by a claimed 13 per cent, boosting the Speed to a dizzying 19.3mpg on the official combined cycle. The cost of fuel is probably only a peripheral concern to your typical Mulsanne buyer, but Bentley emphasises the 50 miles of extra range the Speed should squeeze from its monster 96-litre tank. The standard Mulsanne will get the same revised engine and economy boost, although Bentley claims its power output remains unchanged.

Visual changes over Mulsanne subtle

Don't expect a huge difference in dynamic behaviour between Speed and standard Mulsanne. We're told that the Speed's 'Sport' suspension mode is firmer, and it also gets a more aggressive 'Sport' setting for the eight-speed automatic transmission, which ensures the engine stays above 2,000rpm to minimise turbo lag. But despite that, this remains a car that's designed to deliver effortless wafting.

Visual changes are subtle. The Speed gets a slight dark tint to its lights, and black steel mesh for its intake grills. The 21-inch wheels are also 'handed' - different right and left - with each one reportedly machined from a single billet of alloy.

If you're interested it's yours for £252,200 - a £24,000 supplement over the standard Mulsanne. It won't be Bentley's quickest saloon - Flying Spur W12 beats both its claimed 4.8-second 0-60mph time and 190mph top speed - but it will be the most exclusive.

[GTEYE]

The initial message was deleted from this topic on 17 September 2014 at 12:35

[andyps]

Glad I waited to order one, it would have been very frustrating to have the slow version!

Is this the longest serving current production engine? Can't think of another that has been around this long and great that it is Euro 6 compliant - to think that BMW pretty much killed it off because it wouldn't meet the then regs.

[V8 FOU]

Wibble..

Oh sooo good. And with a proper Bentley engine. Not that I'm biased or anything..... Just don't like that W12 VW thing.

[Dr Interceptor]

andyps said:

Is this the longest serving current production engine? Can't think of another that has been around this long and great that it is Euro 6 compliant - to think that BMW pretty much killed it off because it wouldn't meet the then regs.

I believe so, since the original Lambo V12 was replaced in 2012?

[VladD]

Lovely. If I win the lottery this weekend I'll have Bentley coach build me a 2 door version.

Edited by VladD on Tuesday 16th September 15:03

[renaultgeek]

VladD said:

Lovely. If I win the lottery this weekend I'll have Bentley coach build me a 2 door version.

Edited by VladD on Tuesday 16th September 15:03

I amagine the hunched over walk to the back seats would take some time

[anonymous-user]

What's the correct pronunciation?

[VladD]

La Liga said:

What's the correct pronunciation?

Bent Lee.

I always used to say Mulls-ayne, but now say Mulls-anne, as that's how I've heard it pronounced more often when watching Le Mans.

Edited by VladD on Tuesday 16th September 15:23

[VladD]

renaultgeek said:

VladD said:

Lovely. If I win the lottery this weekend I'll have Bentley coach build me a 2 door version.

Edited by VladD on Tuesday 16th September 15:03

I amagine the hunched over walk to the back seats would take some time

The back seats would only be used for the dog, so that would be fine.

[Gorbyrev]

Didn't know how to approach the face when it was first released but these look absolutely amazing in the flesh. There's one that I've seen in Edinburgh in Subaru rally blue - brave shade and looks great in a strong colour. Rich imaginary me would have one of these over a Phantom.

[mrclav]

I love this car and everything it stands for.

As said above, I wasn't too sure about the new face but it's really grown on me!

[TaylotS2K]

The current trend has seen many cars simplify the dashboard, de-clutter and a reduction in the number of switches by use of multi-media. Bentley have gone the other way and obliterated the dashboard with switches.

[E65Ross]

Why the obsession with torque.... It's surely the power and the shape of the torque curve that matter. A local farmers tractor has more torque than this yet it sure as st isn't as quick because it doesn't rev as high. Likewise a BMW M5 makes almost identical power (and thus will be every bit as potent in a gear with the same max spees) as this despite being down on torque.

/can of worms

[anonymous-user]

VladD said:

La Liga said:

What's the correct pronunciation?

Bent Lee.

I always used to say Mulls-ayne, but now say Mulls-anne, as that's how I've heard it pronounced more often when watching Le Mans.

Thanks.

[DonkeyApple]

E65Ross said:

Why the obsession with torque.... It's surely the power and the shape of the torque curve that matter. A local farmers tractor has more torque than this yet it sure as st isn't as quick because it doesn't rev as high. Likewise a BMW M5 makes almost identical power (and thus will be every bit as potent in a gear with the same max spees) as this despite being down on torque.

/can of worms

Mainly as a means to proper wafting. The less torque the more revs you generally need so the engine is a little more frantic.

[E65Ross]

DonkeyApple said:

E65Ross said:

Why the obsession with torque.... It's surely the power and the shape of the torque curve that matter. A local farmers tractor has more torque than this yet it sure as st isn't as quick because it doesn't rev as high. Likewise a BMW M5 makes almost identical power (and thus will be every bit as potent in a gear with the same max spees) as this despite being down on torque.

/can of worms

Mainly as a means to proper wafting. The less torque the more revs you generally need so the engine is a little more frantic.

So long as the engine doesn't feel or sound busy it doesn't matter, does it? I've been in a BMW M6 (both the V10 and current V8 models) and the V10 revs quite highly, just about 4k at 100mph but even cruising at that, or a little higher, you can't hear the engine and it doesn't sound busy so is still a very relaxing place to be. For waft, imo, it's about the shape of the torque curve.... Which you want nice and flat (unlike that V10, I suppose).

[Impasse]

Will it wheelspin and wheelspin and wheelspin and stuff?

[DonkeyApple]

E65Ross said:

DonkeyApple said:

E65Ross said:

Why the obsession with torque.... It's surely the power and the shape of the torque curve that matter. A local farmers tractor has more torque than this yet it sure as st isn't as quick because it doesn't rev as high. Likewise a BMW M5 makes almost identical power (and thus will be every bit as potent in a gear with the same max spees) as this despite being down on torque.

/can of worms

Mainly as a means to proper wafting. The less torque the more revs you generally need so the engine is a little more frantic.

So long as the engine doesn't feel or sound busy it doesn't matter, does it? I've been in a BMW M6 (both the V10 and current V8 models) and the V10 revs quite highly, just about 4k at 100mph but even cruising at that, or a little higher, you can't hear the engine and it doesn't sound busy so is still a very relaxing place to be. For waft, imo, it's about the shape of the torque curve.... Which you want nice and flat (unlike that V10, I suppose).

Or not to be using revs for speed. Which is what wafting is. The M engines are built for a different driving character, hence they have that lovely 'urgent' feel rather than being as lazy as possible.

[kambites]

DonkeyApple said:

Or not to be using revs for speed. Which is what wafting is. The M engines are built for a different driving character, hence they have that lovely 'urgent' feel rather than being as lazy as possible.

I guess it means different things to different people, but to me it's about gathering speed quickly without obvious effort from the engine rather than without using revs. A revvy, low-torque car can be wafty as long as it's refined enough (although few, if any, are).

[MC Bodge]

Impasse said:

Will it wheelspin and wheelspin and wheelspin and stuff?

I suspect that it might.

I was once told by a chap from the Bentley engine testing dept that a de-restricted, with the boost turned up, W12 in a test mule destroyed its transmission. "Adequate" power was developed, apparently.