Bentley Mulsanne Key Celebrates Its Centenary

Mulliner, Bentley's bespoke coachbuilding unit has created a unique keycase to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the company. It is made of Dark Stained Burr Walnut and Piano Black veneer, it includes a flying "B" paperweight, a set keys and a brochure that features never-before-seen 1930 8 Litre imagery.

This is a great method to welcome a brand new vehicle owner.

Aesthetics

Bentley is a company which takes its aesthetics seriously. This is evident in the precise positioning of its quilting, the use of leather made from products of cattle, the wood from sustainably-managed forests, and the unique patterns of its levers. As you approach a vehicle like the Continental GT W12, its stunning design is accentuated by carefully curated lighting.

The Continental GT is the most sophisticated open-top Bentley ever created. The rear tonneau, for example, showcased the biggest piece of dark-stained, book-matched Burr Walnut veneer ever applied to the 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, craftsmanship and attention to detail that have established Bentley as the most sought-after automotive brand. The company continues to push the boundaries with the latest technology and hand-crafted products. This includes the introduction of an electronic tilt-opening rear window sunroof and a crafted Apple iPad docking station.

A century after its founding, Bentley - now under sole Volkswagen ownership following years of wrangling with BMW and BMW - celebrated its centennial in the year 2019. The marque planned a number special events and launches to commemorate the milestone event before pandemic planning became a priority.

Design

Bentley is a renowned brand for its extravagant and lavish automobiles and even the keys are designed to stand out. The Bentayga key is made from sterling silver and has an enormous 'B' design that tells everyone you're a Bentley. It's also engraved with the years 1919 and 2019 to mark the company's centenary.

The Mulsanne was revamped and redesigned by Bentley Mulliner to become the ultimate Grand Touring car. The rear seats were designed to give passengers unparalleled comfort and privacy. They were inspired by the luxury private aircraft. A custom heating, air conditioning and ventilation system has been designed to ensure that every passenger has the ideal temperature control.

The Mulsanne comes with a twin turbocharged 6.75 litre W12 engine that generates 560bhp as well as 479lb-ft torque. This amazing power is coupled with a new suspension system that offers Bentley's signature quiet ride.

Bentley has introduced a special specification for cars manufactured after the year 2019 to commemorate its centenary. It is known as the Centenary Specification. The cabin is equipped with cross-stitching and contrast stitching in Centenary Gold throughout. The Bentley Wings are embroidered with Centenary Gold on the headrests and Bentley key fob programming seats as well as other areas of the car. This makes it more fun to celebrate. A bespoke Bentley key case is also included in the Centenary Specification, making the Bentley experience all-inclusive.

Function

The bentley smart key Mulsanne key features a button that opens the trunk and another that starts the car. The key also includes a switch to turn on the parking brake. The knob can be used to fold or unfold the mirrors if you are parking in a tight area. This feature can assist you in getting into and out of the car more quickly.

The key is made from vegetable tanned leather. It takes two days to create each one. The key is cut by hand, shaped, stitched, sealed, and then polished to produce a premium result. It is small and sturdy and matches the Bentley key perfectly. Its design is similar with the Volkswagen Phaeton's massive car key, however it feels more substantial and premium.

Secure-A-Key is also included to help stop keyless entry theft. This device is inserted inside the remote-control key fob, and is turned off after a few minutes of inactivity, which prevents thieves from transmitting the frequency of the key to other devices which can unlock and start the vehicle.

Bentley's unique design is a reflection of the values of the company that include high-quality craftsmanship engineering expertise and the latest technologies. The headquarters in Crewe house more than 4000 employees responsible for the design, development and production of Bentley vehicles. These workers apply skills that have been handed down through generations to cutting-edge automotive technology. This is British manufacturing at its finest.

Personalisation

Bentley's Mulliner division allows customers to design their own car. Customers sit at a set of images, referred to "mood stations" and choose a selection of photos - from scenic views to sporting events that inspire them to design their own. Every time a choice is made the pattern that emerges will reveal the model preference for color, style and design for the customized Bentley Key fob programming.

The configuration that is created is stored on individual R.F.I.D.-enabled key cards which are handed out to guests in a handmade key case. The bently keys can also be fitted with Bentley Muliner Personalised Welcome Lamps which light the door's opening pathway with the owner's name or logo as they approach the vehicle.

Bentley estimates that it requires 500 man-hours to construct and construct the Mulsanne. The unwillingness to embrace modern technology is the key to this time-consuming effort. Instead of using a machine to place the perfectly matched leather seats workers at the Crewe factory do it by hand. And rather than letting the car's built in sensors guide it into perpendicular and parallel parking spaces the drivers must do it by hand.

At the event, Bentley showcased its Mulliner personalization capabilities with an exclusive example that was 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 include the key, which displays the 1930 8 Litre crankshaft.