Bentley Mulsanne Key Celebrates Its Centenary
Bentley's custom coachbuilding division, Mulliner, has designed a unique keycase to mark the centennial of the company. Made from Dark Stained Burr Walnut and Piano Black veneer, it includes a flying 'B' paperweight, a set keys and a brochure that features never-before-seen 1930 8 Litre images.
It is the perfect gift to greet a new owner of their lavish vehicle.
Aesthetics
Bentley is a brand which takes its aesthetics seriously. It shows in the precision location of its quilting the selection of leather from cattle by-products, the timber from forests that are sustainably managed and the creative patterns on its levers. As you approach a vehicle like the Continental GT W12, its stunning design is accentuated by carefully curated lighting.
The Continental GT is Bentley's most sophisticated open-top car. Its rear tonneau, for instance, displayed the largest piece of dark-stained, book-matched Burr Walnut veneer ever applied to the production Bentley. Similarly, the electrically-operated glass sunroof and champagne cooler that incorporated hand-blown and hand-cut lead crystal bottles marked a new benchmark in luxury and innovation.
Bentley is the most sought-after automobile brand globally due to its distinctive design and quality. The company continues to push boundaries with the latest technology and craftsmanship, including the introduction of an instrument cluster with digital technology and an electric tilt-opening rear glass sunroof and a crafted docking station for Apple iPads and electrochromic 'smart' glass that can be switched from transparent to opaque at the touch of one button.
Bentley celebrated its 100th anniversary this year, one hundred years after it was established. The marque, which is owned by Volkswagen independently following years of dispute with BMW and Volkswagen, had planned a number of special launches and events to mark this significant occasion. The marque planned a variety of special occasions and launches to mark the milestone event before planning for a pandemic became a top priority.
Design
Bentley is a renowned brand for its luxurious and ostentatious automobiles and even keys are made to stand out. The Bentayga Key is made of sterling silver with a large B' logo to signal to everyone that you're a Bentley. It's also engraved with the years 1919 and 2019, to commemorate the company's centenary.
The Mulsanne was redesigned and developed by Bentley Mulliner, to be the ultimate Grand Touring car. It features two opposing pairs of rear seats inspired by the luxury of private aviation offering passengers unbeatable comfort and security. A custom heating, ventilation and air conditioning system has been developed to ensure each passenger has the ideal temperature control.
In addition to a set of elegantly executed styling revisions The Mulsanne is powered by a twin-turbocharged 6.75-litre W12 engine capable of producing 560bhp and 479lb-ft of torque. This incredibly powerful power is paired by a brand new suspension system that gives Bentley's famously quiet ride.
Bentley has released a special specification for cars built after 2019 to commemorate its centenary. This is referred to as the Centenary Specification. The cabin features cross-stitching and contrast stitching in Centenary Gold throughout. The Bentley Wings on the headrests and seats are embossed in Centenary Gold, adding to the feeling of celebration. A custom Bentley key case is also included in the Centenary Specification, making the Bentley experience all-inclusive.
Function
The Bentley Mulsanne Key comes with two buttons one of which opens the trunk, and the second that starts the vehicle. It also has a switch that can activate the parking break. There is The Keylab that can fold and unfold the mirrors while parked in tight areas. Utilizing this feature will aid in getting in and out of your vehicle more quickly.
Each key takes two days to create. The key is cut by hand, then shaped, sewed to seal, and polished to achieve a high-quality result. It is small and sturdy and will fit the Bentley key perfectly. Its design is similar to the Volkswagen Phaeton large car's key however it feels heavier and has a luxurious feel.
It is also equipped with Secure-A-Key that helps to prevent keyless entry theft. The device is inserted into the remote control fob and disables it when the key has not been utilized for a period of a few minutes. It blocks thieves from transmitting the key's frequency to other devices which can unlock and start the vehicle.
Bentley's unique design reflects the values of the company which include exquisite craftsmanship engineering expertise and the latest technologies. More than 4,000 employees work at the Crewe headquarters, where they are responsible for the design, development, and production of Bentley automobiles. They apply their skills that have been handed through generations to current automotive technology. This is a hallmark of British manufacturing at its finest.
Personalisation
Bentley's bespoke division, Mulliner, allows customers to design their own car. The "mood station" allows customers to choose images that inspire them. They can range from picturesque vistas to sporting events. When each selection is made, a pattern emerges and reveals the model and color preferences of the customized Bentley.
The configuration that is created is then loaded onto individual R.F.I.D.-enabled key cards which are handed out to guests in a handmade key case. Keys can also be outfitted with Bentley Muliner Personalised Welcome Lamps, which illuminate the door-opening path with the owner's name or logo when they make their way towards the vehicle.
Bentley claims it takes about 500 man-hours in order to create and put together the typical Mulsanne. One of the main reasons for that lengthy effort is a reluctance to adopt the latest technology. Instead of making use of a machine to space the perfectly-matched leather seats workers at the Crewe factory do it by hand. Drivers must park their vehicles manually, rather than relying on the built-in sensors to direct them to perpendicular and parallel spaces.
At the event, Bentley presented its Mulliner personalization capabilities with an exclusive example - the Mulsanne W.O. Edition, which pays homage to the founder William Osler Bentley. The limited edition cars include a key that displays an item from the 1930 8 Litre crankshaft.