Mansory Mulsanne announced

Mansory turns its attention to the big Bentley, but why?

In recent years, Mansory has steadily built one of the most divisive names in the automotive world for itself - one piece of carbon fibre trim at a time. Its cars are seen by some as the epitome of rebellious cool, throwing two fingers up at the outdated concept of class; and by others as the definition of gauche, a symbol of everything wrong with blingy new-monied excess. It's safe to say this latest announcement is unlikely to change any of that.

That's despite the fact that, in this instance, the Bavarian tuner describes its modifications as "subtle" and, compared to some of its previous work, they are. Certainly next to the carbon-bonnetted Bentayga announced last year, this Mulsanne appears to be really rather restrained.

Look a little closer though and the telltale signs of a visit from Kourosh Mansory are all there, giving the car "a decent nudge towards enhanced sportiness." Whatever that means.

There's a carbon lip and air inlet covers at the front, carbon skirts at the sides, a new exhaust system underneath and a carbon spoiler and diffuser at the back. There are new, 22-inch wheels as well which, surprisingly enough, are not carbon, instead being forged from a "particularly light' aluminium alloy - crucial on a 2.6-tonne car.

To Mansory's credit though, the modifications are not merely skin deep. The engine has been fettled to release a further 73hp, taking the new total to 585, with a tarmac crimping 811lb ft of torque now available. Meaning that this Mulsanne is capable of 0-62 in just 5.0 seconds and a top speed of 190mph, and that's slightly brilliant.

It's also slightly pointless - and not just because it's a luxury limousine with the sporting pretensions of a telephone box - but because Bentley already offers an 811lb ft, 190mph Mulsanne in the shape of the Speed. It even comes with carbon bits.

Which begs the question; if you can buy the same thing from Bentley, why wouldn't you? Unless you want that badly to go against the grain, in which case, why would you buy a Mulsanne at all?

There's no word yet on pricing or availability, but should you be interested in perusing some of Mansory's other offerings there are quite a few in the classifieds... how about that Aventador?