Bentley Mulsanne Key Celebrates Its Centenary
Mulliner Bentley's coachbuilding unit bespoke, has designed a distinctive keycase to mark the 100th anniversary of the company. It is constructed of Dark Stained Burr Walnut with Piano Black Veneer and includes the flying "B" paperweight keys, as well as an original 1930s booklet that features never-before-seen 1930s 8 Litre images.
This is a great method to welcome a brand new owner of a vehicle.
Aesthetics
As a design-oriented company Bentley takes its aesthetics seriously. It is evident in the precise placement of its quilting, the use of leather made from cattle by-products and sustainable-managed forests, and the innovative patterns of its levers. As you approach a vehicle like the Continental GT W12, its sculptural beauty is displayed through carefully selected lighting.
The Continental GT is the most sophisticated open-top Bentley ever designed. Its rear tonneau for instance, displayed the largest piece of book-matched, dark-stained Burr Walnut veneer ever applied to an actual 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, quality and attention to detail that have established Bentley as the most sought-after automobile brand. The company continues to push the limits with the latest technology and craftsmanship, including the introduction of a digital instrument cluster with an electric tilt-opening back glass sunroof, a handcrafted docking station for Apple iPads, and electrochromic 'smart' glass that can be switched between opaque and transparent by one button.
A century after its founding, 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 celebrate the occasion prior to when the planning of a pandemic became a priority.
Design
Bentley is known for its extravagant and luxurious cars and keys, but even keys are designed to stand out. The Bentayga key is crafted from sterling silver and features a large 'B' logo that tells everyone you drive a Bentley. The key is also engraved with the dates 1919 and 2019 to mark the company’s centenary.
Bentley Mulliner has redesigned and created the Mulsanne to become the ultimate Grand Touring vehicle. It comes with two pairs of rear seats that are modelled on luxury private aircraft offering passengers unbeatable comfort and privacy. A custom heating, ventilation and air conditioning system was designed to ensure that every passenger has the perfect climate control setting.
Alongside a series of stylishly executed styling changes 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. www.thekeylab.co.uk is complemented by a new suspension system that provides Bentley's signature hushed ride.
Bentley has introduced a special specification for cars built after the year 2019 to commemorate its centennial. This is referred to as the Centenary Specification. This includes cross-stitching and contrast stitching in Centenary Gold thread throughout the cabin. The Bentley Wings on the headrests and seats are embossed in Centenary Gold, adding to the feeling 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 comes with two buttons: one that opens the trunk, and the second that is used to start the vehicle. It also has a switch that can activate the parking break. The knob can be used to fold or unfold the mirrors if you are parking in a tight spot. This feature helps you get in and out of your car.
The key is made of vegetable tanned leather. It takes more than two days to craft each one. The key is cut by hand, then shaped, stitched to seal, and polished to achieve a high-quality result. It is light and compact and matches 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 premium feel.
It also has Secure-A-Key, which helps prevent theft of keys that are keyless. This device is placed inside the remote-control fob, and disables it when the key has not been used for a few minutes. It stops thieves from transmitting the key's frequency to other devices which can be used to unlock and start the vehicle.
Bentley's distinctive design is a reflection of the values of the company which include exquisite craftsmanship, engineering expertise and modern technology. More than 4,000 employees work at the Crewe headquarters, and are responsible for the design, development, and production of Bentley cars. They apply their expertise that have been handed through generations to the latest automotive technologies. This is British manufacturing at its best.
Personalisation
Bentley's Mulliner division lets customers design their car. The "mood station" allows guests to select images that inspire them. These could range from stunning views to sporting events. Each time a selection is made, the pattern that emerges reveals the model preference for color, style and design for the customized Bentley.
The resulting configuration is then loaded onto individual R.F.I.D.-enabled key cards which are handed out to the guests in a handmade key case. The keys are also equipped with Bentley Muliner Personalised Welcome Lamps, which illuminate the door-opening pathway with the owner's name or logo as they arrive at the vehicle.
Bentley estimates that it requires 500 man-hours to construct and build a Mulsanne. The unwillingness to embrace modern technology is the primary factor to this laborious task. The Crewe factory workers don't utilize a machine for arranging perfectly matched cross stitched leather seats. Instead they do it by hand. And rather than using the car's built-in sensors to guide it to perpendicular and parallel parking spots, drivers have to do it manually.
At the event, Bentley presented its Mulliner personalization options with a special example of the Mulsanne W.O. The Mulsanne W.O. Edition pays homage to the founding father of the brand, William Osler Bentley. The 100 limited edition cars include a key that displays an item from the 1930 8 Litre crankshaft.