As the ultimate expression of British automotive luxury, the Bentley Mulsanne Speed offers relentless dynamic performance on demand. In this car, every journey is an experience that represents everything the British brand knows about building the world’s most powerful, most luxurious cars. There are three distinct handcrafted models now available each offer customers something different.

The Mulsanne, with its understated elegance and sporting purpose, remains the consummate luxury limousine; the Mulsanne Speed is the pinnacle of luxury and performance thanks to its immense power, torque and refinement; and now the Mulsanne Extended Wheelbase – with its extraordinary airline-style seats and rear-passenger bias – becomes the new benchmark in automotive comfort.

My favourite is the Mulsanne Speed which is tailored for the driver, with 537 PS (530 bhp / 395 kW), 1,100 Nm (811 lb.ft) and selectable sports suspension and steering on demand.

The reengineered powertrain, featuring Bentley’s mighty 6¾-litre twin-turbo V8, propels the Mulsanne Speed to 60 mph in 4.8 seconds (0‑100 km/h in 4.9 seconds) and on to a top speed of 190 mph (305 km/h). In modern Bentley tradition, the extra performance is matched by markedly improved efficiency; a 13% gain means a range extended by 50 miles (80 km).

New and contemporary styling features define the Mulsanne Speed as a statement in quintessential British luxury. On-board technology and connectivity are discreetly integrated beneath the finest materials, created with unrivalled craftsmanship and exquisite handcrafted details.

The Bentley Mulsanne offers the Mulliner Driving Specification interior features fitted as standard and include quilted hide door panels and seats and embroidered Bentley emblems to all seats. Noteworthy also is the use of the world’s finest handcrafted wood, leather and metal fittings, new door trims and armrests, unique glass switchgear and an industry-leading palette of 24 exquisite hide colours.

The Mulsanne, Mulsanne Speed and Mulsanne Extended Wheelbase all share Bentley’s unrivalled levels of attention to detail and craftsmanship, while at the same time catering for the needs of individual customers.

A suite of elegantly executed styling revisions mark the new Mulsanne out from its predecessor. The entire front-end style of the car (forward of the A pillar) has been completely redesigned. The fenders, bonnet, radiator shell, grilles, lights – and bumpers fore and aft – have all been updated, giving the car a more modern and integrated appearance.

The new Mulsanne features a completely new infotainment system, boasting class-leading navigation technology. It also features a selection of on-board infotainment systems that raise the bar for audio and visual entertainment on the move.

The core of the new system is an all-new touch-screen-based infotainment platform with additional haptic controls, classic analogue gauges and state-of-the-art rear-seat entertainment. The main 8” display touch screen is connected to a 60 GB solid-state hard drive for the storage of on-board media.

The new Mulsanne can be specified with the world’s most powerful automotive OEM audio system – Naim for Bentley Premium Audio. This bespoke on-board audio system features 20 speakers, 20 channels, a 2,200 watt amplifier and Super Tweeters, for unrivalled re-creation of the highest audio frequencies.

Rear-seat passengers benefit from the introduction of the Bentley Entertainment Tablet – a pair of 10.2” Android devices. Internet browsing is via the car’s 4G WiFi system, permitting access to Internet radio and local or streamed video.

For safety while on the move, the new Mulsanne comes with Advanced Automatic Stability Control (ASC) including collision mitigation features.