Bentley's speedy mobile palace

The Bentley Mulsanne Speed is being launched at the Paris motor show.

It weighs 2.7 tonnes and needs 14.6 litres to do 100km, writes Grant Edwards

Bentley calls it the fastest ultra-luxury driving experience in the world.

With 395kW and 1100Nm to call upon, the Bentley Mulsanne Speed has the performance figures to back the claim.

Cracking 100km/h in under five seconds on its way to 305km/h, this 2.7-tonne mobile palace has stats that would have humbled a supercar not long ago.

Its re-engineered powertrain features a redesigned combustion system (including combustion chamber, inlet ports, fuel injectors, spark plugs and compression ratio), new variable valve timing and turbo control to realise that record torque level that arrives at a low down 1750rpm.

Necessary, of course, because the "normal" Mulsanne has to make do with just 1020Nm of twist to launch occupants to the cocktail party.

Fat cat owners of the Speed will have to stomach a 14.6 litres/100km fuel consumption from Bentley's old-school twin-turbo 6.75-litre V8, but as they'll have to find the premium over the boggo Mulsanne's purchase price of more than $660,000, this shouldn't be of concern.

Owners can justifiably expect some wow factor inside.

Diamond-quilted hide door panels and seats, a coined finish to the door handles, knurling to the sports gear lever and "organ stop" ventilation controls.

Not sure what coined finish, knurling or organ stop are?

Must be stuff the super rich understand.

We can appreciate, however, the electrically-operated tables, on-board Wi-Fi, 2200 watt Naim sound system, two 20cm screens and a frosted glass champagne bottle cooler.

And we like the sound of it all.

The Mulsanne Speed will be unveiled at the Paris Motor Show.

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