Bentley enthusiast Mark King receives his Bentayga Apex Edition by Mulliner, in full Le Mans Collection trim and livery
This option only offered to owners of limited edition Le Mans Collection Continental GT or GT Convertible
Both vehicles feature exterior in Verdant green with Le Mans style racing stripe in Moonbeam
Interior features include Beluga hide and Dinamica fabric seat faces with contrast seat stitching in Hotspur
Apex Edition Bentayga based on 550 PS 4.0-litre S V8 with Bentley Dynamic Ride and rear-wheel steering
Special Apex Edition features include 22” carbon wheels, carbon-ceramic brakes and carbon body kit
Le Mans Collection Continental GT created to mark 20th anniversary of Bentley’s sixth victory at the 24 Hours of Le Mans
[source: Bentley]
Crewe, England – A long-term Bentley enthusiast and collector, Mark King, has taken delivery of a very special Bentayga – the latest addition to an extensive Bentley stable. His Apex Edition Bentayga is one of just 20 handcrafted examples by Mulliner worldwide, finished in the same livery and trim as his 2023 Le Mans Collection Continental GT – itself created to mark 20 years since Bentley’s return to victory at Le Mans in 2003 after a 73-year absence from the top step of the podium.
While the Apex Edition Bentayga was also offered in six curated colour and trim themes, the Verdant green and Moonbeam livery of Mr King’s Apex Edition Bentayga was only offered to existing Le Mans Collection owners.
A thoroughbred stable
Mr King, who is based in Northern Ireland, follows a family tradition as a passionate and knowledgeable collector of high-performance vehicles. His new Apex Edition Bentayga joins a garage that holds a Bentayga Speed, a rare Continental GT3-R and a Continental Flying Spur, all of which he uses regularly. A Bentley owner since 2010 and regular attendee at Bentley’s exclusive owner events, he leapt at the opportunity to commission a Le Mans Collection Continental GT in 2023 and needed no encouragement to add the Apex Edition Bentayga in full Le Mans livery when it was announced. His existing Bentayga Speed has covered over 100,000 miles in his ownership and is often pressed into action to trailer other vehicles from his extensive collection.
The Apex Edition Bentayga
The Apex Edition Bentayga is based on the Bentayga S, the sporting flagship of Bentley’s SUV line-up. Its 4.0-litre, twin-scroll turbocharged V8 petrol engine develops 542 bhp (550 PS) and 568 lb.ft. (770 Nm) of torque, giving a 0-60 mph time of 4.4 seconds (0-100 km/h in 4.5 secs) and a top speed of 180 mph (290 km/h). Bentley Dynamic Ride active anti-roll control and rear-wheel steering deliver agile handling with minimal roll, while the V8’s exhilarating snarl is enhanced by a free-flowing sports exhaust.
The Apex Edition takes the performance focus to the next level, with ultra-strong 22” Mulliner carbon wheels that save 44 kg in unsprung mass for enhanced steering agility, and carbon-ceramic brakes for immensely powerful, fade-free braking. As the most performance focused and dynamic Bentayga ever, Mr King’s Apex Edition amply merits its Le Mans-inspired livery.
The Le Mans Collection Continental GT
Created in 2023 to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Bentley’s sixth victory at Le Mans, the Le Mans Collection Continental GT’s Verdant green and Blackline specification nods to the black and green livery of the winning #7 Speed 8. The Beluga black matrix grille features a painted #7 in Arctica white, while other distinctive features include black 22-inch ten-spoke wheels, powerful carbon ceramic brakes and red brake callipers.
All Le Mans Collection vehicles feature a six-wreath emblem inlaid into a high gloss carbon fibre fascia, marking each of the six outright victories recorded by Bentley at Le Mans between 1924 and 2003. The highlight of the interior is the three-way Bentley Rotating Display, which revolves to reveal a central vitrine that holds a section of engine valve from the winning 2003 Speed 8.
The innovative space for customising the House of the Trident’s carshas been christened by the exclusive MC20 Cielo “Less is More…?”
[source: Maserati]
Modena, Italy – At the historic Maserati plant on Viale Ciro Menotti, Modena, a space dedicated to the most refined customization of the House of the Trident’s cars has been created: in the new Officine Fuoriserie Maserati, there is no limit to customers’ wishes and the configuration process is enriched with an innovative painting line to produce the Maserati of their dreams.
A century has passed since the hand of his brother and artist Mario Maserati designed the famous emblem, drawing inspiration from the statue of the Roman god Neptune in Bologna’s Piazza Maggiore. The symbol then found its place on the grille of the Tipo 26, making its debut the following year at the Targa Florio and beginning the glorious history of the manufacturer’s cars, first on the track and then on the road. 2025 is the year of the Trident.
