The Mulsanne in general is a fairly overlooked Bentley model with all the spotlights in the past two decades pointing at the Flying Spur, Bentayga and the Continental GT. The problem is, all three of those models are largely put together from the VW parts bin. And while they are some of the most amazing cars ever made, the Mulsanne is much more special than any of them. With a bespoke chassis, a Bentley engine, and rear wheel drive, the Mulsanne is the first authentic Bentley model after over 70 years. And the 2014 Mulsanne is even more special as it includes the first update after the model went on sale in 2011. That said, it’s not a design update, neither inside or outside, but the 2014 Mulsanne is packed with more technology than ever before while also squeezing in a bit more luxury features. Furthermore, its giant V8 engine became even more efficient to comply with the European Euro6 emissions standard, without chipping anything away from the mountain of torque it delivered earlier. At the same time, the 2014 Mulsanne has lost quite a bit of its value over the years, making it extremely tempting on the used market. That’s why we invite you to check out the ones currently available here at Exotic Car Trader before we take this review further.
Bentley 8 Litre, that’s the last model Bentley had built without being under anyone’s shoe and that was built in 1930. That’s also the last time Bentley had been an independent company and all models that came after were closely tied to either Rolls Royce or VW. All except one, the Mulsanne. The Mulsanne is the first and possibly the last Bentley model to be developed and built entirely in house without sharing its platform or engine with any other model. It’s also the last true Bentley flagship to be a direct competitor to the Rolls Royce Phantom. And despite its astronomical price, Bentley managed to sell around 7,300 examples between 2011 and 2020. During its ten years of production, the Mulsanne got two updates, one in 2014 and another in 2016, with the 2014 bringing a Mulsanne Speed and the 2016 a Mulsanne EWB. With its discontinuation in 2020, it got no replacement making it very likely that this will be the last authentic Bentley unless the brand escapes VW’s ownership which would hardly be a good idea.
The 2014 Mulsanne interior saw the most improvements over the earlier models. But before we start listing off all the new features it’s interesting to mention that to cover the Mulsanne’s giant interior with leather, 17 bulls had to be sacrificed. Then, it takes 136 hours to build the interior from beginning to finish. Such stats can only be found with Rolls Royce models, and the Mulsanne, that’s it. Not even the Flying Spur gets so much attention or any other Bentley model. Then there is space, there is so much rear legroom that the seats can almost be fully reclined and a foot rest is added behind the front seats because it can get uncomfortable with your legs hanging off the plush rear seats. The front part of the cabin is no less interesting with inverted gauge cluster dials, brushed metal all around, and enough wood trim to keep a medium sized house warm throughout a winter night. As for the updates, the 2014 Mulsanne gets rear headrest cushions, electronically controlled privacy curtains and foot rests as standard. A new optional Entertainment Specification added two laptops in the back of the rear seats with secondary 8 inch screens in the headrests. Moreover, it adds two Bluetooth headphones, a remote for the infotainment, a DVD player, and wireless connectivity. With the package included, the Mulsanne’s interior moves closer to a modern living room and further away from a great chamber of a modern era castle.
Given just how striking the Mulsanne looks coupled with all the high end details it couldn’t be negative that the 2014 Mulsanne’s exterior was left untouched. Even today, the 2014 Mulsanne as well as the earlier models looks very much like a modern car while also having a timeless design which won’t go out of style any time soon. It also gets interesting design cues going back to the 1930 8-Litre which is evident by how the round headlights sit fairly low in regards to the front grille. At the same time, the front bumper sports a fairly aggressive intake which gives a glimpse into the Mulsanne’s sheer power. The side profile is muscular with haunches over the rear wheels while also featuring an elegant wing vent that extends into the doors while the chrome trim wraps around the rear bumper. The entire chassis and body are hand made out of steel and take over 250 hours to finish. That’s largely thanks to the complex design which can only be fully appreciated in person. And while the rear end is styled after the Arnage, it compliments the rest of the design perfectly. Dual oval exhausts are another sign that the Mulsanne will shred its rear tires if the driver so desires. Overall, the design is both sporty and elegant without looking obnoxious from any angle.
When it comes to performance, everything about the 2014 Mulsanne is impressive and excessive. Starting with its 5,700 lbs of weight, the Mulsanne is heavier than most modern full size SUVs and possibly the heaviest sedan ever, at least to our knowledge. And with a V8 that dates back to the 1970s, no one can blame you for thinking that it’s probably lazy. But that couldn’t be farther from the truth thanks to the 752 lb-ft of torque the V8 churns out thanks to its massive displacement and two turbochargers. Even more impressively, all that torque is available at just 1,750 RPMs, a number that wouldn’t shame even the most modern turbocharged engines. It also makes 505 horsepower which coupled with the mountain of torque pushes this castle on wheels to 60 in just 4.9 seconds. For reference, the 2014 Flying Spur does it just 0.3 seconds faster and let’s remember that the Mulsanne is rear wheel drive. And similarly to the Flying Spur, the Mulsanne achieves a top speed of 190 mph. The giant V8 also features cylinder deactivation and with the 2014 update, it became 13% more efficient with a fuel consumption of 19.3 mpg.
With a starting price of $298,000, the 2014 Mulsanne was one of the most expensive cars on the market at the time. And let’s remember that the options could easily take it to $350,000. Today, in 2024, a used 2014 Mulsanne in the US goes for right around $100,000 on average, essentially putting it on a $200,000 discount. And even those examples have between 10,000 and 30,000 miles on them making them brand new cars for buyers who intend on driving them instead of preserving them.
In the end, the 2014 Mulsanne is not only an instant classic, but also one of the most significant models in Bentley’s history even though the current market doesn’t reflect that. But that’s a good thing for all potential buyers who get a chance to own the most luxurious and bespoke Bentley made in the past 90 years for the price of a modern SUV. If you are looking to jump in on that deal or buy any other luxury car, doing so through Exotic Car Trader is one of your best options out there. With escrow protection, delivery and first inspection, Exotic Car Trader leaves nothing to chance making the purchasing process as safe and as convenient as it gets. Selling a car through Exotic Car Trader gets you the same perks and you don’t even have to take pictures of your car or upload them to our website.
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