Bentley Unveils All-New Mulsanne as Flagship Saloon
Bentley revealed the Mulsanne at Pebble Beach in 2009, introducing a new, Crewe-designed luxury saloon to succeed the Arnage and revive a historic name.
Bentley took the wraps off its all-new Mulsanne at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance on 16 August 2009, marking a return to a fully Crewe-designed flagship saloon for the first time in nearly 80 years. The Mulsanne replaces the long-serving Arnage and is set to enter production in 2010, with the first customer deliveries expected from mid-year.
The new Mulsanne sits at the top of Bentley’s range, designed, engineered and to be built entirely at the company’s Crewe headquarters. The model’s unveiling alongside W.O. Bentley’s own 1930 8-litre at Pebble Beach was a deliberate nod to the last time Bentley produced a flagship saloon entirely in-house. The 8-litre, capable of more than 100 mph in its day, was the company founder’s vision of uncompromised luxury and performance, a brief Bentley says guided the new car’s development.
The Mulsanne revives a name with deep ties to Bentley’s racing history. The Mulsanne Straight at Le Mans was the scene of six Bentley victories, and the company’s designers say the new car’s proportions and details are inspired by the grand Bentleys of the past. Dirk van Braeckel led the design team, aiming to blend traditional cues with a modern, imposing presence.
A new platform for Bentley’s flagship
Unlike the outgoing Arnage, which shared some architecture with Rolls-Royce models from the pre-BMW era, the Mulsanne is built on an all-new platform developed exclusively by Bentley. The company has invested in new manufacturing facilities at Crewe to support production. At launch, Bentley confirmed that the car would be powered by a re-engineered version of its traditional V8, though full technical details were held back for the car’s European debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September 2009.
Bentley’s aim with the Mulsanne was to set a new standard for British luxury saloons, focusing on hand-crafted interiors, comfort and effortless performance. The car’s development and production at Crewe also underline the company’s commitment to British engineering and craftsmanship. The Mulsanne is expected to compete directly with the Rolls-Royce Phantom and Maybach Zeppelin, both of which also debuted new or updated models around the same period.
Heritage and future positioning
By reviving the Mulsanne name and returning to in-house flagship production, Bentley is aiming to reinforce its brand identity and heritage. The company’s decision to showcase the car at Pebble Beach, where it was the featured marque, reflects the importance of the US market for high-end luxury saloons. The Mulsanne will also be displayed at the 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show, where Bentley plans to release further details on specifications and pricing.
- Bentley Mulsanne: new flagship saloon, revealed August 2009, production from 2010
- Bentley 8-litre: 1930 flagship, inspiration for Mulsanne
- Bentley Arnage: outgoing flagship, replaced by Mulsanne
For more on Bentley’s bespoke commissions, see our coverage of the Bentley Mulsanne Bamford X: Mulliner Crafts a One-Off for George Bamford
