Mulsanne. It’s a serious name to use. The small commune in northern France is best known for the road that runs north of it – the D338, or the Route Des Tours. It’s better known as the Mulsanne straight, and it connects the village with the town of Le Mans. This six kilometre stretch of public highway is one of the most recognisable names in motorsport. It forms the backbone of the Circuit de Sarthe, used every year since 1923 to host the 24 Heures du Mans. In the 1990s, when race car development reached the tipping point between achievable top speed and regulation from terrified officials, Le Mans cars were hitting speeds in excess of 400kph on the Mulsanne.

So for Bentley to name its latest luxury saloon after this stretch of motorsport legend may seem a touch incongruous. The new Mulsanne is a very large wood-panelled dream car, not a screaming racer. One doesn’t chase lap times in a Bentley. What were they thinking?
Delve into the British company’s history, and the decision becomes clearer. Back in the 1920s, a group of wealthy customers known as the Bentley Boys took Bentleys to victory at Le Mans, giving credence to the brand’s reputation for performance and reliability. And in 2003, Bentley came back for a one-off crack at overall victory with the Speed 8. They succeeded.
So the Mulsanne, despite its genre and appearance, does have motorsport heritage coursing through its veins. How well though will that would translate to its driving experience?
Despite attempts to wangle enough money from the evo coffers for a trip to Le Mans, we decided to stay in the Middle East, find our own version of the straight that gave the Mulsanne its name and give it a serious workout.

The UAE isn’t exactly noted for its twisting, European-style country roads, so finding long stretches of straight tarmac wasn’t difficult. But we needed the right sort. The Mulsanne isn’t a super-highway with 14 lanes of commuter-carrying width; it’s a two-lane road. We also needed some surroundings suitable for a car of the Mulsanne’s stature, and a gas station wasn’t going to cut it.

A scan of Google Maps showed us what we needed. Towards the south of the UAE, deep into the Empty Quarter and near the border with Saudi Arabia, sits the resort of Qasr Al Sarab. Visitors heading from the north must pass Abu Dhabi and turn inland, heading as straight as an arrow along a two-lane road more than 100km long. Perfect.

And so on a swelteringly hot August morning, I load an overnight bag into our champagne-coloured test car and begin the long trek south. The departure follows a period of contemplation about the look of the car. Honestly, I’m less than wowed. Sure, it’s big and hulking and instantly recognisable as a Bentley, but the large central headlights, flanked by smaller running lights, don’t sit well with the flowing lines of the rest of the car. I understand the reference to Bentley faces of old, but it looks to me a bit like a spider’s multi-eyed face. And not in a good way. Moving around the back, the rear end isn’t particularly inspiring either. It’s too similar to the derriere of the Continental Flying Spur – itself no great looker – while somehow conjuring the hints of Lexus SC430. Hmm.

Opening the door though reveals a much more impressive sight. Bentley claims to have spent almost half the build process of the Mulsanne crafting the interior, and it shows. The whole cabin is drenched in cream leather and the fantastic wood veneer dashboard is peppered with chrome vent controls that look like the offspring of engine valves and organ stops. The driving environment is a vast improvement on the previous big saloon in the Bentley range; the Flying Spur, although appointed with some luxurious materials, felt too much like an Audi parts bin at times. The Mulsanne feels bespoke.

With the key in my pocket I settle into the driver’s seat, which is more supportive than I expected. My time with a Rolls-Royce Phantom felt like piloting a boat, with almost flat, high seats and a large steering wheel. In the Mulsanne I can move the seats low, almost to the floor, and the steering wheel is entirely reasonable in its dimensions. A stab of the Start fires up the 6.75-litre V8 engine under the long bonnet that stretches out ahead of me, topped with a silver flying B emblem. There’s a faint shudder as pistons start their work, but it’s so hushed and quiet that I check the dashboard to make sure everything has come to life.

It doesn’t take long to get used to being behind the wheel. When driving the Phantom, I felt terrified for the whole time, conscious that I was in charge of a very expensive bit of kit and never really getting comfortable with its enormous dimensions. The Mulsanne is also enormous and at $$$, far from cheap, but it’s much more intuitive to pilot. Once I’ve got used to the large proboscis (aided by the Flying B marking the front-most boundary), I’m threading the Mulsanne out onto the E11 motorway heading from Dubai towards Abu Dhabi.
Leaving the on-ramp I press the sculpted metal accelerator into the thick carpet and head for 140kph. The big Bentley sits back, and the engine noise – from the inside, at least – increases to a hum. The V8 develops 505bhp, but it’s the 752lb ft of torque that pushes me back in my seat. It might weigh 2585kg but boy, can the Mulsanne shift, and in contrast to its sound the accelerative impact is more physical than I expected. It’s like being forcibly restrained by a librarian; an impressive but disconcerting experience.

In truth, despite its power, Bentley’s newest saloon doesn’t encourage quick driving. It’s the type of car that has the potential to be fast but doesn’t need to show it off. It’s above that kind of boasting. As we pull up to the front of the hotel, the valet parking attendant’s eyes light up, and we’re given a welcome that I suspect might be a fraction more deferential than normal. The Mulsanne is the consumate luxury mile muncher, motoring at its most relaxed and an expression of a restrained, elegant and knowledgable style. It’s not sporty, despite its power, name and heritage, but that doesn’t mean I’m not looking forward to the four-hour journey home.

Thanks to the Qasr Al Sarab resort (www.qasralsarab.ae) and EVO Middle East for the words