PARIS MOTOR SHOW: Bentley Mulsanne Speed

British luxury car-maker Bentley has whipped the covers off its latest speed machine, the Mulsanne Speed. The 2685kg colossus is not the sort of vehicle usually associated with race track work, being more often associated with very well-heeled individuals who prefer to be driven.

Nevertheless, Bentley's spannermen have gone to town on the 5.57 metre-long goliath, fitting it with bigger 21-inch wheels and appropriate tyres, sports mode air suspension and more power from its twin-turbo pushrod V8.

The end result is a €315,000 ($A450,000) leviathan that Bentley dubs the "world's fastest ultra-luxury driving experience," to be publicly shown for the first time at the 2014 Paris motor show.

Bentley's powertrain engineers have tinkered with the 6.75-litre twin-turbo V8 engine to deliver more power, a "totally redesigned combustion system" adding 19kW and 80Nm, taking total outputs to 395kW/1100Nm. On the road this results in a top speed rising from a paltry 290km/h to more impressive 305km/h, while the 0-100km/h split drops by four tenths to 4.9 seconds.

Not bad for an almost three-tonne luxo-barge!

Another side-effect of all the engine fettling is lower emissions, the car belching out CO2 at a rate of 342g/km, down from 393g/km. This is due to a cylinder deactivation system transforming the V8 into a V4 under light throttle loads. Fuel economy likewise dips from 16.9L/100km to 14.6L/100km, extending the car's range by 80km.

Together with a recalibrated gearbox, the new Mulsanne Speed is designed to be more responsive and the powertrain changes also make their way into all 2015 Mulsanne models, albeit with lower power output of 'just' 376kW/1020Nm. Regular Mulsannes also get new colours, veneer and hide options.

Bentley Motors boss, Wolfgang Dürheimer, reckons the new Mulsanne Speed "is the car that defines Bentley, as a flagship for driving luxury performance".

"Our customers don't compromise and we've adopted the same approach in the design, engineering and crafting of our new flagship. The Mulsanne Speed is distinguished, calm and relaxing, but always with a connection to the road and relentless dynamic performance on demand. In this car, every journey becomes a drive," said the Bentley chief executive.

While the suspension, steering, and engine have been beefed up, the Bentley Mulsanne has always been about the interior experience, as we discovered last year when we reviewed an almost million dollar version of the Mulsanne.

While the idea of a high-performance version of the Mulsanne may seem like an oxymoron, the Mulsanne Speed does get sportier interior to match its newfound pace, with diamond quilted seats and door panels as standard, due to the (usually optional) fitment of the Mulliner package. Other upgrades like indented hide headlining, coined finished door handles, drilled-alloy pedals, and a knurled gear lever.

The list of luxury features is endless, but some of the rear seat highlights include electrically-operated tables (with nooks and connections for iPads and matching keyboards) a dedicated WiFi router and a frosted glass bottle cooler – with custom crystal champagne flutes, naturally. The "best in-car sound experience in the world" is also offered via a 2200W Naim premium audio system.

Lump in four new exterior colours – Camel, Marlin, Candy Red, Spectre – and dark tint exterior finishes for the wing vents, lower bumper and radiator grille, and the Mulsanne Speed is complete.

Bentley Australia was contacted to find out if and when the Mulsanne is coming to Australia, but is yet to respond.