BENTLEY MULSANNE – THE MIGHTY NEW V8

Bentley’s new 6¾ litre, twin-turbocharged V8 engine blends state-of-the-art technology with a classic configuration that’s propelled Crewe’s finest cars for over 50 years. Like the rest of the Mulsanne, every 505bhp V8 is hand-assembled and fully tested by Bentley’s technicians.

(Crewe, England) Right at the heart of Crewe’s new flagship Mulsanne is the company’s famous V8 engine which is renowned for delivering the Bentley ‘wave of torque’. The V8 engine, the same configuration of which has powered some of the company’s most iconic cars including the Arnage, Azure, Brooklands, the original Mulsanne, Turbo R and S2 Continental, has been completely re-engineered for the new Mulsanne.

The V8 configuration will strike a chord with aficionados, the 6¾ litre displacement having been the favoured option for many years. For the Mulsanne, however, the very latest technologies have been employed including two new control systems: cam phasing and variable displacement delivering even greater refinement as well as a 15 per cent improvement in emissions and fuel consumption.

The pioneering application of these new technologies in combination allows the Mulsanne’s engine management system to adjust the V8’s breathing for improved engine idle quality and torque delivery. However, by closing the valves of four of the eight cylinders, fuel economy is maximised when cruising.

All the major building blocks of the Mulsanne’s engine are new including the lightweight componentry such as pistons, connecting rods and forged crankshaft which reduce reciprocating mass and internal friction for improved engine response. These significant changes are complemented by the introduction of a new eight-speed automatic transmission offering virtually imperceptible gearshifts.

In total over 300 new or significantly re-engineered components have been created for the Mulsanne engine and the famed Bentley ‘wave of torque’ (1020Nm/752lb ft) is now delivered in full even earlier, at 1750rpm. This improvement in torque delivery from just above idle – as well as across the rev range – ensures that a mere tap of the throttle pedal will deliver phenomenal acceleration with 0-60mph achievable in just 5.1 seconds (0-100km/h in 5.3 seconds).