The illustrious English automaker Bentley has just announced that the 2010 Mulsanne luxury limousine will go on sale in the U.S. Market next Fall for the mere sum of $285,000. Bentley’s new luxury car, which it is proclaiming as the “pinnacle” of luxury cars, made a resounding world debut earlier this year at the 2009 Pebble Beach Concours, an event that drew the attention of the most prominent automotive enthusiasts from around the world.

Names after the notorious 250 MPH back straight at the Circuit de la Sarthe, the Mulsanne->ke3495 is powered by a hand built fuel sipping V8, the 2011 Mulsanne will be offered with an assortment of options aimed at tailoring the new luxury sedan to even the pickiest of car consumers starting off with over 114 paint options, 21 shades for the carpeting, nine different wood veneers and as many as 24 kinds of leather hides to choose from for the interior. If those aren't enough factory options Bentley's bespoke service department will bend over backwards to exactly match a customer's taste. With more standard leather and wood veneer than any other Bentley built in recent years, each example of the Mulsanne will take a minimum of nine weeks to put together. So send in your order early, because otherwise you might get stuck with someone else's second hand dream car.

Press release after the jump.

Press release

Bentley Motors today announced more details of its all-new flagship motorcar, the Mulsanne, following successful debuts at the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance in August and Frankfurt's IAA motor show in September. More than 1,000 private previews of Mulsanne have also been held at the company's factory in Crewe, England and during a seven-city U.S. tour.

To be priced at $285,000* in the United States, the Mulsanne has been designed and engineered without compromise by Bentley's craftsmen and engineers to combine refined performance and unparalleled levels of luxury with the coach building elegance for which the marque has long been renowned.

Stuart McCullough, Member of the Board for Sales & Marketing for Bentley Motors, comments:

"Even at this very early stage, the expression of interest we've received easily exceeds our 2010 production targets. Mulsanne's credentials are a pure expression of Bentley design and craftsmanship, and that's struck a chord with Bentley enthusiasts as well as many of the potential customers we have welcomed for tours in Crewe this year. We've been encouraged by the positive commentary, notably from our American customers as the Mulsanne was privately previewed in seven metro markets across the country."

Production of the Mulsanne will commence at Bentley's Crewe (England) headquarters in the second quarter of 2010. A newly constructed body production facility, dedicated to Mulsanne, is being completed where leading-edge body assembly technology, such as superforming of the aluminum front wings for superb surface definition, will complement traditional, highly skilled metalworking including hand-brazing of steel joints for a 'hewn from solid' appearance.

Bentley's Mulsanne will arrive in the USA in the Fall of 2010 and will offer customers a world of infinite choice when commissioning their cars. The luxury Bentley flagship offers a palette of 114 paint colors, 21 carpet colors, nine wood veneers and 24 interior leather hides, all of which will be tanned using a decades-old process to ensure this future classic never loses its scent. In addition, through Bentley's bespoke service, unique colors can exactly match a customer's vision and taste. With more standard leather and wood veneer than any other Bentley in the modern era, the Mulsanne will take nine weeks to build.

Bentley's legendary hand-assembled V8 engine pays homage to its predecessors but for the new Mulsanne is comprehensively re-engineered employing advanced technologies to deliver unstressed refined performance. The new Bentley V8 engine is lighter and features cylinder de-activation and variable cam phasing, contributing to a significant reduction in both fuel consumption and CO2 emissions.

Advanced technology is exquisitely packaged within the Mulsanne's opulent cabin. Behind its heritage-inspired dials and new glass-effect switches lie leading edge features including iPod and mp3 connectivity, Bluetooth and a SIM card reader, as well as a 3G MMI system. Those opting for NAIM's premium audio system will be treated to the world's most powerful system fitted to a production vehicle - a 20-channel 2,200-watt experience.

Bentley Motors will announce further pricing news for international markets in the near future as well as further information about the extensive range of additional options with which the Mulsanne can be specified.

Founder W.O. Bentley had a vision of building "a good car, a fast car, the best in its class." 90 years later, Bentley's new flagship Mulsanne will be positioned at the pinnacle of the premium segment with respect to quality, authenticity and supremacy.