Bentley Mulsanne Key Celebrates Its Centenary

Mulliner, Bentley's bespoke coachbuilding unit, has designed a unique keycase to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the brand. Made from Dark Stained Burr Walnut and Piano Black veneer, it includes a flying 'B' paperweight, a set keys as well as a brochure with never-before-seen 1930 8 Litre imagery.

This is the perfect method to welcome a brand new vehicle owner.

Aesthetics

Bentley is a company which takes its aesthetics seriously. It is evident in the precise positioning of its quilting, the use of leather that is made from leftovers from cattle and sustainable managed forests, as well as the unique patterns of its levers. When you drive by a car like the Continental GT W12, its exquisite design is revealed through carefully selected lighting.

The Continental GT is Bentley's most sophisticated open-top car. The rear tonneau on the Continental GT, for instance, featured the biggest piece of dark-stained Burr Walnut veneer that was book-matched. 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 brand in the automotive industry worldwide due to its unique design and craftsmanship. The firm continues to push the boundaries by utilizing the most advanced technology and craft, including the introduction of an instrument cluster that is digital as well as 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 by an arrow.

A century after its creation, Bentley - now under sole Volkswagen ownership after years of conflict with BMW it celebrated its centenary in the year 2019. Before the pandemic planning took the center stage, the company was hosting a variety of special events and launches planned to mark this historic occasion.

Design

Bentley is known as a luxury car maker that 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 lets everyone know you're a Bentley. The key is also embossed with the dates 1919 and 2019, to mark the company’s centenary.

Bentley Mulliner reinvented and designed the Mulsanne to be the ultimate Grand Touring vehicle. It has two opposing pairs of rear seats that were inspired by the luxury of private aviation and provides passengers with unbeatable comfort and privacy. A customized heating, air conditioning and ventilation system has been designed to give each passenger the ideal climate control setting.

The Mulsanne is equipped with a twin turbocharged 6.75 litre W12 engine that produces 560bhp, and 479lb-ft of torque. This incredible power is complemented with a new suspension that offers Bentley's signature smooth ride.

bentley continental key fob has released a special specification for cars made after 2019 to commemorate its centennial. It is known as the Centenary Specification. 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 custom Bentley key case is also included in the Centenary Specification, making the Bentley experience all-inclusive.

Function

The Bentley Mulsanne key has an open button on the trunk, and another button which starts the car. It also has a switch to switch on the parking break. The knob can be used to fold or unfold the mirrors when parking in a tight area. This feature makes it easier to get into and out of your car.

Each key takes two days to make. It is hand cut, shaped, sewn, sealed and polished to provide an excellent finish. It is durable, compact, and fits the Bentley key perfectly. Its design is akin 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 prevent keyless entry theft. This device is put into the remote-control fob, and disables it when the key isn't utilized for a period of a few minutes. It blocks thieves from transmitting the key's frequency to other devices that can be used to open and start the car.

Bentley's distinctive design reflects the company's values of exquisite craftsmanship engineering expertise, as well as cutting-edge technology. Over 4,000 employees are employed at the Crewe headquarters, which is responsible for the development, design, and production of Bentley cars. These workers apply the skills that have been handed through generations to the latest automotive technology. This is British manufacturing at its finest.

Personalisation

Bentley's Mulliner division lets customers design their own car. Customers sit at a set of images, referred to "mood stations" and pick a set of images ranging from scenic landscapes to sporting events that inspire them to design their own. After each selection is made, a pattern is created, which reveals the model and color preferences for the custom Bentley.

The configuration that is created is stored on individual R.F.I.D.-enabled key cards which are presented to guests in a custom key case. The keys are also equipped with Bentley Muliner Personalised Welcome Lamps that light up the door's opening pathway with the owner's name, or emblem when they make their way towards the vehicle.

Bentley estimates it takes approximately 500 man hours to design and assemble the average Mulsanne. The main reason for this lengthy effort is a conscious refusal to take advantage of modern 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 must park their vehicles manually, rather than relying on the built-in sensors to guide them into perpendicular and parallel spots.

During the event, Bentley presented its Mulliner personalization options with one of a kind - the Mulsanne W.O. Edition, which pays homage to the man who founded the company, William Osler Bentley. The 100 limited edition cars come with keys that display an item from the 1930 8 Litre crankshaft.