Bentley has unveiled the Mulsanne
Grand Limousine by Mulliner at the 2016 Geneva Motor Show, showcasing the
ultimate expression of bespoke automotive luxury, craftsmanship,
individualisation and refinement.
The Mulsanne Grand Limousine
is one metre longer and 79 mm taller than Bentley’s new Mulsanne and features a
unique interior with private-aviation-style seating configuration in the rear
cabin.
Bentley’s first application of
electrochromic or ‘smart glass’ – which allows passengers to switch the
interior division and rear-cabin window glass between clear and opaque at the
touch of a button – and a suite of onboard technology ensures the Mulsanne
Grand Limousine by Mulliner experience is both exclusive and luxurious.
This private commission has
been designed, engineered and handcrafted by Bentley’s coachbuilding division,
Mulliner, which has more than 100 years’ heritage in peerless bespoke
automotive coachbuilding and fabrication.
Wolfgang Dürheimer, chairman and
chief executive of Bentley Motors, comments: “The Mulsanne Grand Limousine
showcases the exquisite craftsmanship of our in-house coachbuilder, Mulliner
and exemplifies the way in which our experts consult with a customer to turn
their vision into an extraordinary reality. The attention to detail, quality,
creativity and skill applied to every Mulliner commission is truly unique in
the automotive world.”
Inside the ultra-luxurious,
customer-commissioned passenger cabin is an experience evocative of the very
best in luxury private-aviation design.
The original brief was to
build a car with four rear seats of equal comfort. The four seats – two of which are rear-facing
to allow face-to-face conversation – are generously accommodated beneath a
uniquely handcrafted wood-veneered roof bow within a cabin trimmed in sumptuous
leather.
Privacy is ensured by an
electrochromic ‘smart glass’ division that changes from clear to opaque at the
touch of a button. Bentley’s craftsmanship is also on show in the quality of
the veneer panel encasing three dials displaying UK and local time as well as
exterior temperature.
With the focus on the
rear-cabin, a new HVAC system has been developed exclusively by Mulliner.
Furthermore, the interior offers features such as iPad charging and docking
stations, as well as veneered fold-out tables, a bottle cooler with frosted
glass and crystal flutes, and a soft drink cabinet with bespoke tumblers. It
has an intercom system to communicate with the driver and unique controls for
the rear features.
Throughout, only the most
luxurious materials have been used to achieve exemplary levels of refinement.
The opulence of the rear cabin is accentuated by the extensive use of wood and
leather for which Bentley is renowned.
Finished in two-tone Silver
Frost and Moroccan Blue, the greatest attention to detail has been applied to
the Mulsanne Grand Limousine by Mulliner. This is evident from the Flying ‘B’
mascot – engraved with the words ‘Coachbuilt by Mulliner’ – which stands above
a unique iteration of Bentley’s iconic chrome grille and lower bumper grilles,
designed specifically for this car.
The effortless lines that
track from the bonnet along the sinuous body of the limousine conclude in
beautifully resolved shoulders, melding the aesthetic purity of Bentley’s
flagship car with the luxury of additional space inside. Beneath this
delightful example of coachbuilding sit four unique 21” wheels, colour-matched
to the exterior finish.
In accordance with the enhanced
dimensions, the Mulsanne Grand Limousine by Mulliner is fitted with a fully
engineered powertrain, transmission and a re-engineered chassis and suspension,
guaranteeing the highest possible degree of passenger comfort and safety in the
longest ultra-luxury sedan in the world.
Source: Bentley