First glimpse of new Bentley flagship as work gets underway

LUXURY car-maker Bentley has revealed the first glimpse of its new flagship model in pre-production.

The Mulsanne, which is due to go on sale in the summer, is the first Bentley since 1930 to be designed, engineered and built at the firm's Crewe factory.

Bentley craftspeople are currently working on the Mulsanne's body at a new 7,500 square metre (80,700sq ft) assembly centre at Pyms Lane, built especially for the model's production.

The 100-strong body assembly team uses techniques more commonly used in the aerospace industry to create the Mulsanne's front wings.

The seamless appearance of its roof, rear wing and boot are impossible to achieve via volume manufacturing so Bentley employees work on it with hand and eye.

And the first bodies to be completed are undergoing safety tests, including being torn apart with specialist cutting gear.

Bentley, which employs about 3,000 people at Pyms Lane, has created a viewing gallery at the assembly centre to allow prospective owners to watch the manufacturing process.

Senior production manager Gary Picken said: "Within one assembly area we're utilising traditional skills for which Bentley is renowned, alongside state-of-the-art manufacturing technology."

Meanwhile, new figures have revealed the firm enjoyed a second successive month of increased UK sales in January.

According to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), Bentley sold 81 cars in the UK last month, up 52.8 per cent from 53 in January 2009.

In December, sales were up almost 30 per cent compared to the same month in 2008.

Pictured above are Bentley staff working on the car and, inset, a finished model.

Click here to watch a video of the Mulsanne in pre-production