News Source: topspeed.com

Bentley  is known for producing some of the most posh and opulent vehicles on the road today. Only the finest interior materials are used by the craftsman who hand-assemble each car. But Bentley doesn’t offer a vehicle with seating for six – especially one configured with rear-facing seats. Not many automakers these days do. But when a customer approached Bentley’s customization department known as Mulliner, the company jumped at the chance to create something bespoke.

That’s just what happened here. This one-off customized Mulsanne  is a full three feet longer than a standard Mulsanne,  and offers seating for four in its rear cabin. A divider separates the driver and front passenger from the rear, complete with “smart glass” that changes from clear to opaque with a simple switch.

“The Mulsanne Grand Limousine showcases the exquisite craftsmanship of our in-house coachbuilder, Mulliner and exemplifies the way in which our experts consult with a customer to turn their vision into an extraordinary reality,” says Wolfgang Dürheimer, Bentley’s chairman and chief executive. “The attention to detail, quality, creativity and skill applied to every Mulliner commission is truly unique in the automotive world.” It takes a second for the mind to wrap around the idea. A customer wanted a Mulsanne limousine,  so Bentley built it. Talk about service. Unlike other luxury automakers’ customization departments, Mulliner doesn’t stop with bespoke paint colors or specialty-dyed leathers. Mulliner literally created a limo version – presumably by chopping the Mulsanne apart and adding length – for a single customer. While it’s hard to imagine the costs and labor involved, Bentley’s Grand Limousine is assuredly not cheap – not by a long shot.

Starting on the outside, the Mulsanne Grand Limousine is lengthened by a full meter and is 79 mm taller thanks to the bespoke roofline. The added length resides between the B-pillar and the rear wheels, with a longer rear door to accommodate the extra passengers’ entry and exit. A center section further adds length between the doors. The car is painted in a hue called Moroccan Blue with the hood, roof, and trunk painted in a contrasting Silver Frost. The 21-inch wheels then carry the Moroccan Blue color within its spokes.

Once inside the rear cabin, it’s easy to see why Bentley is showcasing this one-off built at the 2016 Geneva Motor Show. The four seats are enveloped a leather-lined cabin with real wood veneers, aluminum parts, chilled compartments for drinks, and connectivity for modern electronics.

The rear cabin features a HVAC system that was specially designed by Mulliner to keep all four passengers comfortable. The center arm rests hold individual folding tables while the area behind the rearmost passengers holds a bottle cooler with frosted glass and crystal flutes. There’s also a separate cooler for soft drinks. When the passengers must request a stop or a change in destination, an intercom system allows conversation with the driver. There’s also three hand-crafted dials that tell UK time, local time, and the outside temperature.

Though the interior and exterior show obvious changes, Bentley’s customer didn’t request changes be made to the Mulsanne’s drivetrain. That means the twin-turbocharged, 6.75-liter V-8 is still in use, presumably making the same 505 horsepower and 752 pound-feet of torque. Performance numbers will take a hit, but not likely by too much. The standard Mulsanne can hit 60 mph in 5.1 seconds, so expect the Grand Limousine to take another half second. Of course, Bentley won’t release how much its customer paid for this one-off creation. The “standard” Mulsanne carries a starting price around $300,000, so expect the Grand Limousine to cost around $500,000. If that number sounds like a deal, you can have Bentley build your own version of the Grand Limo.