Since its spectacular appearance at Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance in California last year, the Bentley Mulsanne is drawing much attention worldwide. Mulsanne fully embodies the fine inheritance of Bentley, being named after the famous Mulsanne corner in Le Mans 24 hour race (on which The Bentley team won its sixth consequent championship at the competition recently). Bentley Mulsanne officially launched in Hong Kong on 20th April, 2010. THINK SILLY engaged with Mr. Douglas Chau (General Manager of Bentley Hong Kong) to learn more about Mulsanne and the latest in high-end automobile market.

Firstly about the automobile market in Hong Kong — Mr. Chau considers Hong Kong customers to be ‘very unique, they know the brand Bentley and its history very well. They are also willing to put their name on a six month waiting list, and usually take the effort to choose different components to make the Bentley their own. Recently I arranged a client to travel to Crewe (UK), to choose the colour of his Brooklands. He wanted a vintage colour that is no longer available, so my English colleague had to dig out all the colour samples in the archive. In the end we found the non-metallic beige he likes, which is a special colour in the catalogue years ago. He wanted that to pair with a chocolate brown interior. We were amazed how well the colours sit next to each other. The client is in the clothing business and therefore very sensitive with colour palette. This is a characteristic of clients in Hong Kong. They really do know what they want.’

How does Bentley fullfill all their clients’ requests? ‘Luckily the factory provides a nearly unlimited range of components, because the clients in Hong Kong are extremely sophisticated’. What about Mulsanne? ‘One of its biggest advantage is that it reflects the design of a classic Bentley. The leather treatment dated back to 1960S, creating a design that is quinessentially Bentley, from its smell to texture. A sold ring of wood encases the entrie cabin, the whole process are handmade — by very skillfull technicians who cut the wood open in a way that the grain would remain symmetrical. Its 8mm new pure wool, deep pile Wilton-weave over-mats is rarely seen among automobiles’. What about its horse power? ‘Mulsanne is the first to use variable displacement technique in luxury automobile, which efficiently adjusts the V8 engine and has a significant effect on the new engine’s fuel consumption, thanks to its ability to idle four of the eight cylinders when cruising. This, in conjunction with the new eight-speed automatic transmission with quick-shift, reduces CO2 emissions and offers a potential 15 percent saving in fuel compared to the previous V8’. With so many previous models in the Bentley archive, where is Mulsanne’s position among them? ‘I think Mulsanne breaks new ground in luxury automobiles, therefore it is a one of its kind. I don’t think there is a direct competitor yet’.

Founded in 1919, Bentley pursues high technology without compromising its English style. Mulsanne is a showcase of the result — it takes 170 hours to craft the interior alone. It is a luxury automobile, but I would rather describe it as a delicatedly crafted art piece on the move. Mulsanne will be arriving in Hong Kong in the beginning of 2011.

Text: BEBOP
Translation: dilettante
Photo Courtesy: Kimio Ng
Update: 30 Apr 2010

BENTLEY HONG KONG
G/F. Bonaventure House, 91 Leighton Road, Causeway Bay, Hong Kong.
+852 2890 1918
mulsanne.bentleymotors.com