Bentley Mulsanne Key Celebrates Its Centenary

Mulliner Bentley's bespoke coachbuilding unit, has designed a unique keycase to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the company. It is made of Dark Stained Burr Walnut and Piano Black veneer, it includes a flying "B" paperweight, a set keys and a brochure featuring never-before-seen 1930 8 Litre imagery.

It's the perfect gift to welcome a new owner into their luxurious vehicle.

Aesthetics

As a design-driven company, Bentley takes its aesthetics seriously. It shows in the precision location of its quilting the selection of leather from by-products of cattle, the wood from sustainably managed forests and the creative patterns on its levers. As you approach a vehicle 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 car. Its rear tonneau for example, showcased the biggest 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.

It is this bespoke design, quality and attention to detail that has established Bentley as the most sought-after automobile brand. The company continues to push the limits with the latest technology and manufacturing techniques, such as the introduction of an instrument cluster that is digital and an electric tilt-opening rear glass sunroof, a custom-designed docking station for Apple iPads, and electrochromic glass that can be switched between opaque and transparent at the touch of the button.

A century after its founding, Bentley - now under sole Volkswagen ownership following years of wrangling with BMW - celebrated its centenary in 2019. The marque planned a series of special events and launches to celebrate the milestone event before planning for a pandemic became a top priority.

Design

Bentley is known for its luxurious and ostentatious automobiles and keys, but even the keys are designed to make a statement. The Bentayga Key is made of sterling silver and features a large B' symbol to let everyone know that you're driving a Bentley. It also has 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. The rear seats were designed to give passengers unparalleled comfort and privacy. They were inspired by the luxury private aircraft. The custom heating and ventilation as well as air conditioning system was designed to provide each passenger with the ideal climate control settings.

Alongside a range of refined styling updates and a host of elegantly executed styling changes, the Mulsanne is powered by a twin-turbocharged 6.75-litre W12 engine that is capable of producing 560bhp as well as 479lbft of torque. This power is paired by a new suspension system that provides Bentley's trademark smooth ride.

In celebration of its Centenary, Bentley introduced a custom-designed specification known as the Centenary Specification for vehicles built in 2019. 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 sense of celebration. The Centenary Specification also includes a personalized bentley key 2022 keycase, adding to the Bentley experience.

Function

The Bentley Mulsanne Key comes with two buttons: one that opens the trunk, and the other that turns on the vehicle. The key also comes with a switch that allows you to turn on the parking brake. The knob can be used to fold or unfold the mirrors when parking in a tight space. This feature makes it easier to get in and out of your vehicle.

The key is constructed from vegetable tanned leather and takes more than two days to craft each one. It is hand cut and shaped, then sewn, sealed and polished to create an extremely high-end finish. It is light and compact 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 more premium feel.

Secure-A-Key is also available to protect against keyless entry theft. The device is inserted into the remote-control fob, and it shuts it down in the event that the key isn't utilized for a period of a few minutes. It prevents thieves from transmitting the key's frequency to other devices that can be used to unlock and start the vehicle.

bentley continental key's distinctive design reflects firm's values of high-quality craftsmanship and engineering expertise as well as cutting-edge technology. Its headquarters in Crewe are home to over 4000 employees responsible for the development, design and production of Bentley vehicles. These workers use techniques passed down for generations and apply them to cutting-edge technology in the automotive industry. This is British manufacturing at its best.

Personalisation

Bentley's bespoke division, Mulliner, allows customers to create their own car. The "mood station" allows customers to choose images that inspire them. These can be anything from stunning views to sporting events. Every time a choice is made the pattern that emerges shows the model of the Bentley, as well as the color and style preferences for the bespoke Bentley.

The resulting configuration is loaded onto individual R.F.I.D.-enabled keys which are presented to the guests in a custom key case. The keys can also be fitted with Bentley Muliner Personalised Welcome Lamps which light the door's opening path with the owner's name and/or emblem as they are approaching the vehicle.

Bentley estimates that it takes about 500 man-hours to construct and build a Mulsanne. The main reason for this lengthy effort is a reluctance to adopt the latest technology. Instead of employing a machine for spacers to the perfectly matched cross-stitched leather seats workers at the Crewe factory do it by hand. Drivers are required to park their vehicles manually, instead of using sensors built into the vehicle to guide them into perpendicular and paralell spots.

At the event, Bentley showcased its Mulliner personalization capabilities using one particular example - the Mulsanne W.O. The Mulsanne W.O. Edition pays tribute to the man who founded the company, William Osler Bentley. The limited-edition cars come with one key that features a portion of the 1930 8 Litre's crankshaft.