This is not just a logo, it is a symbol of heritage and innovation, of desires and luxury, of Maserati’s nature to always focus every decision-making process on the customer, to exalt their desires and make them possible. As such, the future of luxury is shaped, partly through customisations via the Fuoriserie Programme, with bold investments in bespoke design and technological innovation.
Santo Ficili, Maserati CEO: “Maserati is synonymous with Italian luxury around the world and celebrating this concept at the highest level means putting the customer’s desires first in everything we do, especially in the creation of exclusive cars through the Fuoriserie programme. The attention to detail and needs of those who decide to buy a Maserati is what distinguishes us: with the new Officine Fuoriserie Maserati, we offer an additional tailor-made experience, a new chapter in our brand’s history to celebrate our tradition of excellence in artisanship and innovation”.
“The home of the new Officine workshops is in the historic Modena plant”, Ficili went on. This area is the beating heart of an extraordinary brand, the longest-lived in all of Italy’s Motor Valley, with the ability to bring to the world a unique vision of performance and design: the opening represents a major investment in the Modena site and its people, demonstrating the brand’s commitment to the local community and at the same time, creating new opportunities for growth”.
Maserati Fuoriserie customisation programme Fuoriserie is the embodiment of Maserati’s bespoke artisanship. It is a process that stems from listening to the customer and provides the opportunity to customise every aspect of their car, from the body colours and in-car materials to the most minute detail of the finishes, with complete immersion in the configuration process.
Indeed, it offers access to a wider range of body colours, liveries, brake callipers, rims and interior combinations. Maserati Fuoriserie customers thus become the stylist of their car, using a personal designer.
There are two levels of customisation: the first is the catalogue where, to assist in orientation through thousands of possibilities for combinations, two collections have been identified (Fuoriserie Corse and Fuoriserie Futura); the second is the Bespoke world of “tailor-made” in which cars are created with content specifically requested by the customer or as unique one-of-one models.
The custom-built collections are dedicated to fans of timeless style and loyal enthusiasts for Maserati history. The Corse collection is inspired by the brand’s glorious heritage on the track, whereas Futura is designed for futurists who embrace change with enthusiasm and energy and are curious about the most avant-garde proposals.
Collezione Corse: for fans of timeless style and gentleman drivers. The inspiration in this case is drawn from the past, from Heritage racing. The main features are colour, as a material, inspired by the reinterpretation of historical shades. The liveries are inspired by iconic racing cars, reinterpreted with a contemporary flair and made entirely of paint, with no decals. Another sporty detail, but more sophisticated and subtle, are the dreamlines, chromatic signs that emphasise the volumes of the bodywork.
The exteriors are also embellished with dedicated brake callipers that add new colours to the range to match the liveries, as well as anodised colour treatments and more outstanding, prestigious finishes such as polish. The interiors are joined by new, more heritage-based leather colours, inspired by tanned vegan leather, and contemporary upholstery, reminiscent of traditional combed melange wool.
Collezione Futura: for futurists, fans of technology and new materials, people who welcome and encourage every change with enthusiasm and energy. This collection – based on the concept of material and chromatic experimentation, with the support of technological innovation – stands as a stylistic workshop where the Maserati brand experiments with the combination of new materials derived from the interior design, product design and sportswear industries. In addition to aesthetics, a great deal of attention is paid to the performance and sustainability of the materials. The chromatic experimentation of body colours also sees more extreme or industrial shades combined with textured or matte finishes with interference pigments. Even the two-tone of the bodywork in this collection becomes unexpected and extreme, creating new, more graphic breakdowns.
Finally, the pinnacle of tailoring is reached with the Bespoke cars, where the experience becomes unique and creativity knows no limits. It is the freedom to bring the customer’s vision to life in a completely unique way, forging an exclusive relationship between Maserati’s creative department and the cars’ owners, to configure an exclusive model
Bespoke is the facet of the Fuoriserie customisation programme whereby dreams come true, allowing a reflection of extraordinary individuality to emerge.
Officine Fuoriserie Maserati and new paintwork area The Fuoriserie programme is evolving and expanding, aiming at offering an even more unique experience. It has been given a dedicated space within the historic headquarters in Modena, at Maserati’s home for over 80 years. This is where the Officine Fuoriserie have opened: technology meets artisanship, while creativity and customisation know no limits thanks to the possibilities of painting all the models in the current range.
Officine Fuoriserie is a comprehensive tailor-made journey where the experience of buying a car is all-encompassing and seamless, from the initial configuration to the dedicated delivery to the factory.
