Bentley Mulsanne (1980–92)

Bentley Mulsanne (1985 )

The Bentley Mulsanne was built in 1980-1992 by the British manufacturer Bentley luxury sedan, various derivatives were offered by over the years. He was the successor to the Bentley T and the Rolls -Royce Silver Spirit. The Mulsanne was replaced in 1992 by the Bentley Brooklands. From 1982, the Mulsanne was available in either a turbo version, which bore the name Bentley Turbo R and later the designation Turbo RT from 1985. In addition, the slightly cheaper Bentley Eight was built from 1987 to 1992.

The name goes back to the Mulsanne Mulsanne straight of Le Mans race track, where Bentley in the 1920s, five times won the 24 - hour race at Le Mans. Since 2009, Bentley once again offering a new sedan called Mulsanne. She has technically nothing to do with the produced from 1980 model.

Models

Mulsanne (1980-1987)

The presented at the Paris Salon in 1980 was the first new Bentley since 1965. Initially he was completely the same except for the brand's signature grille and emblems with the same featured Rolls- Royce Silver Spirit. From model year 1985, the Mulsanne and the Silver Spirit is distinguished additionally by the design of the headlamps are: During the Silver Spirit, the wide-band headlamps maintained, the Mulsanne had four round headlights.

Was driven the Mulsanne from the already known from the previous 6.75 -liter light-alloy V8, which was at first then fitted with twin SU carburettors, starting in 1986 with a Bosch injection. The work called, as with the previous models, no power values ​​. The power transmission to the rear wheels got a purchased by General Motors three-speed automatic. In addition to the normal version with a wheelbase of 3060 mm long version on a wheelbase of 3160 mm was offered.

Mulsanne S (1987-1992)

In 1987, the base was replaced by the Mulsanne Mulsanne S, although it retained the naturally aspirated engine, but visually very much resembled the turbo version and for example their alloy wheels and interior possessed. Also the S gave up recently or long wheelbase. There was 909 copies on the regular and 61 on a longer wheelbase.

Eight (1984-1992)

1984 Bentley Eight was introduced, a cheaper and easier -equipped version of the Mulsanne, which should open up the brand new buyers. The aim was to address buyers who had previously preferred vehicles from Mercedes- Benz and Jaguar. In this regard, the Eight was offered much cheaper than the regular Mulsanne. In his presentation of the 1984 Eight with £ 49,497 cost around £ 5,000 less than the original model. Thus, moving the Eight Regions in price that could reach a very well-equipped sedan in the Mercedes -Benz S-Class.

The Eight was available only with a short wheelbase. Outwardly, he was recognized by a separate grille. In contrast to the Mulsanne, its radiator grille included vertical struts, the Eight was wearing a wire mesh grille, which should remind us of the sporting Bentley models before the war and was much cheaper to produce. The price advantage of Eight was due to a significantly simplified interiors. For example, the dashboard was designed simple. On special grain patterns on the Rolls- Royce in the standard models customarily put value was omitted here, as well as a both durable leather -clad headliner. Likewise, the number of standard sorts of paint had been reduced.

The Eight was initially sold only in the UK; From 1985 he was also customers on the continent of Europe and the USA. In Germany it cost when it was introduced 186 846 DM He was DM 66,000 cheaper than a Rolls- Royce Silver Spirit. The car was equipped in 1986 for the markets of Europe and the Middle East with an antilock braking system.

By 1992 the Bentley Eight 1736 total time was built.

Models with turbocharged engines

In addition to the naturally aspirated vehicles equipped with Bentley offered from 1982 to a range of sporting versions, which were equipped with a supercharged version of the 6.8 -liter engine. These vehicles were conceptually a response to the Bristol Beaufighter, which was produced by Bristol Cars since 1980 and had made with his unusual Zagato body as a powerful two-door sport- oriented self-drive especially in the domestic market for some attention. Rolls- Royce had initially considered, the two-door, designed by Pininfarina Coupe Camargue equipped with a turbocharged engine and deliver under Bentley in this niche. 1980, a correspondingly equipped prototype was fabricated and tested; the concept but was, allegedly, not pursued due to thermal problems. Instead, the turbo engine in the new Mulsanne was offered, which had been designed from the start for higher powers. Specifically, the following models emerged:

Bentley Mulsanne Turbo (1982-1985)

At the Geneva Motor Show in February 1982, before the Bentley Mulsanne Turbo produced until 1985 with a much higher power ( " 50 percent more than adequate "). Here the engine was forced ventilated via a Garrett turbocharger. In view of numerous modifications of the Mulsanne Turbo was about 100 kg heavier than the base sedan. Therefore, the increase in performance impacted less in the area of ​​maximum rather than in accelerating from: The sprint from 0 to 60 mph (96 km / h) graduated from the Mulsanne Turbo in just 7.0 seconds while the non-supercharged Rolls- Royce Silver Spirit for 10.0 seconds needed.

From Mulsanne Turbo 498 copies created on the regular and 18 on a longer wheelbase.

Bentley Turbo R (1985-1998)

The Turbo R was the successor of Turbo. He pointed to a modified suspension and increased performance.

Bentley Turbo RT (1997/ 98)

The Turbo RT was a special model with an even more powerful engine.

Special bodies

The London-based coachbuilder Hooper Coachbuilders produced in the 1980s, a number of special versions based on the Mulsanne. This included the Empress II, a two-door vehicle with an inclined front end and a semi- fastback, which was offered to four times the price of a regular factory Mulsanne and has been implemented in about six copies. Later, two-door versions of the Bentley Mulsanne were offered in which the Factory- body structure - apart from the doors - was unchanged.

Competitors

Numbers

Bentley Mulsanne (2010) Car classification Luxury vehicle Curb weight Bentley T-Series Circuit de la Sarthe Rolls-Royce Camargue Bristol Type 603#603S3 .28Britannia and Brigand.29 GM Bentley Continental GT Bentley 4 Litre Bentley 8 Litre Bentley Arnage Bentley Azure Bentley Continental Flying Spur (2005) Bentley Continental R Rolls-Royce Corniche Bentley Mulsanne (1980–92) Bentley Mark V Bentley Mark VI Bentley R Type Bentley S1 Bentley S2 Bentley S3 Bentley State Limousine
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