Car of the Day · June 26, 2026
2011 Bentley Mulsanne
View on RP InventoryWhat makes this one special
This 2011 Bentley Mulsanne is a study in understated elegance: Black exterior over sumptuous Tan handcrafted leather, a color combination that has defined British luxury for generations. Every surface inside is a showcase of Bentley's obsessive attention to detail—premium wood veneer trim, lambswool floor mats, and leather that was cut, stitched, and finished by hand in Crewe. This is a flagship sedan in the truest sense, built without compromise and specified to deliver both presence and warmth.
The twin-turbocharged 6.75-liter V8 under the hood is smooth, quiet, and remarkably powerful, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and adaptive air suspension that glides over pavement with the composure of a much lighter car. Rear executive seating, heated and ventilated front and rear seats, power-closing soft-close doors, navigation, and a premium Bentley audio system ensure that every journey—whether you're behind the wheel or relaxing in back—is an event. Rolling on 21-inch alloy wheels, this Mulsanne commands the road with effortless authority.
With 45,340 miles showing, this is a Mulsanne that has been enjoyed as intended: driven, experienced, and cherished. The combination of classic colors, meticulous build quality, and that unmistakable V8 refinement makes this a compelling entry point into true flagship luxury.
The model history
The Story of the Mulsanne
When Bentley introduced the Mulsanne in 2010, it marked a decisive return to independence. For the first time since the VW Group acquired the marque, Bentley built a flagship sedan on its own platform, free from shared architecture with Audi or Volkswagen. The Mulsanne was named after the famous straight on the Le Mans circuit where Bentley earned five victories in the 1920s, and it was designed to reclaim the brand's heritage of bespoke, handcrafted luxury saloons in the spirit of the legendary S-series and Arnage.
At the heart of the Mulsanne is the storied 6.75-liter V8, an engine with roots stretching back decades in Bentley history. For the Mulsanne, it was thoroughly re-engineered with twin turbochargers, producing substantial power and torque while retaining the smooth, near-silent character that defined the great Bentleys of the past. Every Mulsanne was assembled by hand at the Crewe factory, with each car requiring hundreds of hours of craftwork—leather hides selected and stitched by individual artisans, wood veneers book-matched and hand-polished, and paint applied in up to seventeen layers.
The first-generation Mulsanne became the ultimate expression of traditional British luxury: a car that prioritized craftsmanship, presence, and effortless performance over outright speed or technology gimmicks. It offered rear-seat passengers an experience rivaling the finest private jet cabins, with available features like iPad-equipped picnic tables, champagne coolers, and seating that could be tailored to near-infinite specifications. In a world increasingly dominated by SUVs and shared platforms, the Mulsanne stood alone as a true coachbuilt flagship.
For enthusiasts and collectors, the early Mulsanne represents Bentley at its most uncompromising—a car built the old way, by hand, with an engine and platform that belonged to no one else. It is both a modern luxury sedan and a direct link to the golden age of British motoring, a rolling testament to what happens when a storied marque is given the freedom to build without compromise.
Fun fact
Each Mulsanne required over 170 hours of hand-craftsmanship at the Crewe factory, with leather hides individually inspected and selected to ensure only the finest made it into the cabin.
The Mulsanne remains one of the last true handbuilt flagships, a car that prioritizes tradition, presence, and craftsmanship in an era when even luxury sedans share platforms and components. This 2011 example, in timeless black over tan with that legendary V8, is an opportunity to own Bentley's modern masterpiece at a compelling price.