2016 Geneva Motor Show: A Bentley of sheer indulgence

By RELAXNEWS | 2 March 2016


Mulsanne Grand Limousine by Mulliner (3)


GENEVA: At 6.57 metres from nose to tail, Bentley's first bespoke stretch limousine, unveiled on Tuesday at the Geneva Motor Show, inches out the Mercedes-Maybach Pullman as the world's longest and most comfortable passenger car.

The car, coachbuilt by Mulliner for a client with one simple demand - that four rear seat passengers sit in equal comfort - is being displayed as a showcase for Bentley's bespoke customisation division and of course to see if there are other clients out there with similar demands.

Wolfgang Dürheimer, chairman and chief executive of Bentley Motors, said: "The Mulsanne Grand Limousine showcases the exquisite craftsmanship of our in-house coachbuilder, Mulliner and exemplifies the way in which our experts consult with a customer to turn their vision into an extraordinary reality."

Mulsanne Grand Limousine by Mulliner (2)


As well as being a full 100cm longer than a standard Mulsanne, the roof has also been raised by some 79mm and it is the first car built by the company in any capacity to feature smart glass. A clear partition between the driver and rear passengers becomes opaque at the touch of a button.

Other nods to modernity include iPad docking and charging stations for each seat, an intercom system for talking to the driver when the partition is activated and a special air conditioning system designed from the ground up to work in the passenger space.

But as well as high-tech features, old-world craftsmanship abounds.

Mulsanne Grand Limousine by Mulliner (1)


The cabin's roof is lined in wooden veneer. There are foldaway picnic tables for each rear-seat occupant and an integrated bottle cooler and a separate soft drinks cabinet, both with bespoke glasses.

Meanwhile under the enlarged body is a thoroughly reworked powertrain and suspension set-up to ensure that the car can still retain its reputation for a very comfortable ride even when the distance between the front and rear 21-inch wheels - and therefore dampers and shock absorbers - is so vast.

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