The Bentley Mulsanne was designed to be a throwback to the days when big four door sedans were the flagship offerings in Bentley’s stable of ultra luxury vehicles. But with the Bentley Flying Spur stealing relevance and sales away from the Mulsanne, Bentley is finally pulling the plug on the big four door. Before it does, the British luxury car maker is saying goodbye with the introduction of the all new 6.75 liter Edition Mulsanne.
Bentley will be building only 30 examples of the 6.75 liter Edition, with the 6.75 portion of its name being a nod to the long running 6.75 liter V8. This V8 has been in use for several decades, and it has been designated as such for a good portion if its existence. While it has powered a fair share of Bentley models, older Rolls Royce models were also equipped with this engine due to the two being one entity during the latter half of the 19th century. Going beyond the history, Bentley designers wanted to try and create a truly distinct offering, with the Mulsanne Speed serving as the foundation for this special edition. The exterior styling features chrome trimmed head and taillights while the trademark Flying B Logo on the hood, grille, and exhaust outlets have been given a darker tint to amplify the subtle aggression baked into its flanks. 21-inch five spoke wheels with gloss black pockets continue the transformation, while the engine cover is slathered in black versus the usual silver tinge that is seen on other Mulsannes.
The interior of the 6.75 liter edition also boasts its own share of special touches with the 6.75 liter logo being embroidered into the seats, while some of the controls were redesigned to evoke the engine with the ventilation controls resembling the engine oil cap. A cutout of the engine is seen on the face of the analog clock as well as the gauges in the instrument cluster. Lastly, when the doors are opened, the 6.75 liter logo is elegantly projected onto the ground. With the Mulsanne biting the dust, the company also used the occasion to reveal that the Flying Spur is getting a hybrid model for the 2023 model year. Not much is known about it, but it is safe to assume that the model will use the same 443 horsepower electrically assisted turbocharged 3.0 liter V6 that also sees duty in the Bentayga.
When the Mulsanne exits the marketplace, it will take an iconic name with it. Bentley first used the Mulsanne name from 1980 to 1992 when the company built is version of the Rolls Royce Silver Spirit sedan. It remained dormant until the company revived it in 2010 for the current Mulsanne. It’s highly unlikely that it will be used again after this recent retirement, but with the Bentayga and the Flying Spur currently pulling their weight in generating sales, look for Bentley to hold off on any more retro inspired names for awhile to help maximize profits on the current model family.
Carl Malek has been an automotive journalist for over 10 years. First starting out as a freelance photographer before making the transition to writing during college, his work has appeared on numerous automotive forums as well as websites such as Autoshopper.com.
Carl is also a big fan of British vehicles with the bulk of his devotion going to the Morgan Motor Company as well as offerings from Lotus, MG, and Caterham. When he is not writing about automobiles, Carl enjoys spending time with his family and friends in the Metro Detroit area, as well as spending time with his adorable pets.