Bentley's Flagship Complete

The Mulsanne story has concluded with a range of exhaustive real world tests and checks that underline Bentley's total commitment to the quality of its new flagship.

Whilst quality checks are fundamental to every stage of the Mulsanne’s build, it is at the penultimate sign-off stage ‘Checkpoint 7’ that the complete car is given the most rigorous examination possible. Every Mulsanne must pass through 503 individual checks conducted by Donna Morrey and her inspectors from the Quality team.

The inspection lasts a full two hours and features all of the functional measures you’d expect of a modern automotive plant but with key two critical differences; Bentley reviews every single Mulsanne, without exception, and the inspection team sets the most exacting standards of quality which are commensurate with a flagship model at the pinnacle of the ultra-luxury segment.

"New colleagues are sometimes surprised by the lengths we go to and have been honest enough to admit that what we consider an issue would not register at another facility." Donna Morrey explained.

Whilst checking that every function works (first time, every time and on every car) Donna’s team is also tasked with looking beyond the merely operational. In her own words the team will also act as the ‘hands and eyes of the customer’ and a skilled inspector has a natural empathy for the car and how it should look and feel.

After testing on the shake rig and rolling road, every Mulsanne completes a rigorous on-road evaluation. Jason Davies and his colleagues have an in-depth knowledge of the roads surrounding Bentley’s headquarters and the 21-mile route has been chosen to assess the Mulsanne’s engine performance, ride quality and cabin refinement.

Morrey comments: "Jason and his team have one of the most enviable jobs at the factory but their work involves something far more important than completing some basic checks and enjoying a drive.

"Each Mulsanne is driven on a wide range of carefully selected roads offering variations in camber and surface quality. Road types range from narrow English country lanes to fast dual carriageways, allowing the car to be comprehensively evaluated."

(BMcC/GK)