Bentley Mulsanne Key Celebrates Its Centenary
Bentley's bespoke coachbuilding division, Mulliner, has designed a unique key case to celebrate the brand's centenary. Made from Dark Stained Walnut and Piano Black veneer, it comes with a flying 'B' paperweight, a set keys and a brochure that features never-before-seen 1930 8 Litre imagery.
This is the perfect method to welcome a brand new vehicle owner.
Aesthetics
As a design-driven company, Bentley takes its aesthetics extremely seriously. It is evident in the precise location of its quilting the selection of leather from the by-products of cattle, timber from forests that are sustainably managed and the creative patterns on its levers. A car like the Continental GT W12 beckons as you take it in to show its sculptural beauty and power by carefully curated lighting.
The Continental GT is the most sophisticated open-top Bentley ever built. The rear tonneau, for example, showcased the largest piece of book-matched, dark-stained 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.
It is this unique design, attention to detail and craftsmanship to detail that have established Bentley as the most sought-after automobile brand. The company continues to push the limits by utilizing the most advanced technology and craftsmanship, including the introduction of an instrument cluster that is digital, an electric tilt-opening rear glass sunroof, an artisan-made docking station for Apple iPads, and electrochromic 'smart' glass that can be changed from opaque to transparent by the button.
A century after its inception, Bentley - now under sole Volkswagen ownership after years of conflict with BMW - celebrated its centenary in the year 2019. The company planned a range of special events and launches to mark the historic occasion before planning for a pandemic became a top priority.
Design
Bentley is known for its extravagant and lavish automobiles and even keys are designed to make a statement. The Bentayga Key is made of sterling silver, and has a large B' logo to let everyone know that you're driving a Bentley. The key is also inscribed with the dates 1919 and 2019, to commemorate the company's centennial.
The Mulsanne was redesigned and developed by Bentley Mulliner to be the ultimate Grand Touring car. It comes with two pairs of rear seats inspired by the luxury of private aviation and provides passengers with unbeatable comfort and privacy. The customized heating and ventilation as well as air conditioning system was created to give each passenger the perfect temperature control.
The Mulsanne features a twin turbocharged 6.75 litre W12 engine that generates 560bhp and 479lb-ft of torque. This power is paired by a new suspension system that offers Bentley's signature quiet ride.
In celebration of its Centenary, Bentley introduced a unique specification called the Centenary Specification for vehicles built in 2019. This includes contrast stitching and cross-stitching in Centenary Gold thread throughout the cabin. The Bentley Wings on the headrests and seats are embossed in Centenary Gold, adding to the sense of celebration. A bespoke Bentley key case is included in the Centenary Specification, making the Bentley experience all-inclusive.
Function
The Bentley Mulsanne key comes with an opening button for the trunk and another that starts the car. bentley flying spur key has a button to activate the parking break. There is a knob that can fold and unfold the mirrors while parking in tight spots. Utilizing this feature will help you get into and out of the car more easily.
Each key takes two days to create. The key is cut by hand, then shaped, stitched after which it is sealed and polished to produce a premium result. It is lightweight and durable and matches the Bentley key perfectly. Its design is akin to the Volkswagen Phaeton large car's key however it feels heavier and has a premium feel.
It is also equipped with Secure-A-Key which prevents theft of keys without keypads. This device is placed inside the remote-control fob and it shuts it down if the key is not used for a few minutes. It prevents thieves from transmitting the key's frequency to other devices that can be used to open and start the vehicle.
Bentley's distinctive design reflects company's values of excellence in craftsmanship engineering expertise, as well as cutting-edge technology. The headquarters in Crewe are home to over 4000 employees responsible for the development, design and production of Bentley vehicles. These workers apply the skills that have been passed down through generations to cutting-edge automotive technology. This is British manufacturing at its finest.
Personalisation
Bentley's Mulliner division lets customers design their own vehicle. Customers sit at a set of images called "mood stations" and choose a selection of images ranging from scenic landscapes to sporting events that will inspire them to design their own. Each time a selection is made, the pattern that emerges shows the model colors, style and color preferences for the bespoke Bentley.
The guests receive the keys in a case designed by hand and containing the R.F.I.D. enabled key cards. The keys can also be equipped with Bentley Muliner Personalised Welcome Lamps that illuminate the door's opening pathway with the owner's name and/or emblem when they are approaching the vehicle.
Bentley estimates that it takes about 500 man-hours to construct and assemble a Mulsanne. The reluctance to embrace modern technology is the main factor to this laborious task. The Crewe factory workers do not employ a machine to place perfectly-matched leather seats. Instead, they do it by hand. Instead of using the car's built-in sensors to guide it into perpendicular and parallel parking spots, drivers have to perform the task by hand.
The event also saw Bentley presented its Mulliner personalization capabilities using one particular example of the Mulsanne W.O. The Mulsanne W.O. Edition pays tribute to founder William Osler Bentley. The limited-edition cars come with one key that features a portion of the 1930 8 Liter's crankshaft.