Bentley Mulsanne Key Celebrates Its Centenary

Mulliner, Bentley's bespoke coachbuilding unit has created a unique keycase to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Bentley brand. It's made 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 the ideal method to welcome a brand new vehicle owner.

Aesthetics

Bentley is a company which takes its aesthetics seriously. It's evident in the exact placement of its quilting, the choice of leather sourced from cattle by-products, the timber from forests that are sustainably managed and the ingenious patterns that are etched on its levers. A Bently car Key like the Continental GT W12 beckons as you approach it, displaying its sculptural beauty and power through carefully curated lighting.

The Continental GT is the most sophisticated open-top Bentley ever created. The rear tonneau of Continental GT, for instance it was 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 desirable automotive brand. The company is constantly pushing the boundaries with the latest technology and hand-crafted products. This includes the introduction of an electronic tilt-opening rear window sunroof and a handcrafted Apple iPad docking station.

Bentley celebrated its 100th anniversary in the year 2019 100 years after it was established. The marque, now owned by Volkswagen on its own after years of dispute with BMW, has planned a range of special events and launches to mark this milestone. The marque planned a variety of special occasions and launches to mark the occasion prior to when planning for a pandemic became a top priority.

Design

Bentley is a premium car manufacturer who produces extravagant and luxurious vehicles. But even the keys are a statement. The Bentayga key is made of sterling silver. It features the large 'B' symbol that tells everyone you're driving 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 be the ultimate Grand Touring vehicle. The rear seats are designed to offer passengers the most comfortable and private experience. They were inspired by the luxury private aircraft. The bespoke heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system was created to provide each passenger with the perfect climate control setting.

The Mulsanne has a twin turbocharged 6.75 litre W12 engine with 560bhp and bently car key 479lb-ft torque. This prodigious power is complemented by a revolutionary suspension system that provides Bentley's signature hushed ride.

In celebration of its Centenary, Bentley introduced a custom-designed specification known as the Centenary Specification for cars manufactured in 2019. This includes contrast stitching and cross-stitching in Centenary Gold thread throughout the cabin. The Bentley Wings on the headrests and seats are stitched 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 has two buttons that open the trunk, and the second that is used to start the vehicle. The key also has a switch for turning on the parking brake. There is a knob that can fold and unfold the mirrors while parked in tight areas. This feature makes it easier to get into and out of your vehicle.

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, sealed, and then polished to produce a premium result. It is small and sturdy and fits the Bentley key perfectly. Its design is akin to the Volkswagen Phaeton large car's key however, it feels heavier and has a more luxurious feel.

Secure-A-Key is also included to prevent keyless entry theft. This device is inserted inside the remote-control key fob, and stops it after a couple of minutes of inactivity. This prevents thieves from transmitting the frequency of the key to other devices that could unlock and start the vehicle.

Bentley's unique design reflects the values of the company that include fine craftsmanship engineering expertise, as well as cutting-edge technologies. Its headquarters in Crewe are home to more than 4,000 workers who are responsible for the design, development and production of Bentley vehicles. These workers utilize the skills 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 lets customers design their own car. The "mood station" lets customers pick images that inspire them. These could range from stunning views to sporting events. As each selection is made, a pattern emerges which shows the design and color preferences for the custom Bentley.

The guests receive keys made by hand, which contains the R.F.I.D. enabled key cards. The keys can be fitted with Bentley Muliner Personalised welcome lamps that illuminate the path of the door's opening. They are adorned with the owner's name or logo as they approach the vehicle.

Bentley says it takes roughly 500 man-hours to craft and put together the typical Mulsanne. A key to that time-consuming effort is a reluctance to embrace the latest technology. The Crewe factory workers don't employ a machine to place perfectly-matched cross stitched leather seats. Instead, they do it by hand. Drivers must park their vehicles manually, rather than relying on sensors built into the vehicle to direct them to perpendicular and paralell spots.

Bentley displayed its Mulliner personalization capabilities in an exclusive Mulsanne W.O. Edition, which pays homage to William Osler, the founder of Bentley. The Mulsanne W.O. Edition pays tribute to founder William Osler Bentley. The limited edition cars include the key, which displays the 1930 8 Litre crankshaft.