It all begins in the showroom, in a renovated Fuoriserie lounge area dedicated to the Maserati customer, full of materials from the Catalogue or Bespoke, with an innovative configurator created for the bespoke world, where initial decisions can be made in constant dialogue between the Fuoriserie teams and the designers of the Maserati Centro Stile. We then move on to the pre-existing painting area, where the preparation for the manual paintwork and quality controls take place. Then we arrive in the new innovative paintwork area, for a very high-tech process. After the automated painting, it is divided into three stages: cleaning room; robotic painting and resting, firing at 80°C, double firing. The artisan customisation of the details is then finished.
In the new Officine, more than 20 workstations are ready every day to paint the models in the range, such as the Grecale, MC20, GT2 Stradale, GranTurismo and GranCabrio. The latest technologies cover a dedicated surface area of 4,000 m2, with an innovative paint shop that offers customers a wide choice of colours that are constantly evolving both chromatically and in terms of technology, as well as a broad palette of liveries inspired by the brand’s Racing and Heritage DNA.
At full capacity, the new project could eventually involve up to 110 highly specialised employees, 40 of whom have already been trained in ensuring the highest quality for all Maserati tailor-made cars.
The line is the perfect synthesis of the most advanced technologies and the most refined artisanship. The revamped paint shop can complete work on 24 cars per day, in up to eight units per shift, for a total of 24 potential colours on a daily basis.
MC20 Cielo Less is More…? For the opening of the Officine, Maserati presents Maserati MC20 Cielo “Less is More…?”,a new and exclusive One-Off, the epitome and icon of the Fuoriserie programme’s most extraordinary production, with the ability to give form to the customer’s every desire.
It is a special MC20 Cielo customised with design cues inspired by the Bauhaus art movement, full of fine details and complex workmanship, such as a dedicated livery and specially designed body colours.
The exterior of this unique model features geometries that run along the entire length of the car, from the front to the rear. Just as the Bauhaus movement praised simple and abstract shapes in honour of a clean and minimalist aesthetic, likewise the Blu Corse Matte bodywork is embellished with an exclusive livery featuring dots, lines, triangles and rectangles that form a stylised Trident on the bonnet.
The succession of colours – chosen using the classic tones seen in Bauhaus as a starting point and reinterpreting them with a Maserati flair – is almost musical. The geometric shapes range from Rosso Capannelle Gloss, the shade used on the House of the Trident’s first racing cars, to Giallo Avia Pervia Gloss, recalling the Modena emblem, and to Bianco Audace, the launch colour of Maserati MC20 in its matte finish, here proposed with a polished finish that uses meticulous manual processing. Further details come in Azzurro Himmelblau and in Nero, while the most attentive will also recognize the presence of orange, the same Arancio Devil created to remember Maria Teresa De Filippis – the first woman to qualify for a Formula 1 Grand Prix, having done so aboard a Maserati 250F – and Viola Salchi, taken from the customisation of a Ghibli SS Coupé.
To complete the exterior, the MC20 Cielo “Less is More…?” features 20″ Corsa Forgiati Opachi wheels with Blue Classic brake callipers and an original colour combination for each rim. In the front, the two wheel rims might combine a red profile with a yellow hubcap or a yellow profile with a blue hubcap, in which case the combinations at the rear become white and red or blue and white.
The artistic appeal in the use of different shades is carried over to each finish: artists such as Wassily Kandinsky and Paul Klee – who taught at the Bauhaus – explored the use of expressive and “contrasting” colour, in the same way as the details of this exclusive MC20 Cielo with specific badges and the Trident logo in Bianco Gloss.
MC20 Cielo “Less is More…?” is a unique model specially built for a customer as part of the Maserati Fuoriserie Bespoke programme.
