Bentley Mulsanne Key Celebrates Its Centenary
Mulliner, Bentley's bespoke coachbuilding unit, has designed a distinctive keycase to mark the 100th anniversary of the Bentley brand. It is made from Dark stained Walnut with Piano Black Veneer and includes an eagle-like "B" paperweight keys, as well as an album of never-before-seen 1930s 8 Litre images.
It's the perfect present to welcome a new owner into their luxurious vehicle.
Aesthetics
As a design-driven company, Bentley takes its aesthetics seriously. This is evident in the precise positioning of its quilting as well as the use of leather derived from products of cattle as well as the sustainable management of forests, and the ingenuous patterns of its levers. A car like the Continental GT W12 beckons as you take it in and showcases its stunning sculptural design and power with carefully selected lighting.
The Continental GT is Bentley's most sophisticated open-top vehicle. The rear tonneau on the Continental GT, for instance, featured the largest piece ever made 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.
It is this bespoke design, quality and attention to detail that has established Bentley as the world's most sought-after car brand. The company is constantly pushing the boundaries using the most advanced technologies and craftsmanship. This includes the introduction of an electronic tilt-opening rear sunroof and a crafted Apple iPad docking station.
A century since its founding, Bentley - now under sole Volkswagen ownership after years of conflict with BMW - celebrated its centenary in the year 2019. The marque planned a series of special occasions and launches to mark the milestone event before pandemic planning became a priority.
Design
Bentley is famous for its lavish and extravagant cars and keys, but even keys are designed to stand out. The Bentayga key is crafted from sterling silver and features an enormous 'B' design that let everyone know that you're driving a Bentley. The key is also inscribed with the dates 1919 and 2019, to mark the company’s centenary.
Bentley Mulliner has redesigned and created the Mulsanne to be the ultimate Grand Touring vehicle. It features two opposing sets of rear seats that are designed to be reminiscent of luxury private aviation, providing passengers with unparalleled comfort and privacy. The unique heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system was developed to give each passenger the perfect temperature control.
The Mulsanne comes with twin turbocharged 6.75 litre W12 engine that produces 560bhp, and 479lb-ft of torque. This amazing power is coupled by a brand new suspension system that provides Bentley's trademark quiet ride.
Bentley has announced a special specification for cars built after the year 2019 to commemorate 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 and seats as well as other areas of the car. This is a great way to celebrate the occasion. The Centenary Specification also includes a customized Bentley keycase, adding to the Bentley experience.
Function
The Bentley Mulsanne Key has two buttons that open the trunk, and the second that is used to start the vehicle. The key also has a button to turn on the parking brake. There is a knob that can fold and unfold the mirrors while parking in tight spots. This feature makes it easier to get into and out of your car.
The key is made from vegetable tanned leather. It takes two days to make each one. The key is cut by hand, shaped, stitched and sealed, then polished to produce a premium result. It is strong 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.
It also comes with Secure-A-Key which prevents theft of keys with no key. This device is put inside the remote-control key fob, and stops it after a couple of minutes of inactivity. This stops thieves from transmitting the key's frequency to other devices which can unlock and start the vehicle.
Bentley's unique design reflects the values of the company that include fine craftsmanship engineering expertise, as well as modern technology. Over 4,000 employees are employed at its Crewe headquarters, responsible for the development, design and production of Bentley automobiles. These workers apply the skills passed over generations and then apply them to the latest in technology in the automotive industry. This is British manufacturing at its best.
Personalisation
Bentley's bespoke division, Mulliner, allows customers to design their own car. The "mood station" allows customers to choose images that inspire them. They can range from beautiful landscapes to sporting events. Each time a selection is made, the pattern that emerges shows the model of the Bentley, as well as the color and style preferences for the personalized Bentley.
bentley smart key receive an individual key case created by hand that houses the R.F.I.D. enabled key cards. Keys can be adorned with Bentley Muliner Personalised welcome lamps that illuminate the way of the entrance door, and display the owner's name or logo as they approach the car.
Bentley estimates that it requires 500 man-hours to build and assemble a Mulsanne. The main reason for this lengthy effort is a conscious refusal to embrace the latest technology. The Crewe factory workers do not employ a machine to place perfectly-matched cross stitched leather seats. Instead, bentley mulsanne key do it by hand. Drivers must park their vehicles manually, instead of using the built-in sensors to direct them to perpendicular and paralell spots.
During the event, Bentley presented its Mulliner personalization capabilities using a special example that was the Mulsanne W.O. Edition, which pays homage to founder William Osler Bentley. The limited-edition cars have 100 of them. the key with a special design that shows a portion of the 1930 8 Liter's crankshaft.