Bentley Mulsanne
Encyclopedia
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.
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.
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
.
, 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.
/Silver Spur introduced at the same time. It would be the basis for all Bentley models until the 1998 introduction of the Arnage
.
Bentley Azure
The Bentley Azure is a large, four seater convertible built by Bentley Motors Limited at its factory in Crewe, England. The model debuted in 1995 on the Continental platform and was produced in its original guise until 2003. A completely new version powered by a significantly updated engine and...
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
24 Hours of Le Mans
The 24 Hours of Le Mans is the world's oldest sports car race in endurance racing, held annually since near the town of Le Mans, France. Commonly known as the Grand Prix of Endurance and Efficiency, race teams have to balance speed against the cars' ability to run for 24 hours without sustaining...
between 1924 and 1930 — the 'Mulsanne Straight' being the stretch of the Le Mans racecourse where cars reach their highest speeds.
Mulsanne
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
Carburetor
A carburetor , carburettor, or carburetter is a device that blends air and fuel for an internal combustion engine. It is sometimes shortened to carb in North America and the United Kingdom....
were replaced by Bosch
Robert Bosch GmbH
Robert Bosch GmbH is a multinational engineering and electronics company headquartered in Gerlingen, near Stuttgart, Germany. It is the world's largest supplier of automotive components...
fuel injection
Fuel injection
Fuel injection is a system for admitting fuel into an internal combustion engine. It has become the primary fuel delivery system used in automotive petrol engines, having almost completely replaced carburetors in the late 1980s....
on all cars from 1986. All Mulsannes use a 3-speed automatic transmission.
Mulsanne Turbo
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 AiResearchGarrett AiResearch
Garrett AiResearch was a manufacturer of turboprop engines and turbochargers, and a pioneer in numerous aerospace technologies. It was previously known as Aircraft Tool and Supply Company, Garrett Supply Company, AiResearch Manufacturing Company, or simply AiResearch...
turbocharger
Turbocharger
A turbocharger, or turbo , from the Greek "τύρβη" is a centrifugal compressor powered by a turbine that is driven by an engine's exhaust gases. Its benefit lies with the compressor increasing the mass of air entering the engine , thereby resulting in greater performance...
. 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
Bentley Turbo R
The Bentley Turbo R was a high-performance model produced by Bentley Motors Limited. The "R" stood for "roadholding", to set it apart from its predecessor. It initially inherited the turbocharged engine from the Mulsanne Turbo and also sported a retuned suspension and wider tires on alloy wheels, a...
, 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
John Gardner (thriller writer)
John Edmund Gardner was an English spy novelist, most notably for the James Bond series.-Early life:Gardner was born in Seaton Delaval, Northumberland. He graduated from St John's College, Cambridge and did postgraduate study at Oxford...
.
Mulsanne S
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 turbochargerTurbocharger
A turbocharger, or turbo , from the Greek "τύρβη" is a centrifugal compressor powered by a turbine that is driven by an engine's exhaust gases. Its benefit lies with the compressor increasing the mass of air entering the engine , thereby resulting in greater performance...
, 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.
Derivative models
The Mulsanne was based on the Rolls-Royce Silver SpiritRolls-Royce Silver Spirit
For the cruise ship see MS Silver SpiritThe Silver Spirit is a British saloon automobile made by Rolls-Royce Motor Cars, in England. It was launched in 1980.The Silver Spur was a long-wheelbase version of the Silver Spirit, produced at the same time....
/Silver Spur introduced at the same time. It would be the basis for all Bentley models until the 1998 introduction of the Arnage
Bentley Arnage
The Bentley Arnage is a large luxury car produced by Bentley Motors in Crewe, England from 1998 to 2009. The Arnage, and its Rolls-Royce-branded sibling, the Silver Seraph, were introduced in the Spring of 1998, and were the first entirely new designs for the two marques since 1980.Another break...
.
Production
| 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 |