Thoughts from the Curb: Bentley Stuck Between a Rolls and a Hard Place
I'm an unabashed fan of British cars. Well, the interesting ones at least -- I'm not a member of the Morris Marina Fan Club or anything. Aston Martin, Mini, Range Rover, Jaguar and Rolls-Royce have epic amounts of personality, style and flair (sometimes known as quirks) that make them more than just transportation appliances. While every British brand has been for a swim in the financial toilet and are notorious for their unreliability, I find it impossible not to love them. There's a metaphor for a woman somewhere in there.
So it was with great anticipation that I greeted the 2011 Bentley Mulsanne this past weekend. All-new, this "Grand Bentley" promised to not only replace the outgoing ye olde Arnage, but transcend onto yet another level currently inhabited by only the monumentally awesome Rolls-Royce Phantom and some German thing that looks like an '01 S-Class. But then I saw the Mulsanne ... and could think of nothing but Dickens novels and Gwyneth Paltrow.
From a styling standpoint, the Mulsanne is a terrible disappointment. The edgy front fenders are a direct rip-off of the Phantom -- ditto the wheels. The rounded radiator grille is pure Arnage. The taillights are Continental Flying Spur. The shapely rear haunches are a shade Silver Seraph. The weirdly placed headlights seem random. There is simply nothing original about this car; nothng that raises it above or sets it apart from Rolls-Royce. It almost looks like one of those Chinese rip-offs of an established car -- almost.
But then I thought of Bentley and Volkswagen's predicament in creating an entirely new car. From 1931 to 2002, Bentleys were just rebadged Rolls-Royces. To find actual Bentley styling to draw from, you'd have to go back to a 1930 8-Liter or something, which is about as apropos to modern vehicle design as the Mary Rose is to modern aircraft carriers. Actually, the Mulsanne's designers claim to have been inspired by the 8-Liter. Take a look at right and tell me what you think. Uncanny, eh, how both have four wheels, round headlights and are made of metal.
Frankly, Bentley is stuck between a rock and a hard place. it could have created a radical (for Bentley at least) new design for their new flagship, just as it did for the Continental, which forged a new path while retaining certain unmistakable styling cues. The Continental was indeed a radical departure for the brand, but it was mostly intended to bring in new customers. The traditional Bentley models --- Arnage, Azure and Brooklands -- are intended to satisfy the ultra-rich loyalists who are institutionally opposed to change. Breaking from that Rolls-looking tradition would be like ditching the Queen in favor of Posh Spice. They tossed their tweed driving caps in anger when Bentley had the tenacity to ditch the venerable and ancient 6.75-liter V8 in favor of a BMW V8 in the original Arnage.
Therefore, I guess it was determined that the new Mulsanne had to look like a "proper Bentley," and to do that it had to look like a proper Rolls-Royce. Perhaps that'll please the Eighth Duke of Gloustershire, who'll no doubt be pleased to add one to his collection. However, I fear that the Mulsanne will be to Bentley what the last XJ was to Jaguar. Magnificent to drive, but its styling's stubborn attachment to the past was ultimately a disaster.
In fact, something like the next-generation 2010 XJ is exactly where Bentley should've gone: bold, new, different and definitely full of character. I would've been excited about that.
James Riswick, Automotive Editor
"Thoughts from the Curb" is my weekly editorial column that appears every Wednesday morning at 6 a.m. Eastern. It delves deeper into whatever automotive topic pops into my bizarre mind, but it doesn't necessarily reflect the opinions of Edmunds.com. James is not the great-grandson of the Eighth Duke of Gloustershire.
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- James Riswick August 19, 2009, 3:00 AM
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Not every Bentley from 1931 to 2002 was a rebadged Rolls. Nearly all...yes. However, the current Bentley Continental was inspired by the original R-Type Continental of the early '50s -- a car with styling (and performance) unique to Bentley.
http://www.motorbase.com/pictures/contributions/990529-european/std_1952_bentley_r-type_continental.jpg
James, I agree! But then, at the same time, "traditional" Bentleys have always looked like Rolls-Royce models......so perhaps this model looking like a Rolls-Royce rip-off is not a big deal. If they can give the Mulsanne good handling/sportiness, it'll be like all "traditional" Bentleys: a sport(ier) Rolls-Royce.
James, I agree! But then, at the same time, "traditional" Bentleys have always looked like Rolls-Royce models......so perhaps this model looking like a Rolls-Royce rip-off is not a big deal. If they can give the Mulsanne good handling/sportiness, it'll be like all "traditional" Bentleys: a sport(ier) Rolls-Royce.
Haaaa ... the Silver Seraph. I nearly forgot about those things. Gimme a Red Label Arnage!
Yeah, the Mulsannes headlamps are just plain odd (like the rear of a Ferrari California grafted onto the front of a Bentley.) And what's with the gaping maw? And those CHROME window surrounds!? Pure trash. Usually I find those on V6 Chrysler 300s.
The headlights are the area where I have the largest issues. The rest of the vehicle feels suitably Bentley to me, even if it borrows views from previous cars.
That being said, I'd rather have the Rolls. I love the Bentley coupes though.
I'm actually a huge fan of the new Mulsanne's styling. I acknowledge that the headlights are challenging, but they don't throw the car for me, and the rest is quite beautiful to my eyes. Then again, I'm hardly a luxury sedan sorta guy so maybe my opinion is out to lunch...
this car is hidious.
its not going to be a success.