Unleashing Power: The Resurgence of Bentley's Turbocharged Legacy

No fewer than 30 years passed between the introduction of the R-Type Bentley Continental and the subject of this month’s Motor Sport colour test, the Bentley Mulsanne Turbo; more than a generation during which those offerings marketed behind the Bentley radiator were basically Rolls-Royce models bearing cosmetic alterations. That’s not really meant to sound pejorative, for we’re not dealing with run-of-the-mill machinery; but the fact remains that this policy would have delighted those Rolls-Royce directors who presided when it acquired the assets of the Bentley company way back in 1931. Immediately after that takeover, the Rolls-Royce company devoted itself to obliterating Bentley’s own individual character, a process which continued after 1952 with equal effect, if not with the same premeditated ruthlessness that had characterised the 1931-39 period. The Bentley marque may have had its loyal devotees over the past quarter-century, but since the era of the Continental, mechanically they’ve had to rely on variations of the Silver Cloud, Silver Shadow and Silver Spirit theme. Now Bentley individuality is on offer once again with the £61,744 Mulsanne Turbo, the first forced-induction machine to carry the winged ‘B’ motif for half a century.

The Mulsanne Turbo is based on the large, stylish Rolls-Royce Silver Spirit/Bentley Mulsanne model which appeared at the end of 1980. With the advent of this new model, some enthusiasts confessed to being a trifle disappointed: instead of endeavouring to take on Jaguar and Mercedes-Benz in the agility stakes, Rolls-Royce decided to concentrate on what it knew it could do best. The Silver Spirit and Mulsanne are high quality, beautifully-built luxury saloons constructed to an impressively high standard, quiet, refined and relaxing cars in which to cruise at speed, but with a 0-60mph time in the order of 10sec and a top speed of around 116mph, they were hardly likely to electrify the wealthy businessman used to a Mercedes-Benz 500SEC or a Jaguar XJ12. That’s where the Mulsanne Turbo comes onto the scene. Adding a turbocharger to the 6750cc aluminium-alloy V8 engine catapults this two-and-a-half ton luxury saloon into a new performance class. The Bentley Mulsanne Turbo is now a very fast car indeed, although it does take some time to get to grips with its sensitive controls. It was with trepidation that we nosed out onto a rain-soaked M6, viewing the world from the imperious comfort of the Bentley’s leather-trimmed, high-backed seats, and it is only with time that one comes to appreciate that the Mulsanne Turbo keeps its 235/70VR15 Avon tyres well and truly in contact with the road, not withstanding initially disconcerting levels of roll, dive and squat.

Of one thing there is no doubt: this Bentley has no shortage of power. The turbocharger has helped raise the power output from 198 to 298bhp, while throttle lag is kept to a minimum by a valve to recirculate unwanted air pressure back to the intake side to keep the turbine spinning when the throttles are closed, a system similar to that on Ferrari’s Formula 1 V6 turbocharged engines during 1981.