Used 2018 Bentley Mulsanne

The 2018 Bentley Mulsanne has four wheels, an engine and a comfortable cabin just like hundreds of other cars. So what entitles this legendary British sedan to ask north of $300,000 for the privilege of ownership? The answer is craftsmanship. Where massive automated machines assemble most luxury cars, the Mulsanne’s assembly requires over 400 man-hours for each car. The 6,000-pound, 505-horsepower Mulsanne employs the finest British craftsmen and women steeped in the skills of molding leather, wood and metal into a precision-crafted sedan that can leave most sports cars in the dust. From its massive twin-turbocharged V8 to its nearly unlimited customization and personalization list, it’s easy to see why many consider the 2018 Mulsanne to be the world’s finest automobile.

This is the car you drive to Wrigley to take in a ballgame…from Los Angeles. Sure, you could take the Gulfstream and have the Sikorsky warmed up and waiting for you on the tarmac at O’Hare, but trust me, bombing cross country in this big and stately twin-turbocharged Bentley is the experience you’re looking for. Supremely spacious and comfortable, the Mulsanne’s gorgeous handcrafted interior will pamper you through 10 states as you enjoy its impressive handling, acceleration and smooth ride. Its ability to cruise at over 180 mph will get you there for the first pitch. The Mulsanne’s 6.75-liter V8 produces an impressive 505 horsepower and 752 lb-ft of torque. In the Speed, horsepower increases to 530 while torque is an outrageous 811 lb-ft. Zero-to-60-mph runs for the Mulsanne are just a hair over five seconds, while the Speed drops the time to just under five seconds. Play ball.

Over a dozen hides from Scandinavian bulls line the Mulsanne’s interior. Why Scandinavian? The region’s cool climate means fewer insects, and that means fewer hide blemishes. Abundant wood and stainless steel highlight this luxurious cocoon, though the latter has been polished to a state that can be blinding when hit by sunlight. Rear-seat legroom comes in spades and the outboard seats, like the front seats, offer heat and ventilation. Unlike ultra-luxury sedans including its own little brother the Flying Spur, individual rear seats are no longer available in the Mulsanne, but this Bentley does offer rear footrests and motorized picnic tables.

While the exteriors of some luxury sedans scream, “I’ve worked hard to get here,” the Mulsanne’s exterior simply whispers, “I’ll never have to work again.” At nearly 18 feet in length, the 2018 Bentley Mulsanne has a rather refined appearance, with pronounced fenders and a wide, muscular grille that pays homage to the Blower Bentleys of the mid-1930s. Power door assists activate when needed, and so as to avoid being damaged, the side mirrors retract when parked. Round headlights are another signature feature, as are the winged hood ornament and the “B” for Bentley on the wheel caps.

BOTTLE COOLERS
In the Mulsanne, rear-seat occupants can choose among a cooler designed to fit two water bottles, a larger unit for fitting a champagne bottle and two flutes, or a completely over-the-top unit that can accommodate spirit bottles, crystal glasses and even a Bentley-inscribed hip flask.

MULLINER CUSTOM FINISHES AND ACCESSORIES
Don’t see the color you want? No worries. Bentley will paint the Mulsanne any color you like, as well as customize its leather interior to match. You can also spec wood, carpet and accents, include a humidor for your best cigars and even go as far as to order a jeweled gas-filler cap.

There’s no such thing as a bare-bones Bentley, which is why the 2018 Mulsanne comes with heated-power front seats, heated-power rear seats and an 8-inch infotainment screen, which is disappointingly small for a car in this class. Also standard are navigation, a sunroof, quad-zone climate control, power-operated trunk and voice control for many operations. The standard audio system boasts 14 speakers and a 6-disc CD changer, so you can party like it’s 1999. Interior and exterior color choices abound, down to the seatbelt hue. Bentley’s flagship sedan rides on 20-inch alloy wheels, and an air suspension.

Most likely, the Mulsanne you want is the Mulsanne you’ll get. These handmade vehicles take 400 hours to assemble and are tailored to their customers’ desires. Among additions are a 2,200-watt/20-speaker Naim audio system, heated and ventilated front and rear seats with massage, and 21-inch wheels. The Entertainment Specification includes electrically deployed rear-seat picnic tables optimized for iPads and Apple keyboards. The option features a rear-seat entertainment system and in-car Wi-Fi. Driving and safety features include adaptive cruise control and rear- and side-view cameras. For serious rear-seat indulgence, a refrigerated bottle cooler with champagne flutes is offered for a cool $10,970.

Powering this big British beast is a 6.75-liter twin-turbocharged V8 good for 505 horsepower and a remarkable 752 lb-ft of torque. That latter figure is important as it is needed to quickly move the 6,000-pound Mulsanne from a standing start. Thanks to last year’s minor tweaks to the cylinder head and compression ratio, the 2018 Mulsanne can accelerate to 60 mph in just over five seconds and achieve a top speed of 184 mph. The performance-oriented Mulsanne Speed gets an extra 25 horsepower for a 0-60-mph run of just 4.8 seconds. The Speed’s top speed maxes out at 190 mph. All Mulsanne models are rear-wheel drive and feature an 8-speed automatic transmission. Fuel economy is not a strong point, reflected in its 13-mpg combined EPA rating and $3,700 gas-guzzler tax.

6.8-liter twin-turbocharged V8
505 horsepower @ 4,200 rpm (530 horsepower in Mulsanne Speed)
752 lb-ft of torque @ 1,750 rpm (811 lb-ft in Mulsanne Speed)
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 11/18 mpg