Bentley Mulsanne Key Celebrates Its Centenary
Bentley's custom coachbuilding division, Mulliner, has designed a unique key case to mark the centennial of the company. It is constructed of Dark stained Walnut with Piano Black Veneer and includes the flying "B" paperweight, keys, and a booklet featuring never-before-seen 1930s 8 Litre images.
This is a great way to welcome a new owner of a vehicle.
Aesthetics
Bentley is a firm who takes its aesthetics seriously. It is evident in the precise placement of its quilting, the use of leather derived from cattle by-products as well as the sustainable management of forests, and the unique patterns of its levers. As you approach a vehicle like the Continental GT W12, its exquisite design is revealed through carefully selected lighting.
The Continental GT is Bentley's most sophisticated open-top vehicle. Its rear tonneau for example, showcased the biggest piece of dark-stained, book-matched 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 unique design, attention to detail and craftsmanship to detail that have established Bentley as the most sought-after automotive brand. The company continues to push the boundaries using the most advanced technologies and craftsmanship. This includes the introduction of an electronic tilt-opening rear sunroof and a handcrafted Apple iPad docking station.
Bentley celebrated its 100th anniversary in the year 2019 100 years after it was founded. The marque, now owned by Volkswagen without a partner following years of disputes with BMW, had planned a variety of special launches and events to celebrate this milestone. Before the pandemic planning took center stage, the marque had a number of special events and launches planned to celebrate this historic occasion.
Design
Bentley is known as a premium car manufacturer who produces lavish and extravagant cars. However, even the keys make a statement. The Bentayga key is made from sterling silver and features an oversized 'B' logo that let everyone know that you drive a Bentley. It's also engraved with the years 1919 and 2019 to mark the company's centenary.
Bentley Mulliner redesigned and developed the Mulsanne to become the ultimate Grand Touring vehicle. It features two opposing pairs of rear seats that were modelled on luxury private aircraft offering passengers unbeatable comfort and privacy. A customized heating, ventilation and air conditioning system was designed to ensure that every passenger has the ideal temperature control.
The Mulsanne is equipped with twin turbocharged 6.75 litre W12 engine that generates 560bhp, and 479lb-ft of torque. This amazing power is coupled with a new suspension that gives Bentley's famously quiet ride.
Bentley has released a special specification for cars manufactured after 2019 to celebrate its centennial. This is known as the Centenary Specification. This includes cross-stitching and contrast stitching in Centenary Gold thread throughout the cabin. The Bentley Wings are embroidered with Centenary Gold on the headrests, seats and other areas of the car. This adds to the celebration. The Centenary Specification also includes a bespoke Bentley keycase, adding to the Bentley experience.
Function
The Bentley Mulsanne Key features two buttons that open the trunk, and another which starts the vehicle. The key also has a button to turn on the parking brake. There is a knob to fold and unfold the mirrors when parking in tight spaces. This feature makes it easier to get in and out of your vehicle.
Each key takes about two days to make. The key is cut by hand, shaped, stitched after which it is sealed and polished to give a superior result. It is light and compact and fits the Bentley key perfectly. Its design is similar to the Volkswagen Phaeton's massive car key, but feels more substantial and premium.
It also comes with Secure-A-Key, which helps prevent theft of keys that are keyless. The device is inserted into the remote control fob, and it shuts it down when the key has not been utilized for a period of a few minutes. It stops thieves from transmitting the key's frequency to other devices that can be used to unlock and start the vehicle.
Bentley's distinctive design reflects company's values of exquisite craftsmanship, engineering expertise, and modern technology. Over 4,000 employees work at its Crewe headquarters, where they are responsible for the design, development, and production of Bentley cars. These workers apply the skills that have been passed through generations to the latest automotive technologies. This is a hallmark of British manufacturing at its finest.
Personalisation
Bentley's bespoke division, Mulliner, allows customers to essentially design their own car. The guests sit at a collection of images, referred to "mood stations" and pick a set of photos - from scenic views to sporting events that can inspire them. Every time a choice is made, the pattern that emerges shows the model, color and style preferences for the personalized Bentley.
The resulting configuration is then loaded onto individual R.F.I.D.-enabled keys which are presented to guests in a hand-crafted key case. The keys can be equipped with Bentley Muliner Personalised welcome lamps that illuminate the pathway of the entrance door, and display the owner's name or logo as they approach the car.
Bentley estimates that it takes around 500 man-hours to construct and put together the Mulsanne. The key to this time-consuming effort is a conscious refusal to embrace modern tech. Instead of employing a machine for spacers to the perfectly-matched leather seats workers at the Crewe factory do it by hand. replacement bentley key must park their vehicles manually, rather than using sensors built-in to direct them to perpendicular and parallel spaces.
During the event, Bentley showcased its Mulliner personalization capabilities using an exclusive example - the Mulsanne W.O. The Mulsanne W.O. Edition pays tribute to the founding father of the brand, William Osler Bentley. The 100 limited edition cars come with a key that displays the 1930 8 Litre crankshaft.