Unveiled initially at the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance, the Mulsanne retained two key elements from the Arnage—rear-wheel drive with the front axle centerline optimally positioned forward, and a 6.75-litre push-rod V8 engine equipped with twin-turbochargers.

The Mulsanne has generally been well received, with Jeremy Clarkson, best known for his appearances on Top Gear, claiming that the ride is quiet and the torques were great while criticising the number of switches and the fact that it was less "tasteful" than a Rolls-Royce Ghost.

Styled by Belgian automobile designer Dirk van Braeckel, the Mulsanne is a four-door sedan which was offered in two body lengths: short- and extended-wheelbase.

[7][8][9] The inception of the Mulsanne was an unforeseen project, as efforts were initially focused on preserving the Arnage following Volkswagen Group's acquisition of Bentley.

Originally,[a] the upcoming Continental Flying Spur was slated as the successor, but dissatisfaction with this concept prompted Bentley chairman Franz-Josef Paefgen to abruptly discontinue it.

He advocated for the development of an entirely new vehicle, preserving two integral elements of the Arnage's design—rear-wheel drive with the front axle centerline optimally positioned forward, and a 6.75-litre push-rod V8 with a twin-turbo system.

A presentation to the Bentley board in March 2006 led to two proposals being chosen for full-scale clay models, with the final design freeze occurring in winter 2007.

Extensive work in CFG and the wind tunnel, along with input from suppliers, led to design tweaks and the creation of full-size GKN data control models.

The final selection process by the board in September 2007 resulted in a design freeze, with the two full-scale clays sharing similar features like a shallow V-shaped hood and distinctive locomotive-style shoulders inherited from the 2008 Brooklands coupe.

[6] Throughout its development, one of the team's goals was to construct a heavy vehicle, as part of Bentley's philosophy that the weight of a car is intrinsically linked to its identity, as perceived by customers.

Bentley believed that a lighter vehicle would "spoil the driving experience," which British magazine Evo described as a "strange thing to hear from a car company these days".

[28] The first Mulsanne produced, with chassis number 00001, was sold in 2009 at the Gooding & Company Pebble Beach auction for US$500,000 (US$550,000 after buyer premium) to an undisclosed bidder.

[32] The first stage of the Mulsanne's assembly process involves its body in white, where Bentley metalworkers perform 5,800 individual welds, joining hundreds of meters of steel and aluminium.

[33] Bentley's objective was to render all traces of welds entirely imperceptible, creating the illusion that the body seamlessly originated from a single piece of metal.

In specific areas, such as where the roof merges into the rear haunch through the deep D-pillar, a team brazes the joint by hand until it becomes entirely invisible to the human eye, particularly once the vehicle is painted.

[34] Due to the body's curvature, the paint application requires precise hand spraying at various depths to achieve a smooth and even appearance.

[8] Wood plays a crucial role, forming a foundation of solid walnut, cherry, or oak that runs through the dashboard and doors of the Mulsanne.

Exclusive to this model, a solid wood substrate is overlaid with a selection of a dozen different veneers, sourced from sustainable origins globally, with colours ranging from red to brown and black.

[32] The Mulsanne undergoes a hand-assembly process in a dedicated build area staffed by 120 employees, distinct from the main assembly hall operating lines for the Bentayga, Continental GT, and Flying Spur models.

[32][36] Standard features include 20-inch wheels, air suspension, soft-close doors and trunk, keyless entry and ignition, a sunroof, and parking sensors.

The range-topping Mulliner Driving Specification adds exclusive 21-inch wheels, sport-tuned suspension, perforated seats and door panels and leather trimming.

[37][38] Safety features include anti-lock brakes (ABS), electronic stability control (ESC), front, side and overhead airbags, seat belt pretensioners, and a vehicle intrusion security system.

[42] Other features exclusive to the Speed include a Sports mode in the suspension system settings, exterior enhancements like a dark tint finish applied to the stainless steel matrix grille, distinctive headlights, a "floating ellipse" design on the rear taillights, Bentley's first directional-style wheel and tire set, and twin rifled exhaust tailpipes.

[44] Unveiled at the 2016 Geneva Motor Show, the Bentley Mulsanne Extended Wheelbase (EWB) prioritises the rear-seat passenger experience.

Changes include Tungsten over Onyx paintwork inspired by the colourings of the Shaheen eagle, Magnolia and Beluga leather interior upholstery, Dark Stained Burr Walnut Veneer, a bespoke signature Mulsanne Shaheen logo on the rear iPad picnic tables using a gold overlay, iPad picnic tables, a Wi-Fi hotspot, a large tilt-opening tinted glass sunroof, and an electrically operated bottle cooler.

[52] The Mulsanne Seasons Collector's Editions (慕尚四季臻藏版) are limited (10 units for each of orchids (Spring), bamboo (Summer), chrysanthemums (Autumn), and plum (Winter); 1 unit for Golden Pine (Whole Year Edition)) versions of 2014 Bentley Mulsanne with Mulliner Driving Specification for China market, inspired China's culture.

Designed with Lin Xi's interpretation of the Chinese 'Four Seasons',[53][54][55] all models include 21-inch Mulliner Polished Wheel, twin picnic tables.

[68][69][70][71][72] The Birkin Edition is a Limited Edition model of the Bentley Mulsanne equipped with the Mulliner Driving Specification and Entertainment Specification (twin 8-inch LCD screens in the rear of the seat headrests, a DVD player, a Wi-Fi hotspot, the Naim for Bentley audio system and iPads integrated into the hand-crafted solid wood picnic tables) as standard.

Other features specific to this model include a choice of 3 body colour schemes (Ghost White, Damson, and a contrast of Fountain Blue and Dark Sapphire), numbered door sill plaques, a 21-inch wheel design inspired by those on the original Mulsanne concept car,[74] a 3D 'Flying B' logo stitched into the vehicle headrests and inlaid into the wood of the front fascia and rear picnic tables, a luggage set individually numbered and hand-crafted to match with the interior of each car.

Other features specific to this model include the words 'Ninety Five' joined by Union Jack Flags on illuminated treadplates, the number '95’ is also embroidered onto the front and rear seats, the Flying 'B' bonnet mascot with a darker tint, and wood veneer that Bentley claims is sourced from a fallen walnut tree aged between 300 and 400 years old.