Bentley Mulsanne model guide

Eventually killed off by emissions laws, the modern Bentley Mulsanne ended the legacy of L-Series V8 – and with it, a Crewe flagship

Words: Jon Burgess  Images: Bentley

Significant though the new Mulsanne was, its life was overshadowed by the death of a living legend: the 6.75-litre L-Series V8. Despite the acrimony between BMW and Volkswagen Group in 1998, the L-Series was only discontinued for the 1998 Bentley Arnage; it used a 4.4-litre BMW V8 (a choice perhaps motivated by the aero-engine ties between Rolls Royce plc and BMW AG). The Rolls-Royce Silver Seraph used another BMW unit – this time a 5.4-litre V12 – up until the end of production in 2002, as per the agreement reached between BMW, Vickers and Volkswagen Group.

Even when VW re-engineered the L-Series to go into 1999-onwards Arnage Red Labels (BMW V8 cars were badged Green Label and as a 52-unit final run of Arnage Birkin cars until 2001 to use up supplies), other legacy Bentley and Royce models, including the Azure, Continental R, Silver Spirit, Silver Spur III and Silver Dawn received the 6.75-litre engine uninterrupted for the handful of orders still on the books.

The L-Series was never fully retired; production, first from Cosworth, then later from Grainger and Worrell, continued on. The first (and only) ‘new’ Rolls-Royce model built under VW, the Corniche V, even benefitted from later turbo developments applied to the Arnage once L-Series supply had been resumed from a trickle to a flood.

Arnage was getting long in the tooth by the mid-noughties, however – so work proceeded apace on its replacement. ‘Project Kimberley’ named (like the Rolls-Royce Cullinan) after a large South African diamond began at Bentley in 2005; otherwise, it was known as ‘The Grand Bentley.’

An all-new bodyshell was designed: a steel monocoque with aluminium doors and wings, pressed via the superforming process. The 6.75-litre L-Series V8 needed no introduction – but to ensure emissions compliance (at least in the foreseeable), engineers got to work. New heads were designed, and pistons and conrods were lightened, as was the forged crankshaft. Camshaft phasing and cylinder deactivation cleaned up the exhaust further – to the tune of a 15 per cent improvement in fuel economy and exhaust gases, Bentley claimed.

In its death throes, the 2008-2009 Arnage Final Series had 500hp to play with; iterative cylinder head tweaks and more efficient turbos (swapped in 2007) made the L-Series a powerful, if heavy and thirsty engine of considerable prowess. Mulsanne was an apt name; back in 1982, it was the first Bentley to accept a turbocharger via a blow-through carburettor.

Although the Mulsanne’s peak power output went up by only 5bhp over the last Arnages (and was 2bhp down on the last Arnage T), torque was still more than healthy (752lb/ft) despite a far less dirty tailpipe; remapping meant that all of that twist was available from 1750rpm. Having first appeared at the 2009 Pebble Beach Concours, the Mulsanne went into production with 100 paint colours and 24 shades of hide. Bentley cited a 400 hour build time and the considerable amount of hand finishing needed to complete a Mulsanne, with a 150 hours spent on the interior.

Iterative updates – including Executive Packages and Mulliner Driving Packages – characterised Mulsanne development. Alas, the promising four-seat Grand Convertible didn’t materialise into a production model bar a 17-run Mulliner special five years later. The Arnage-based Azure would continue to offer customers a four-seat, L-Series V8 option until 2009 – but that was based on the previous generation platform.

The 2015 530bhp Mulsanne Speed was the next significant update in the Mulsanne family, followed a year later by the Extended Wheelbase (EWB) that was 25mm longer in the passenger compartment. Bentley found that many owners were driven and continued to work on the road, fuelling demand for screen and iPad-based options.

A facelift the same year modernised the Mulsanne, with reshaped wings, a reprofiled bonnet, radiator shell, grilles, lights and bumpers. The front grille was 80mm wider than before, and foam filled tyres dropped noise readings by a claimed 4 decibels.

As the decade wore on and emissions regulations tightened, Bentley saved the best until last with the Mulsanne, having celebrated numerous company milestones with special models including the Mulsanne 95 and Mulsanne Speed ‘Blue Train’ edition. Take the Mulsanne W.O. Edition, limited to 100 examples in 2019 with a special interior featuring metal taken from the crankshaft of W.O. Bentley’s personal 8-Litre. One car was made for every year since Bentley’s founding in Cricklewood, London, 100 years previously.

