Bentley Mulsanne Key Celebrates Its Centenary

Bentley's bespoke coachbuilding division, Mulliner, has designed an exclusive key case to celebrate the brand's centenary. Made of Dark Stained Walnut and Piano Black veneer, it includes a flying 'B' paperweight, a set keys, and a brochure with never-before-seen 1930 8 Litre imagery.

This is the ideal way to welcome a new vehicle owner.

Aesthetics

As a company that is primarily focused on design, Bentley takes its aesthetics extremely seriously. It's evident in the exact location of its quilting the selection of leather from the by-products of cattle, wood that comes from sustainably managed forests and the creative patterns on its levers. When you drive by a car like the Continental GT W12, its sculptural beauty is displayed through carefully curated lighting.

The Continental GT is Bentley's most sophisticated open-top car. The rear tonneau, for instance, featured the largest piece of book-matched, dark-stained Burr Walnut veneer ever applied to a 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, craftsmanship and attention to detail that has established Bentley as the most sought-after automobile brand. The company continues to push boundaries by utilizing the most advanced technology and craft, including the introduction of an instrument cluster that is digital, an electric tilt-opening rear glass sunroof, a handcrafted docking station for Apple iPads, and electrochromic 'smart' glass that can be switched from opaque to transparent with the push of the button.

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

Design

Bentley is a renowned brand for its luxurious and ostentatious cars however, even the keys are designed to make a statement. The Bentayga key is made of sterling silver. It has the large 'B' symbol that tells everyone 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 become the ultimate Grand Touring vehicle. It has two opposing pairs of rear seats that are modelled on luxury private aircraft, providing passengers with unparalleled comfort and security. A customized heating, ventilation and air conditioning system was designed to ensure that every passenger has the perfect climate control setting.

In addition to a suite of elegantly executed styling revisions The Mulsanne is powered by twin-turbocharged 6.75-litre W12 engine that is capable of producing 560bhp and 479lbft of torque. This incredible power is complemented with a new suspension that gives Bentley's famously smooth ride.

Bentley has launched a new specification for cars manufactured after the year 2019 in order to celebrate its centenary. It is known as the Centenary Specification. The cabin is decorated with cross-stitching as well as contrast stitching in Centenary Gold throughout. The Bentley Wings on the headrests and seats are embroidered with Centenary Gold, adding to the feeling of celebration. A custom Bentley key case is included in the Centenary Specification, making the Bentley experience all-inclusive.

Function

The Bentley Mulsanne key has a button that opens the trunk and a second button that starts the car. It also has a switch that can switch on the parking break. There is a knob to fold and unfold the mirrors when parking in tight spaces. This feature helps you get in and out of your car.

The key is made from vegetable tanned leather. It takes two days to make each one. It is hand cut and shaped, then sewn, sealed, and polished to produce the highest-quality finish. It is strong small and compact, and it fits the Bentley key perfectly. Its design is similar to that of the Volkswagen Phaeton large car's key however it feels heavier and has a more premium feel.

It is also equipped with Secure-A-Key which can help prevent theft of keys with no key. This device is placed inside the remote-control fob and it shuts it down when the key has not been used for more than a few minutes. It prevents thieves from transmitting the key's frequency to other devices which can be used to unlock and start the car.

Bentley's distinctive design reflects the company's values of fine craftsmanship, engineering expertise, and cutting-edge technology. Its headquarters in Crewe is home to more than four hundred employees who are responsible for the design, development and production of Bentley vehicles. These workers utilize techniques passed over generations and then apply them to cutting-edge automotive technology. This is a characteristic of British manufacturing at its best.

Personalisation

Bentley's Mulliner division allows customers to design their own vehicle. The customers sit at a set of images referred to as "mood stations" and choose a selection of photos - from scenic vistas to sporting events - that are inspiring to them to design their own. Every time a choice is made, the pattern that emerges will reveal the model of the bentley key replacement, as well as the color and style preferences for the customized Bentley.

The resulting configuration is stored on individual R.F.I.D.-enabled bently keys that are then presented to the guests in a handmade key case. Keys can be adorned with Bentley Muliner Personalised welcome lamps that illuminate the pathway of the entrance door, and display the owner's logo or name as they approach the car.

Bentley estimates that it requires 500 man-hours to build and construct a Mulsanne. One of the main reasons for that lengthy effort is a deliberate refusal to embrace modern tech. The Crewe factory workers don't make use of a machine to create perfectly-matched leather seats. Instead they do it by hand. Instead of letting the car's built in sensors guide it to perpendicular and parallel parking spots drivers must do it manually.

The event also saw Bentley showcased its Mulliner personalization capabilities with an exclusive example - the Mulsanne W.O. The Mulsanne W.O. Edition pays homage to the man who founded the company, William Osler Bentley. The 100 limited edition cars come with a key that displays the 1930 8 Litre crankshaft.