Rolls-Royce Ghost vs. Bentley Mulsanne

Not only does there need to be a certain degree of chemistry, willingness to give and take, and excitement, there also needs to be that crucial element of heart-palpitating attraction. Fortunately for individuals seeking the perfect supercar, Rolls-Royce and Bentley continue to step up their games to make sure it’s love at first sight every time car enthusiasts lay eyes on one of their lavish automobiles.

The ongoing rivalry between two of the world’s most luxurious carmakers, Rolls-Royce and Bentley, means that individuals seeking to settle down with one of their deluxe automobiles may have to make some difficult choices when deciding which wheel to get behind. Both legendary companies produce some of the world’s most regal automobiles with extraordinary state-of-the-art appeal. The new Rolls-Royce Ghost delivers impeccable poise and embodies the core values of the company while providing contemporary and effortless luxury; the new Bentley Mulsanne is designed and engineered for refined performance mixing unparalleled levels of interior luxury with Bentley’s sporting heritage and passion for power and speed.

Rolls-Royce Motor Cars is synonymous with traditional sophistication and luxury with an unbounded drive to deliver poise, precision, and unrivaled comfort. Its latest creation, the Ghost, is no exception. Despite being the most powerful car that Rolls-Royce has ever produced, the Ghost exudes a delicate elegance designed to lower the pulse, not raise it.

[highlight_text] Designed to be fully integrated with the driver and passenger’s safety in mind, the Ghost’s dynamic handling and safety systems have been specifically engineered to work in harmony. [/highlight_text]

Transcending the mere automobile, the Ghost is more driver-focused than any of its predecessors, with the driver situated firmly in what is described as the authority position—a slightly elevated perch behind the wheel making the view of the road much clearer. In addition to a multitude of advanced features, the car includes neatly sculpted controls, a spacious and intuitive layout, satellite navigation, rear, front side, and top view cameras, and flawless hand-stitched leather interiors. Rolls-Royce Engineering Director Helmut Riedl says, “A Rolls-Royce should be effortless in every way; the way it accelerates, brakes, and handles. It should do all of these functions with apparent ease regardless of the complex mechanicals that are working out of sight of the driver and passengers. The driver simply has to point the car in the preferred direction of travel and press the accelerator.”

Designed to be fully integrated with the driver and passenger’s safety in mind, the Ghost’s dynamic handling and safety systems have been specifically engineered to work in harmony. Riedl notes, “Nothing should distract from the pleasure of driving a Ghost,” which is why the luxury carmaker incorporated systems like the active roll stabilization, night vision cameras, pedestrian recognition, lane departure warning, and an active break intervention system. Engineered to ride and drive in a peerless fashion, the Ghost is a true vision of simplicity and serene style embodying more than 100 years of engineering and design excellence in a modern and uncompromised style true to the Rolls-Royce name.

Bentley’s Mulsanne is a modern flagship that unmistakably captures the essence of the infamous Bentley marquee. Maintaining its inbreed elegance, the Mulsanne features a distinctly sporty character with advanced technology tucked away behind handcrafted luxury representing the pinnacle of British luxury automobiles.

Underscoring Bentley’s sporting heritage and passion for power and speed, the Mulsanne is a unique synthesis of sportiness, coach-built elegance, and trusted solidity. With a bold frontal design subjugated by the renowned Bentley matrix grille and extremely prominent round inner headlamps with chrome surrounds, the Mulsanne conveys a sense of power and movement gracefully sculpted and reinforced by 20-inch wheels. “The opportunity to design a new flagship Bentley is something afforded to very few designers,” says Dirk van Braeckel, Mulsanne’s design director. “The team set out to create a sculpted form that blended classic Bentley heritage cues with modern lines that allow the marquee to stride confidently into the 21st century.”

Discretely placed within the Mulsanne’s luxurious interior is the latest in advanced technologies, including a multimedia system with 40GB of hard disc drives, satellite navigation, personal data, a leather-lined MP3 player storage drawer, a 14-speaker audio system, and a six-CD auto changer. A rare personalized keyless entry system allows for multiple pre-programmed configurations according to the driver’s needs. The system automatically sets radio stations, phone book settings, seat configurations, and steering column and seatbelt settings as well as allows for a keyless start, thanks to a stop/start button on the center console.

Identifying the classic signatureinterior design features that have defined Bentleys from the 1920s to the present day, the Mulsanne’s head of interior designer, Robin Page, says, “More than 170 hours—almost half the entire build process—goes into crafting the interior of the new Mulsanne. Bentley’s way of working is the opposite of mass production—we start where others stop.” In addition, increasing the use of wood and leather hides has created a significantly more luxurious and refined cabin in the new model. Customers may choose from a virtually limitless palette of leather hides, including 24 standard colors, three of which are entirely new to Bentley. Like a match made in luxury-car heaven, Bentley notes, “This ensures that the needs of all customers can be matched perfectly.”

With the powerful and apparent tribute that the Bentley Mulsanne pays to the carmaker’s past, and a unique fusion of power, refinement, and grace, the Mulsanne is an extremely modern luxury car offering one of the worlds’s most exclusive and memorable driving experiences.