Production of Bentley’s iconic Mulsanne ends this spring with a final and rather wonderful flourish – the exquisite 6.75 Edition by Mulliner, which will be restricted to just 30 unique examples.
This model is inspired by, and takes its name from, the legendary 6¾-litre engine, which this year celebrates its 60th year in continuous production. It will be based on the existing 530 bhp, 1100 Nm Mulsanne Speed – which Bentley hails as the most driver-focused ultra-luxury sedan ever created.
A masterclass is luxury design and craftsmanship, the model features a plethora of distinctive and characterful features, including miniature versions of the engine oil cap on the ventilation controls, unique 6.75 Edition motif stitched onto the plush seats, and crafted in chrome badge form for exterior and engine bay embellishment. This same logo will even be projected by the car’s LED welcome lamps.
The faces of the clock and minor gauges will feature schematic cutaway drawings of the engine itself and gloss black brightware will accentuate the individual customer’s choice of paintwork, artfully contrasting with headlamps and tail lamps wrapped in bright chrome. Dark tint treatments to the Flying B bonnet mascot, Mulliner Serenity radiator grille and exhaust finishers bring definition to the front of the car, while the 21” five-spoke Mulsanne Speed wheel will feature a unique bright-machined finish with gloss black pockets.
The distinctive touches don’t stop here….Under the bonnet, the engine intake manifold will be finished in black in lieu of the traditional silver, and the Engine Number Plaque – traditionally signed by the craftsman that built the engine – will be signed by Bentley’s Chairman and Chief Executive, Adrian Hallmark.
Slip inside the sumptuous cabin to discover more unique features. The plethora of unique features continues inside the cabin. Soft hides come in a choice of Imperial Blue, Beluga, Fireglow and Newmarket Tan, with accents in silver. The centre console stack and rear cabin console will be finished in silver-painted veneer, with a unique metal commemorative plaque fitted to the front console. Fascias and waistrails will be finished in high-gloss Grand Black, with the latter also featuring inserts in Dark Engine Spin Aluminium.
Bentley’s flagship Mulsanne really set the benchmark in the luxury sector when it first appeared in 1980. Designed, engineered and hand-built in Crewe, England, the Mulsanne’s 6¾-litre engine is also the world’s longest-serving V8 of its type in continuous production. The powerful engine was first used in the 1959 Bentley S2 and although it has been re-designed many times over the decades, the basic principles and dimensions that have defined the engine for six decades remain the same.
