| Manufacturer | Bentley |
|---|---|
| Production | 1980–1992 |
| Predecessor | Bentley T2 |
| Successor | Bentley Turbo R Bentley Brooklands |
| Class | Full-size luxury car |
| Body style | 4-door sedan |
| Layout | FR layout |
| Engine | 6.75 L Bentley V8 |
| Wheelbase | 3061 mm (121 in) 3161 mm (124 in) |
| Related | Bentley Eight Rolls-Royce Silver Spirit Rolls-Royce Silver Spur |
The Bentley Mulsanne is a performance luxury car which was produced by Bentley Motors Limited from 1980 until 1992, though derivative models like the Continental T and Azure continued in production into the 2000s. The name "Mulsanne" is derived from Bentley's famous history, which included five victories at the 24 Hours of Le Mans between 1924 and 1930 — the 'Mulsanne Straight' being the stretch of the Le Mans racecourse where cars reach their highest speeds.
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The new Bentley promised to epitomise the very spirit of Bentley motoring by offering ample performance combined with complete comfort.
The Mulsanne shared the traditional 6.75 L (6750 cc/411 in³) Rolls-Royce V8 with aluminium alloy cylinder heads. Two SU carburettors were replaced by Bosch fuel injection on all cars from 1986. All Mulsannes use a 3-speed automatic transmission.
Launched at the Geneva Motor Show in 1982 and produced until 1985 was the Mulsanne Turbo. There was a 50% increase in power thanks to the Garrett AiResearch turbocharger. There was the usual highly polished walnut veneered fascia, blemish-free leather and carpets and headlining of pure wool for the interior. 498 short wheelbase and 18 long wheelbase Mulsanne Turbos were built.
The Mulsanne Turbo was replaced by the Turbo R, which used a fuel injected version of the same engine. A British racing green Turbo has been used in the two James Bond stories Nobody Lives Forever and Role of Honour by John Gardner.
The Mulsanne was looking stale by 1987, so the company spiced it up with the introduction of the Mulsanne S. Although this model lacked its turbocharger, many of its other details were similar to the Turbo R, including that car's alloy wheels and interior, and the suspension was firmed up for a more sporting ride. The rectangular headlamps from the 1980s gave way to quad round units for 1989, and the model lasted until 1992.
The Mulsanne was based on the Rolls-Royce Silver Spirit/Silver Spur introduced at the same time. It would be the basis for all Bentley models until the 1998 introduction of the Arnage.
| Model | Years | Total Production | Short wheelbase | Long wheelbase | Limousine |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mulsanne | 1980–1987 | 533 | 482 | 39 | 2 |
| Mulsanne Turbo | 516 | 498 | 18 | ||
| Mulsanne S | 1987–1992 | 970 | 909 | 61 |
| type / class |
1920s | 1930s | 1940s | 1950s | 1960s | 1970s | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | ||||||||||||||||
| Bentley Motors Limited (1919–1931) |
Rolls-Royce Bentley Motors (1931) Limited (1931–1980) |
Vickers plc Rolls-Royce Bentley Motors (1931) Limited (1980–1998) |
Volkswagen Group (1998–>) |
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| coachbuilder's open 2/4 seater |
3 L | 4½ L 6½ L Speed Six |
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| coachbuilder's large saloon coupé or convertible |
6½ L Speed Six 8 L |
4L 3½ 4¼L Mark V |
Mark VI | R | S1 S2 S3 |
T | ||||||||||||||||||||
| C o n t |
Continental S1 Continental S2 Continental S3 |
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| cars with Bentley own-factory coachwork | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| large saloon |
Mark VI | R | S1 S2 S3 |
T1 | T2 | Mulsanne | Brooklands | Arnage | Mulsanne | |||||||||||||||||
| Turbo R | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| coupé | Continental R/S/T | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| convertible | Azure | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Bentleys on the Volkswagen platform | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| large saloon |
Continental Flying Spur |
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| coupé | Continental GT | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| convertible | C GTC | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| founder: Walter Owen Bentley • A marque of the Volkswagen Group • Bentley Boys | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| type / class |
1980s | 1990s | 2000s | |||||||||||||||||||||
| 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | |
| saloon | Eight | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mulsanne | Mulsanne S | Brooklands | Arnage | Arnage RL/R | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Mulsanne Turbo | Turbo R | Turbo RT | Arnage Red Label | Arnage T | ||||||||||||||||||||
| coupé | Continental R | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Continental S | Continental T | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| convertible | Corniche | Continental | Azure | |||||||||||||||||||||
| colour code: | Silver Shadow-based | Mulsanne-based | Arnage-based | |||||||||||||||||||||
| founder: Walter Owen Bentley • Bentley Motors corporate website • A marque of the Volkswagen Group • Bentley Boys | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| type / class |
1990s | 2000s | 2010s | |||||||||||
| 8 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 0 | 1 | |
| saloon | Arnage | Continental Flying Spur | ||||||||||||
| Red Label | Arnage R/T | New Mulsanne | ||||||||||||
| Arnage RL | ||||||||||||||
| coupé | Continental R | Continental GT | ||||||||||||
| Continental T | Brooklands Coupé | |||||||||||||
| convertible | Continental GTC | |||||||||||||
| Azure | Azure | |||||||||||||
| colour code: | Mulsanne-based | Arnage-based | Continental GT-based | New Mulsanne-based | ||||||||||
| founder: Walter Owen Bentley • Bentley Motors corporate website • A marque of the Volkswagen Group • Bentley Boys • Bentley Speed 8 | ||||||||||||||