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You're a very busy person. Every moment counts. Even when you're commuting, you have to produce. You have a driver for the weekdays, so that you can extend your productivity on the way to and from the office. The back seat is your office away from the office. You deserve and demand the best of the best, and you can afford it.

On the weekends, you like to drive for yourself, but you still want premium surroundings.

You want performance, you want handling, you want style and comfort. Is there a vehicle that can meet all of your requirements?

That vehicle just might be the 2013 Bentley Mulsanne.

Larger photos: Front - rear - interior - all photos

First Glance: Classic coachwork

Mulsanne's exterior design manages to be both completely contemporary and elegantly classic at the same time. The big tall grille (link goes to photo), flanked by large round headlamps, instantly recalls Bentleys of old. Mulsanne doesn't boast with a hood ornament, but quietly announces its affiliation with a winged "B" cloisonné badge that hugs the hood. LED running lights are embedded in the headlamp nacelle for a Gatling Gun effect.

Big wheel arches nicely outline the wheels, which on my test vehicle were special two-piece aluminum alloy wheels (up an inch from the stock 20" wheels), part of the $17,880 Mulliner Driving Specification (MDS) package of options. A carriage-style trunk, with flat deck and vertical back, complete the classic look, as well as adding genuine function and cargo capacity.

Spectacular fit and finish elevate the Mulsanne's exterior even further than its design. Absolutely flawless paint and body work, show chrome quality trim, brilliantly polished steel and precise fitment conspire to dazzle the senses. The most impressive aspect of Mulsanne's exterior is that it manages to remain remarkably subtle, revealing its beauty upon inspection but not screaming for attention.

In the Driver's Seat: Diamond dust

Larger interior photo

As rewarding as Mulsanne's exterior can be, its interior is even better -- which is typical of Bentley vehicles in general.

The back seat is what will sell this vehicle, especially when equipped with the $3,365 seat ventilation and massage function for front and rear seats, and $1,365 deep pile Wilton carpet mats front and rear. The prime seat in the Mulsanne is rear right. Great leg room, adjustable recline and comfortable head room assure complete relaxation and adaptability. Surrounding materials and finishes are first class, and even the armrests are deluxe.

The driver's seat is a supportive throne, with 12-way adjustability. Combined with power tilt and telescopic adjustment for the steering wheel, the perfect driving position is within easy reach, and memory settings bring back seat and wheel adjustments in seconds.

Bentley's complete mastery of switches, knobs and buttons is on full display. Every control that you touch reinforces the impression of quality and craftsmanship. The MDS package elevates the quality even further, with knurled and coined finishes on many of the important controls. You can tell that a human being had a hand in finishing the car's interior, and that years of experience and skill were brought to bear on every manufacturing task.

On the Road: Smooth sailing

I'd like to thank Ian Allcock for assembling engine number 302398, the Bentley twin-turbo V8 that powered my Mulsanne. I know that Ian hand built my 6.75-liter engine because a prominent plate proudly pronounced the fact, right on the face of the waterfall manifolds under the hood (or bonnet). Thanks, Ian, for the 505 horsepower and 752 lb-ft of torque that allowed my 5,699 lb Mulsanne to scoot from 0 - 60 in 5.1 seconds. That's not supercar fast, but it is super fast for a big car. Claimed top speed is 184 mph. All I can tell you is that at the legal limits, Mulsanne is purring along, barely taxing its abilities. The 8-speed automatic transmission smooths shifts. Direct access to the gears is possible with the standard paddle shifters, but seems unnecessary, even on a twisty canyon road.

The classic front-engine, rear-wheel drive setup of the Mulsanne fits its classic profile, and modern electronics keep the performance incredibly predictable and manageable. The MDS package includes "sports-tuned driver selectable suspension and steering," which amends the usual "sport/comfort/normal" options with fine tuning. There's room for a deep dive into the nested menus within the Mulsanne's system.

I was a little disappointed with the transparent corporate synergy of the Multi-Media Interface (MMI) that allows you to control audio, media and vehicle functions through the control screen on the Mulsanne. As a reminder, Bentley is part of the Volkswagen/Porsche/Audi/Ducati corporate family. For the most part, that relationship is transparent to you, the vehicle owner. The MMI, however, is clearly the same hardware/software package that is available on some Audi vehicles, with the same four corners setup and controller. It's a great system, so I can't get too upset; but at the same time, it feels a little less special for its familiarity.

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