It was hard, but ARES Modena found a way to make every other Bentley look like a plebian with its version of the gorgeous custom Mulsanne.

What happens when a custom coach builder like ARES Modena takes one of the most prestigious luxury cars and turns it into something greater? ARES Modena took a Bentley Mulsanne Coupe and turned it into their own.

Adding their own splashes of flair and elegance to an already near-perfected car. When it’s all said and done, ARES has transformed this Bentley into something that towers over the seemingly pedestrian one in the best way possible.

Custom aftermarket auto tuners and builder have been around for over a century. Whether it be AMG having a direct partnership with Mercedes-Benz or Brabus dialing up their own concoction of parts in order to make Kylie Jenner’s newest G-Wagon – each vehicle is a facet of their own ethos. That is exactly what ARES has done with the Culsane Coupe.

The ARES Mulsanne Is Inspired By The 90’s Bentley Brooklands

Taking vanilla cars and turning them into Frankenstein of gears, oil, and gasoline is something that many custom companies are doing. Some are mainstream and have made their way into the public scope of the car world. But doing that to a near-perfect work of art requires a lot more. And that’s where ARES excels.

ARES knows something about the past. Well-versed in building specialty cars, they’ve had a unique portfolio. Some of Ares Design’s past works include customizing a 1964 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray, a Porsche 964 Targa, and Land Rover Defenders. But this Bentley Mulsanne tops them all.

ARES said they wanted to ground the Mulsanne in classic Bentley, giving it a Brooklands-type style. The Bentley Brooklands was Bentley’s flagship in the mid-90s, meant to replace the original Mulsanne. With classy, old-money style, the Brooklands piqued in its boxy design but still retained its exquisite style.

ARES’ website says, “[The Mulsanne] combines the elegance of the original version with a sporty and youthful look, making it a true standout on the road. The car has undergone a structural transformation using traditional coach building techniques, giving it a sleek and aerodynamic appearance.”

New angles define the exterior, throwing it back to the generation the homage is meant to replicate. A sleek, fastback look features redesigned C-pillars in order to accommodate larger doors and provide a seamless transition into the rear decklid and wing. Fresh wheels also pair along well, giving the new Mulsanne a touch of modernity with the iconic chrome look.

Sedan Comfort Levels For An ARES Mulsanne Coupe

While the outside looks like a true pinnacle, the Mulsanne interior is a different ballgame. Bentley stands for luxury in a way that not many auto manufacturers have been able to emulate. The brand is distinctly British, creating an ethos of nothing but the best. In one word, the name of the game is elegance, and ARES trying to expand upon that is a tough hill to climb. Yet, the coachbuilder managed to do it. Based out of Modena, Ares added their own Italian take on a British classic, a juxtaposition for sure, but nevertheless an impressive feat.

On the inside, custom front seats are trimmed to match the rest of the interior. ARES says that the entire design of the car has been made to personify a sedan instead of the coupe exterior. An interesting combination of body styles, no doubt, yet it works so well. Personifying an Italian heritage, the modifier decided to add a sporty backbone to the luxury style of the Mulsanne. On the exterior, that meant side skirts, a diffuser, and a subtle body kit. But on the interior, that meant nothing but new upholstery and modern trim.

ARES Knows What They’re Doing With The Bentley

ARES Modena isn’t new to this game either. The Bentley was the product of a car-packed repertoire of excellent past projects. The aforementioned Corvette, the Porsches, and Land Rovers all played an important role in getting the Mulsanne to where it is now. ARES has even dabbled in creating its own supercars with a unique plan. The company plans to build a supercar called the S1 as well as a roadster variant also dubbed the S1. The Bentley is coming from a coachbuilder with years of experience under their belt and not planning to close up shop anytime soon.

The Mulsanne takes a different approach than the regular Bentley-offered variant. While Bentley aims for class and luxury, ARES has attempted to put an Italian spin on it. Perhaps the biggest of which was to bring it back and convert it to a coupe, emulating the grand coupes Bentley offered during the 90s. Most enthusiasts refer to that era as Bentley’s golden era, and we can’t argue with that. Cars like the Brooklands, Turbo R, and the Arnage turned the brand into the heralded car manufacturer they are today.

Source: hotcars.com