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Bentley Mulsanne connected concept (photos)

Bentley integrated iPads, a Mac Mini, and a Wi-Fi 4G-connected router into its Mulsanne sedan, providing chauffeur-driven owners with modern entertainment and office features.

Wayne Cunningham
Wayne Cunningham reviews cars and writes about automotive technology for CNET's Roadshow. Prior to the automotive beat, he covered spyware, Web building technologies, and computer hardware. He began covering technology and the Web in 1994 as an editor of The Net magazine.
Wayne Cunningham
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1 of 8 Josh Miller/CNET
Bentley introduced its big Mulsanne sedan in 2009. Following Bentley tradition, it is powered by a 6.75-liter V-8, necessary to move its 5,900 pounds. At the 2011 Los Angeles Auto Show, Bentley showed off a connected office concept for the car, a means of giving Mulsanne owners all the computing power and connected services to which they are used in the office.
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2 of 8 Josh Miller/CNET
At this level of luxury, the Mulsanne is as comfortable for the driver as it is for the passenger. For its connected concept, Bentley used a cream leather on the seats and a pinstripe maple for wood trim. But Bentley buyers are given wide latitude in choosing their interior look.
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The center console contains an iPod dock, which connects with the entire system. There are also two USB ports in the top of the console.
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As with many luxury cars, a tray table power folds down from the back of the front seat, making it easier for the rear-seat passenger to work or have a snack.
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5 of 8 Josh Miller/CNET
In Bentley's connected concept, the tray table opens up to reveal a keyboard and a docked iPad. The iPad can be removed and taken to home or office. A Bentley passenger can work on the iPad, and use it to access documents and media stored on the Mulsanne's Mac Mini, installed in the trunk.
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Bentley designed its own app to go with the connected concept, which is fully integrated with the car. It not only includes touch buttons that turn on interior cabin lights, but can also remote-control a docked iPod or the Mac Mini installed in the trunk.
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A 15.4-inch LCD drops down from the ceiling, giving rear-seat passengers a larger screen than the iPad on which to view movies. The passenger can use the iPad to play content from the Mac Mini on the center LCD. There is also a Bluetooth-linked keyboard for the center screen hidden away in the center console.
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8 of 8 Josh Miller/CNET
Bentley installed this power-operated drawer in the trunk of the Mulsanne, which holds a Mac Mini and includes extra storage compartments. A 4G-connected router is also hidden in the back of the car, to keep the iPads and Mac Mini online.

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