Production of the Bentley Mulsanne has finally ended, closing the chapter on the model’s 11-year run as the British automaker’s flagship model. Over 7,300 units of the Mulsanne were handbuilt at Bentley’s home in Crewe, Cheshire in the U.K., including the final production model, which also happens to be the final example of the limited-run Mulsanne 6.75 Edition by Mulliner. With the Mulsanne now set for retirement, the Flying Spur takes its place atop Bentley’s model hierarchy as the brand’s new flagship model. The Mulsanne occupied that spot for more than a decade, but now that the model is headed for the sunset, it’s high time to clear that spot for the next-in-line Flying Spur. The Mulsanne had a great run, but like all great runs, there’s always a finish line ahead, and the Mulsanne has finally crossed it.

How long was the Bentley Mulsanne in production?

Eleven years. That’s how long the Bentley Mulsanne sat as the British automaker’s flagship model. It seemed like only a few years ago when Bentley unveiled the Mulsanne at Pebble Beach in 2009. But time flies when you’re having a good time, and Bentley sure had a ball having the Mulsanne as its flagship model. In the decade that it was in production, over 7,300 units of the Mulsanne were built, a staggering number for a car that sold for over $300,000 per unit. But everything, even the good things, comes to an end. The Bentley Mulsanne is not an exception to that. Bentley even planned an end-of-production celebration for its beloved super luxury sedan, but the COVID-19 pandemic scuttled those plans. Still, all wasn’t lost; Bentley employees managed to give a final salute to the Mulsanne through what the automaker described as “socially-distanced photographs” with some of the last-production units, including the special edition Mulsanne that we can see in the pictures provided by the automaker.



Is this Bentley Mulsanne the final-production model?

No, it’s not. It’s the penultimate (second-to-the-last) model that was made, and, in to showcase how special this specific model is, Bentley tagged it as part of the “6.75 Edition by Mulliner, the last batch of special edition models under the Mulsanne nameplate. This specific model is finished in Rose Gold over Tungsten, a color combination that only the fine people over at Mulliner can create. In addition to its exclusive two-tone color finish, the penultimate Mulsanne — it’s a Mulsanne Speed, by the way — also wears chrome badging in the exterior, including a “6.75 Edition” logo that can be projected by LED puddle lights. Seat motifs are also part of the luxury sedan’s exclusive design. The sedan also comes with an engine number plaque that will be signed by no less than company CEO Adrian Hallmark.

If you’re wondering where the real final-production model is located, let’s just say that you’re going to have a hard time finding any relevant information about that car. All Bentley has said at this point is that the final example remains a “closely guarded secret.”

Bentley has plans to build another proper flagship, right?

Believe it or not, there are rumors that Bentley is keen on developing a new flagship model that would sit atop its model lineup. That’s actually not surprising. What is surprising is that, at the heart of this rumor, isn’t a sedan in the vein of the Mulsanne. It’s an SUV, as in a gigantic SUV that would become Bentley’s official successor to the Mulsanne. Apparently, Bentley’s decision-makers aren’t as bullish on the prospect of developing a new sedan if it has difficulty selling around 500 units per year. Given the automotive climate and the buyer preference for crossovers and SUVs, it’s hard to blame Bentley for at least thinking about developing an all-new SUV that would sit as its new flagship model.

Then again, all of these rumors started spreading before the coronavirus pandemic brought the entire world to its knees. It’s unclear if Bentley’s still moving forward with this plan or if it slotted the Flying Spur as its new halo model because of the pandemic. After all, having an identified model as your flagship should give Bentley more time to decide if this rumored large SUV is still worth doing.

While these plans remain up-in-the-air, what's clear is that the Bentley Mulsanne has set sail for the horizon, never to be seen again. Pour one out for Bentley's retiring halo.