Then there was the 6.75 Edition by Mulliner, the 30-run Mulsanne Speed based limited edition that brought the L-Series’ run to an end after 61 years, beaten only by the small block Chevrolet V8. Inside the cabin, the Mulliner’s ‘organ stop’ ventilation controls were replaced by designs capped by miniature versions of the V8’s oil cap, with the faces of the clock and minor gauges used cutaway drawings of the L-Series, to remind owners of the significance of what they were driving.

Although the Flying Spur assumed the mantle of Bentley’s flagship, the Mulsanne name is rumoured to be making a return. A super SUV was said to take the badge in 2020, but never materialised. Industry insiders suggest that the third car in the Mulsanne legacy will be an electric vehicle to take the battery-powered fight back to Rolls-Royce and Goodwood.

Separated by agreement, rivals once again; like its namesake, the Mulsanne’s legacy is long – and there’s still track left in front of us.

Bentley Mulsanne timeline

2005

Development work begins on ‘The Grand Bentley’ or ‘Project Kimberley’, named after the Kimberley diamond discovered in South Africa during the 1869-1914 diamond rush.

2009

‘All new’ Mulsanne debuts at that year’s Pebble Beach Concours, with new bodyshell and extensively reworked, twin-turbocharged 6.75-litre L-Series V8. 505bhp and 752 lb/ft peak torque confirmed.

2011

Mulsanne Executive Interior Concept Shown at the Frankfurt and LA Auto Shows; previews Theatre (HD LED screen) and iPad packs (with twin keyboard-equipped iPads).

2012

Mulliner Driving Specification upgrades made available. 21-inch wheels, wing vents and exclusive seat stitching comprise the package.

Sunroof and bottle cooler (with champagne flutes) added to options list.

60-unit Diamond Jubilee Edition to commemorate Queen Elizabeth II’s Diamond Jubilee; special interior and décor.

2013

Equipment update – divided into Comfort, Premiere,  Entertainment and Executive Interior packs; privacy curtains and a Wi-Fi router became options; three more colours and hides added to specification list.

Approved winter accessories – tyres, socks and snow chains – made available.

48-run Mulsanne Le Mans Edition created for the US market, observing Bentley’s six Le Mans wins. Special wheels and interiors, all named after works drivers (John Duff, Dudley Benjafield, Woolf Barnato, Tim Birkin, Glen Kidston and Guy Smith_ with correspondingly different colours and interior décor.

Middle East specific Mulsanne Shaheen on sale, incorporating special colours and trim with the Mulliner Driving Specification as a basis.

Chinese market Mulsanne Seasons Collector’s Editions sold;  10 cars per each season (Bamboo, Chrysanthemums and Plum) with 1 ‘Whole Year Edition’ Car, known as ‘Golden Pine’.

2014

Mulsanne-based Bentley Grand Convertible, complete with four seats and massive burr walnut tonneau, shown at LA Auto Show. In this configuration, it remains a one-off.

Birkin Edition Mulsanne on sale; 22 unit special edition based on a Mulsanne with Mulliner Driving Specification and Entertainment pack specification.

15 unit Mulsanne 95 arrives in observance of 95 years of Bentley; features walnut wood veneer of at least 300 years old.

2015

530bhp Mulsanne Speed arrives – with handed 21-inch wheels.

Four-unit, Mulsanne Speed based Mulsanne Speed ‘Blue Train’ Edition sold to celebrate the Speed Six’s four-minute victory over the ‘Blue Train’ Calais-Mediterranée Express in 1930.

2016

Mulsanne Extended Wheelbase (EWB) debuts at Geneva. 250mm longer in the wheelbase for rear seat passengers.

Exterior and interior facelift for the rest of the Mulsanne range; suspension tweaks also applied.

One-off, four-seat Mulsanne Grand Limousine by Mulliner completed. Wheelbase and body extended by 1000mm with custom heating and ventilation systems; 10 rumoured to have been built.

2017

Mulsanne Hallmark Series by Mulliner unveiled; 50 unit special run applicable to any car in the Mulsanne range (Mulsanne, Mulsanne Speed, Mulsanne Extended Wheelbase). Special paint with a hand-painted coachline, and contrasting hide seats fitted.

2019

19 units of Bentley Grand Convertible by Mulliner released.

Mulsanne W.O. Edition released – 100 examples made available, to celebrate the centenary of Bentley’s founding in Cricklewood, London, by W.O. Bentley.

2020

Mulsanne production ends at Crewe with 6.75 Edition (below); limited run of 30 examples.

L-Series V8 dies with the Mulsanne after 61 years of continuous production.

Various replacements mooted, including ‘bigger than Bentayga’ SUV; nameplate slated to return on Bentley’s first EV. Flagship role handed to Flying Spur.

Total Mulsanne production circa 7300 cars.