What Price One-Upmanship? 2011 Bentley Mulsanne available from $285,000

With a starting price of $285,000, Bentley's newest flagship model won't come cheap. Nor should it, with its 505-horsepower, 725 lb-ft, gasoline-fed 6.75-liter V8 engine sitting behind the automaker's trademark mesh grille and four round lights.

Also included in that price will be an eight-speed paddle-shift automatic transmission, 16.54-inch front and 15.5-inch rear carbon ceramic brakes and 20-inch wheels. And lest we forget, it will also come with a 2,200-watt stereo and the brand's new Driver Dynamics Control system, which comes with "Bentley," "Sport," "Comfort" and user-definable "Custom" modes.

Want one? Production is slated to begin at the Crewe factory in England in the second quarter of 2010, and the first deliveries will make it to America later than year in the fall. Get yours in one of 114 available paint colors, 21 carpet shades, nine wood veneers and 24 interior leather hides, but get your order in fast – Bentley reports that early customer interest has already exceeded 2010 production targets. Click past the break for the official press release.

[Source: Bentley]

PRESS RELEASE

BENTLEY MOTORS PREPARES ALL-NEW FLAGSHIP MULSANNE FOR LAUNCH IN 2010

o Production to begin at Crewe in Spring 2010; first deliveries to America to commence in the Fall of 2010
o Starting price of $285,000* in the United States
o Early customer interest exceeds 2010 production targets


(1 December 2009. Crewe, England) Bentley Motors today announced more details of its all-new flagship motorcar, the Mulsanne, following successful debuts at the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance in August and Frankfurt's IAA motor show in September. More than 1,000 private previews of Mulsanne have also been held at the company's factory in Crewe, England and during a seven-city U.S. tour.

To be priced at $285,000* in the United States, the Mulsanne has been designed and engineered without compromise by Bentley's craftsmen and engineers to combine refined performance and unparalleled levels of luxury with the coach building elegance for which the marque has long been renowned.

Stuart McCullough, Member of the Board for Sales & Marketing for Bentley Motors, comments:

"Even at this very early stage, the expression of interest we've received easily exceeds our 2010 production targets. Mulsanne's credentials are a pure expression of Bentley design and craftsmanship, and that's struck a chord with Bentley enthusiasts as well as many of the potential customers we have welcomed for tours in Crewe this year. We've been encouraged by the positive commentary, notably from our American customers as the Mulsanne was privately previewed in seven metro markets across the country."

Production of the Mulsanne will commence at Bentley's Crewe (England) headquarters in the second quarter of 2010. A newly constructed body production facility, dedicated to Mulsanne, is being completed where leading-edge body assembly technology, such as superforming of the aluminum front wings for superb surface definition, will complement traditional, highly skilled metalworking including hand-brazing of steel joints for a 'hewn from solid' appearance.

Bentley's Mulsanne will arrive in the USA in the Fall of 2010 and will offer customers a world of infinite choice when commissioning their cars. The luxury Bentley flagship offers a palette of 114 paint colors, 21 carpet colors, nine wood veneers and 24 interior leather hides, all of which will be tanned using a decades-old process to ensure this future classic never loses its scent. In addition, through Bentley's bespoke service, unique colors can exactly match a customer's vision and taste. With more standard leather and wood veneer than any other Bentley in the modern era, the Mulsanne will take nine weeks to build.

Bentley's legendary hand-assembled V8 engine pays homage to its predecessors but for the new Mulsanne is comprehensively re-engineered employing advanced technologies to deliver unstressed refined performance. The new Bentley V8 engine is lighter and features cylinder de-activation and variable cam phasing, contributing to a significant reduction in both fuel consumption and CO2 emissions.

Advanced technology is exquisitely packaged within the Mulsanne's opulent cabin. Behind its heritage-inspired dials and new glass-effect switches lie leading edge features including iPod and mp3 connectivity, Bluetooth and a SIM card reader, as well as a 3G MMI system. Those opting for NAIM's premium audio system will be treated to the world's most powerful system fitted to a production vehicle – a 20-channel 2,200-watt experience.

Bentley Motors will announce further pricing news for international markets in the near future as well as further information about the extensive range of additional options with which the Mulsanne can be specified.

Founder W.O. Bentley had a vision of building "a good car, a fast car, the best in its class." 90 years later, Bentley's new flagship Mulsanne will be positioned at the pinnacle of the premium segment with respect to quality, authenticity and supremacy.

* Please note that the MSRP figure of $285,000 excludes taxes and delivery charges