New Bentley Mulsanne to Spawn Coupe

Presently, Bentley’s lineup is divided by two platforms. On one end of the spectrum the company offers the Continental range, which includes the GT, GTC, and Flying Spur. Customers desiring larger, more traditional Bentleys could shop the Arnage range, which included the Arnage, Azure, and Brooklands. Bentley aims to retain this two-tiered lineup, and so it’s not surprising that coupe and convertible versions of the new Mulsanne are already under development.

Officially launched at the 2009 Frankfurt motor show but previewed at the 2009 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, the Mulsanne is the first all-new large Bentley in quite some time. The sedan uses a brand-new 6.75-liter twin-turbocharged V-8, producing 510 hp and 752 lb-ft of torque, mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission. Bentley’s new sedan rides on a new chassis complete with an adjustable air suspension so sensitive, it can compensate for a passenger’s movement within the cabin.

When the coupe and convertible variants debut, expect much of the Mulsanne’s mechanicals to carry over. We likely won’t see them for a few years yet, but we’d expect both to carry a price premium over their four-door sibling –- a trait that currently exists in the Arnage line.

Source: Auto Express

Specs 2009 Bentley Arnage

• Two turbo compressor
• 6,761 cc 6.8 liters V 8 front engine with 104.1 mm bore, 99.1 mm stroke, 7.8 compression ratio, overhead valve and two valves per cylinder
• Premium unleaded fuel 91
• Multi-point injection fuel system
• 25.3 gallon main premium unleaded fuel tank 21.1
• Power: 336 kW , 450 HP SAE @ 4,100 rpm; 645 ft lb , 875 Nm @ 1,800 rpm

Profile : Bentley Company

Founded in 1919 by Walter Owen ("W.O."), Bentley, the luxury brand developed a high class, sports car reputation due to the antics of the "Bentley Boys" such as race car driver Woolf Barnato of the Barnato diamond fame; journalist S.C.H. Davis; and racer Sir Henry Stanley. Bentleys would win the 24 Hours of Le Mans from 1927 through 1930 before competitor Rolls-Royce purchased it in 1931.



It was under Rolls-Royce did the first Bentley Continental appear.

In 1980, Rolls-Royce was purchased by Vickers plc, which later sold both marques to Volkswagen after a bidding war with BMW. In a complicated agreement between the two German automakers, VW would continue to build both luxury brands until 2002 while BMW licensed the Rolls-Royce "nom de plume" from Rolls-Royce plc.

Bentleys are known for their exclusive, luxurious, "Old-World" feel but powerful engines. Besides the Continental, other well-known Bentleys include the convertible Azure, the Continental GT coupe, and the Flying Spur sedan. During the 2007 Geneva Motor Show, Bentley confirmed it has given the green light for a new coupe, the Bentley Brooklands, for 2008.

Bentley continues to be a subsidiary of Volkswagen.