GENEVA MOTOR SHOW: Bentley teases Phantom rival

Bentley has unveiled an even more luxurious, longer, taller version of its recently facelifted Mulsanne.

The car maker claims the one-off Bentley, called the Mulsanne Grand Limousine By Mulliner, was commissioned as a bespoke creation by a private customer, but rumours spread quickly at Geneva overnight that the German-owned brand is testing the water for a Rolls-Royce Phantom rival.

With a gap of at least 12 months until the all-new Phantom arrives in 2018, it’s suggested Bentley could satisfy demand created by the void.

Some couldn’t help point out the Grand Limousine, measuring one metre longer and standing 79mm taller than the newly facelifted Mulsanne also on stand at the Swiss show, and featuring a new vertical pillar grille, brushed aluminium bonnet and light silver blue coachwork, matches similar design themes and colour schemes used to launch the Phantom Coupe.

Yet a Bentley insider, speaking exclusively to motoring.com.au, claimed any similarity to the Rolls-Royce was merely coincidental and that the extra-long wheelbase version of the Mulsanne was strictly a one-off.

With a price tag in excess of $2 million, the Grand Limousine features an interior-inspired by a private jet and can carry six, thanks to its face-to-face seating layout in the rear cabin. To ensure privacy, smart glass separates the chauffeur from the car's occupants in the rear; at a touch of the button the glass frosts instantly.

Speaking following the new car's reveal, Bentley’s chief exec Wolfgang Durheimer said: “The Mulsanne Grand Limousine showcases the exquisite craftsmanship of our in-house coach builder, Mulliner; and exemplifies the way in which our experts consult with a customer to turn their vision into an extraordinary reality.”

Rolls-Royce, meanwhile, refused to publicly comment on the Mulsanne’s encroachment into territory occupied by the Phantom and the old Maybach limo.

One RR insider did, however, tell motoring.com.au: “It’s unfortunate they’ve reverted to the old vertical grille for the Mulsanne but within Rolls-Royce, Bentley really isn’t considered a rival. We outsell it 3:1 with cars costing over £200,000 [A$400,000]”.

As well as the Grand Limousine, Bentley also unveiled its refreshed Mulsanne, Mulsanne Speed and Mulsanne Extended Wheelbases.

All are claimed to be completely redesigned forward of the front A-pillar.

The big Bentley sedan gets a new bumper, wings (with B-shaped vents), a larger bonnet, a wider stainless steel grille (vertical slats and wire mesh for the Speed) and all-LED headlights. At the rear there’s also a new rear bumper to “update and modernise the Mulsanne’s appearance”.

Inside, the updates extend to redesigned seats, new door trims, armrests and new switchgear, as well as a huge choice of colours.

New technology like High-Beam Assist, blind spot and collision warning, plus emergency autonomous braking also becomes available.

Under the bonnet the 377kW/1020Nm 6.75-litre turbocharged V8 and eight-speed auto carry over with the same power. Fuel consumption is improved to 14.6L/100km thanks to cylinder shutdown and variable cam phasing.

Improving refinement, the Mulsanne now comes with new active engine mounts and suspension mounting points. Performance remains strong – the standard car can hit 100km/h from standstill in just 5.1sec.

The Bentley Mulsanne Speed also carries over the same engine with no more power –although few will complain with 395kW and 1100Nm on tap. Against the clock the refreshed Mulsanne super sedan takes the same 4.9sec to hit 100km/h as the pre-facelifted Speed, reaching the same 305km/h top speed.

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