| Bentley Mulsanne Details | ||
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(Tue 15 Sep 09) Having unveiled the new Mulsanne in California last month without giving away much information, Bentley has now released more details during the car's Show debut at Frankfurt.
At the heart of the Mulsanne is a heavily revised version of the very familiar 6.75-litre V8 engine, fitted with twin turbochargers and giving a maximum power output of 505bhp, with peak torque of 752lb/ft being produced at just 1800rpm. Economy and CO2 emissions are improved thanks to a system of closing the valves on four of the eight cylinders and therefore effectively closing down half the engine when the car is cruising (you'll notice something similar in some F1 cars, whose pitch falls an octave under braking). The power goes through an eight-speed automatic gearbox to the rear axle. As standard, the Mulsanne runs on 20" wheels, though 21s are available as an optional extra. The Mulsanne runs on air suspension whose dampers self-adjust both to improve low-speed ride and to reduce the height of the car and improve stability during quicker running. The way in which the dampers adjust themselves, and the steering reacts to inputs from the wheel, depends on which of three driver-selectable modes (Bentley, Sport and Comfort) are chosen - and there's a fourth mode called Custom which allows the driver to create a personal setting.
Inside, the Mulsanne is trimmed in wood and leather, and standard equipment includes a 14-speaker audio set-up and a multimedia system with 40GB hard drive satellite navigation, audio/video functions, a telephone and Bluetooth connectivity. Customers have a choice of 24 colours for the leather upholstery and no fewer than 114 for the bodywork, not including the infinite variety of shades which can be created to match the owner's wishes through the Bentley Mulliner bespoke service. Comment on this story on Facebook or Twitter. |
