Here’s How Bentley Handcrafts Its Famous V8

Bentley’s 6¾-liter mill is one of the last engines on the planet still made by hand.

There are several major factors that differentiate the cars that fit within the typical consumer’s price range from those that shoot well into the six-figures. The Bentley Mulsanne — the flagship sedan for the British luxury automaker — costs many hundreds of thousands of dollars. But it incorporates some of the most excessive and exquisite details on any car available today. Perhaps most notable is the now legendary six (and three quarter) liter V8 engine, assembled by hand for the Mulsanne.

The good folks over at Fifth Gear recently took a tour of Bentley’s assembly line, where the engine is carefully looked after as it slowly takes shape. The details are impressive, to say the least. Assembly starts with laying the crankshaft into place, followed by the first of many quality tests. From there, the cylinders are individually placed into the banks, allowing for an initial simulation of the working engine. If anything is out of place or not up to par, a master technician immediately points it out, and fixes the problem. The end goal is to create the smoothest engine on the planet — something only fit for a vehicle like the Mulsanne.

CHECK OUT: What Forum Members Are Saying About This Badass V8

When it is completely assembled, the mill is a work of motoring art. It puts out over 500 horsepower, with 752 stomping lb-ft of torque. Yet the Mulsanne is a buttery smooth force on the road. Hand-assembled engines exist now only in a handful of lucky cars. As such, the Bentley V8 is a unique example of engineering excellence.

Check out the video above to see all of the neat details that go into making one of the best engines on the planet.