When it comes to luxury sedans, it’s hard to match Bentley’s newly-upgraded Mulsanne for sheer ostentation. But Bentley just one-upped itself with a new version of the Mulsanne that debuted with the rest of the lineup at the 2016 Geneva Motor Show.
The Bentley Mulsanne Grand Limousine by Mulliner is as elaborate as its name. Built by Bentley’s Mulliner customization division, it’s both longer and taller than a standard Mulsanne, and all of that extra size is used to increase the luxuriousness of the rear cabin. Where some cars are built to drive, this one is built to be driven in.
In back are four seats, two of which are rear-facing to better enable conversation. As in most limos, the passenger compartment is divided from the driver, but in this case, the partition is made from electrochromic glass that switches from opaque to transparent at the touch of a button. Alongside the new tech is plenty of old-school handcrafted wood and leather, including a wood veneer roof bow.
The limousine also gets its own HVAC system to ensure the swells in back stay comfortable. And to prevent them from getting bored, there are iPad charging and docking stations, fold-out tables, a bottle cooler with frosted glass and crystal flutes, and a soft drink cooler with its own tumblers. There’s an intercom system for communicating with the driver, too.
Bentley says the Grand Limousine has an upgraded powertrain and suspension, but didn’t go into details. Considering the car’s extra weight, the stock Mulsanne’s 6.7-liter twin-turbocharged V8 could probably use a power upgrade. In addition to the elongated body, the Grand Limousine is visually distinguished by some styling tweaks and special 21-inch alloy wheels.
This car was a “private commission, according to Bentley, meaning it probably won’t become a series production model. But anyone with enough money could probably get Bentley to build a similar car. And it’s likely only a matter of time until someone with more money than taste commissions a Bentayga limo.
