Bentley Mulsanne Key Celebrates Its Centenary
Bentley's custom coachbuilding division, Mulliner, has designed an exclusive key case to commemorate the brand's centennial. Made of Dark Stained Walnut and Piano Black veneer, it includes a flying "B" paperweight, a set of keys as well as a brochure with never-before-seen 1930 8 Litre imagery.
This is the perfect way to welcome a new vehicle owner.
Aesthetics
As a design-oriented company Bentley takes its aesthetics seriously. This is evident in the precise placement of its quilting as well as the use of leather that is made from products of cattle, the wood from sustainably-managed forests, and the innovative patterns of its levers. When you drive by a car like the Continental GT W12, its beautiful sculptural design is highlighted by carefully selected lighting.
The Continental GT is Bentley's most sophisticated open-top vehicle. The rear tonneau of the Continental GT, for example was the largest piece ever made of dark-stained Burr Walnut veneer that was book-matched. Similarly, bentley continental key programming -operated glass sunroof and champagne cooler that incorporated hand-blown and hand-cut lead crystal bottles marked a new benchmark in luxury and innovation.
It is this bespoke design, attention to detail and craftsmanship to detail that have established Bentley as the most sought-after automobile brand. The company continues pushing boundaries with the latest technologies and craftsmanship. This includes the introduction of an electronic tilt-opening rear sunroof and a handcrafted Apple iPad docking station.
A century after its creation, Bentley - now under sole Volkswagen ownership after years of fighting with BMW was able to celebrate its centennial in 2019. The marque planned a variety of special events and launches to mark the milestone event before pandemic planning became a priority.
Design
Bentley is known as a premium car manufacturer who creates extravagant and luxurious cars. But even keys stand out. The Bentayga key is made from sterling silver and has an oversized 'B' logo that tells everyone you drive a Bentley. It's also engraved with the years 1919 and 2019 to mark the company's centenary.
The Mulsanne was redesigned and improved by Bentley Mulliner, to be the ultimate Grand Touring car. It comes with two pairs of rear seats that are inspired by the luxury of private aviation that provide passengers with unbeatable comfort and privacy. A custom heating, air conditioning, and ventilation system has been designed to ensure that every passenger has the perfect climate control setting.
In addition to a set of stylishly executed styling changes, the Mulsanne is powered by a twin-turbocharged 6.75-litre W12 engine capable of producing 560bhp and 479lb-ft of torque. This incredible power is complemented with a new suspension system which provides Bentley's renowned quiet ride.
In celebration of its Centenary, Bentley introduced a specific specification that is called the Centenary Specification for cars that were built in 2019. The cabin features cross-stitching and contrast stitching in Centenary Gold throughout. The Bentley Wings are embroidered with Centenary Gold on the headrests as well as the seats and other parts of the car. This is a great way to celebrate the occasion. A custom Bentley key case is also included in the Centenary Specification, making the Bentley experience all-inclusive.
Function
The Bentley Mulsanne key has buttons that open the trunk, and another button that starts the car. It also has a switch that can switch on the parking break. The knob can be used to fold or unfold the mirrors when parking in a tight space. Using this feature can help you get into and out of your vehicle more easily.
Each key takes two days to create. It is hand cut to shape, sewn sealed and polished to create an excellent finish. It is small and sturdy and will fit the Bentley key perfectly. Its style is similar to the Volkswagen Phaeton large car's key, but it feels much heavier and has a luxurious feel.
Secure-A-Key is also available to protect against keyless entry theft. This device is inserted inside the remote-control key fob. It is turned off after a few minutes of inactivity. This prevents thieves from transmitting the key's frequency to other devices that could unlock and start the vehicle.
Bentley's unique design reflects the values of the company that include fine craftsmanship and engineering expertise as well as the latest technologies. Over 4,000 employees work at its Crewe headquarters, and are responsible for the design, development and production of Bentley automobiles. They apply their skills that have been handed through generations to modern automotive technologies. This is British manufacturing at its finest.
Personalisation
Bentley's Mulliner division allows customers to design their car. Customers sit at a set of images called "mood stations" and choose a selection of photos ranging from picturesque views to sporting events that will inspire them. After each selection is made, a pattern will emerge that reveals the design and color preferences for the customized Bentley.
The resulting configuration is saved to individual R.F.I.D.-enabled keys which are handed out to guests in a handmade key case. The keys can also be equipped with Bentley Muliner Personalised Welcome Lamps which light the door's opening pathway with the owner's name and/or emblem as they make their way towards the vehicle.
Bentley estimates that it takes 500 man-hours on average to build and construct a Mulsanne. The inability to adopt modern technology is the key to this lengthy and laborious process. Instead of employing a machine for spacers to the perfectly-matched leather seats workers at the Crewe factory do it by hand. And rather than letting the car's built in sensors guide it into perpendicular and parallel parking spaces, drivers have to perform the task by hand.
At the event, Bentley presented its Mulliner personalization capabilities using one of a kind - the Mulsanne W.O. Edition, which pays tribute to founder William Osler Bentley. The limited edition cars include keys that display an item from the 1930 8 Litre crankshaft.