2011 Bentley Mulsanne Test Drive

Bentley's flagship debuts at a time when the ultraluxury market is rebounding from a period where conspicuous consumption was viewed as a social liability. How does the high-priced, hand-crafted Mulsanne make a case for itself against mass-manufactured sedans?


The Bentley brand has gone through numerous cycles of boom and bust since W.O. Bentley fired up his first engine some 91 years ago, and the company's most recent challenge has been an economic downturn that has placed particular strain on the sales performance of the VW-owned British brand.

The poshest offering in Bentley's already lofty lineup, the new Mulsanne asserts the brand's most ambitious ideals of limited volume and hand-built assembly. But beneath its hand-rubbed paint, several engineering details reveal that Bentley is making subtle strides to adapt to the times. For instance, the Mulsanne's all-new powerplant is the first in its segment to feature variable displacement for improved fuel efficiency, and its 8-speed transmission boasts the first use of paddle shifters in any Bentley sedan. Let's go motoring to see how this big, pricey Bentley addresses the 21st century.