Bentley axes plans for a Mulsanne Convertible, defies its long-bodied lineage

By Nick Jaynes Published September 20, 2013

bentley defies its long bodied lineage and axes plans for a mulsanne convertible concept cropped 3 2 — Bentley has chosen profits over pedigree and axed the Mulsanne Convertible to instead focus on an SUV. Image used with permission by copyright holder

Bad news Bentley fans. The Mulsanne Convertible won’t be going into production. I know. I am crying in my cashmere, too.

Back in march we reported that Bentley brass was still deciding if the brand needed a Mulsanne convertible. With a 6.75-liter twin-turbocharged V8 under the hood from the Mulsanne sedan, the convertible would have produced 505 horsepower and 725 pound-feet of torque, which would be more than enough to move the long-wheel base convertible with great conviction.

Recommended Videos

Unfortunately, Bentley CEO Wolfgang Schreiber confirmed to Car and Driver that the bespoke British automaker would in fact not be producing the cogent convertible. “We will not do that car,” Schreiber said.

Ultimately, Bentley didn’t feel there was enough demand for such an undertaking. “The demand for a Mulsanne convertible is just regional,” Schreiber added. “So if it would come, it would be very successful in the U.S. and maybe some regions in Europe, but I think that will not be enough demand for a good business case.”

What this really means is that Bentley is far more interested in looking forward with its forthcoming SUV than looking backward to a car that follows its long-bodied lineage.

If you did want a humongous English drop-top – you know, one bigger than the Continental Convertible – your only choice now is the Rolls-Royce Phantom Drophead. And if you ask us, that’s a far better looking beast anyhow.

Former Digital Trends Contributor

Nick Jaynes is the Automotive Editor for Digital Trends. He developed a passion for writing about cars working his way…

Cars

Mini’s infotainment system is very charming, but still needs work

Main screen of the Mini infotainment system

When you think Mini, you probably don’t think of infotainment. Personally, I think of the British flag taillights, the distinct exterior, and the surprising room on the inside. But after driving the Mini John Cooper Works Countryman over the past week, infotainment might well be something I think of more often when it comes to Mini. It’s charming.

It also, however, suffers from all the traps that other legacy automakers fall into when it comes to software design. Mini has something on its hands here — but it still needs some work.
Bringing the charm
The first thing that stood out to me about the system when I got in the car was how fun it was. That all starts with the display. It’s round! No, it’s not curved — the screen is a big, round display sits in at 9.4 inches, and I found it plenty large enough for day-to-day use.

Cars

Plug-in hybrids are becoming more popular. Why? And will it continue?

Kia Niro EV Charging Port

There's a lot of talk about the idea that the growth in electric car sales has kind of slowed a little. It's not all that surprising -- EVs are still expensive, early adopters all have one by now, and they're still new enough to where there aren't too many ultra-affordable used EVs available. But plenty of people still want a greener vehicle, and that has given rise to an explosion in hybrid vehicle sales.

That's especially true of plug-in hybrid vehicles, which can be charged like an EV and driven in all-electric mode for short distances, and have a gas engine as a backup for longer distances or to be used in combination with electric mode for more efficient driving.

Cars

EV drivers are not going back to gas cars, global survey says

ev drivers are not going back to gas cars global survey says screenshot

Nearly all current owners of electric vehicles (EVs) are either satisfied or very satisfied with the experience, and 92% of them plan to buy another EV, according to a survey by the Global EV Drivers Alliance.

The survey of 23,000 EV drivers worldwide found that only 1% would return to a petrol or diesel car, while 4% would opt for a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) if they had to replace their car.