Maserati S.p.A. Maserati produces a complete range of unique cars, immediately recognizable for their extraordinary personality. Thanks to their style, technology, and innately exclusive character, they delight the most discerning, demanding tastes and have always been a benchmark for the global automotive industry. A tradition of successful cars, each of them redefining what makes an Italian sports car in terms of design, performance, comfort, elegance, and safety, currently available in more than 70 markets internationally. Maserati line-up includes the Grecale, the “everyday exceptional” SUV, the GranTurismo, the iconic Italian grand tourer, and the GranCabrio, the new convertible of the Trident; all models characterized by the use of the highest quality materials and excellent technical solutions. A range equipped with 4-cylinder hybrid powertrains – available for Grecale – and V6 petrol, with rear-wheel and four-wheel drive, embodying the performance DNA of the Trident brand. The top of the range is made up of the MC20 super sports car and the MC20 Cielo spyder, powered by the ground-breaking 100% Maserati Nettuno V6 engine, which incorporates F1-derived technologies into the power unit of a standard production car for the first time. The GranTurismo is available with both the high-performance V6 petrol engine, derived from the Nettuno, and a 100% electric version: the GranTurismo Folgore, the first car in the Modena-based brand’s history to adopt this solution. The full-electric range also currently includes the Grecale Folgore, Maserati’s first 100% electric SUV, and the GranCabrio Folgore. Finally, the House of the Trident’s latest addition is the Maserati GT2 Stradale, the road-legal version of the GT2 that took Maserati back to the track in closed-wheel championships. The heart of the new super sports car is the V6 Nettuno engine, reaching 640 hp (471 kW) in the latter configuration. The GT2 Stradale is therefore the most powerful road-going Maserati with an internal combustion engine. The mission at Maserati is to write the future of mobility in the luxury segment, focusing on its customers’ requests. The Brand, in line with the Stellantis “Dare Forward 2030” strategic plan, is now taking Italian luxury all over the world.
Modena, Italy – Maserati unveils the first steps of a new collaboration with renowned Italian furniture house Giorgetti at the 2025 Milan Design Week, an annual international celebration of design attracting one of the most cosmopolitan and kaleidoscopic audiences in the world. The union of these two symbols of Made in Italy has given birth to an interior collection and a Fuoriserie bespoke car, creating a perfect marriage of timeless elegance and technological innovation.
This all-Italian partnership is founded upon shared values: meticulous attention to detail, the pursuit of perfection, and the desire to offer unique experiences. Both Houses embody the Italian concept of “beautiful and well-crafted,” appealing to a refined, sophisticated audience that demands uncompromising quality in a dialogue where each brand inspires the other, giving rise to new creative challenges and journeys.
“Over the past 110 years Maserati has been synonym of Italian Luxury, just like Giorgetti. We are thrilled about this partnership as it is a refined example of elegance and excellence, imbued in every detail of design and engineering. The collaboration with Giorgetti perfectly fits within our vision of becoming the curator of the ‘Made in Italy’, creating bonds and emotions while telling our stories of innovation, heritage, quality and exclusivity that unite our brands,” explains Santo Ficili, Maserati CEO.
“This partnership represents the authentic expression of the identities of Giorgetti and Maserati, two brands that share profound values and a common vision. It’s a great example of how you can reinforce your DNA through collaboration, research and experimentation. For our 127-year-old House, this is a sign of extraordinary vitality and desire to innovate, always staying true to our role within the industry,” explains Giovanni del Vecchio, Giorgetti CEO.
The Giorgetti Maserati Edition interior collection represents a voyage between myth and nature, where Neptune’s Trident – Maserati’s iconic symbol – inspires Giorgetti’s new designs. It pays homage to the harmony of the sea and the power of the winds, elements that have always guided the automotive brand’s creations. Just as several Maserati models bear the names of powerful winds – such as the Grecale SUV – the collection immerses itself in the allure of the underwater world, evoking the mystery of sirens and the dynamism of waves. From marine depths to boundless skies, the narrative comes alive through evocative names inspired by legendary water nymphs, creatures of extraordinary beauty and strength.
The Maserati Giorgetti Edition is a statement of innovation and refinement that reflects the Trident’s experimentation and constant research. It is a Grecale Folgore one-off, the expression of the 100% electric production from the Modena-based brand created by the experience of the Maserati Fuoriserie customization programme. It celebrates elegance, Italian heritage and passion for details to create an expression of “rolling tailoring”. The bespoke SUV exteriors feature a custom-made bodycolor while its exclusive interiors are conceived to pay tribute to Giorgetti and enhance the coziness of a ‘home feeling’, featuring some of refined fabrics and leather materials used in the interior collection.
Jointly designed by the creative teams of Giorgetti’s Creative Director Giancarlo Bosio and Maserati’s Head of Design Klaus Busse, the Giorgetti Maserati Edition interior collection and the Maserati Grecale Giorgetti Edition are distinguished by a unique design that draws inspiration from dynamism and movement.
The Giorgetti interior collection and the Maserati one-off will be unveiled on April 7th, respectively at the Milanese Giorgetti Spiga showroom and at the Maserati Milan showroom, for a private preview for selected guests, while from April 8th design-savyy visitors and car enthusiasts will be able to experience them up close and personal.
Maserati S.p.A. Maserati produces a complete range of unique cars, immediately recognizable for their extraordinary personality. Thanks to their style, technology, and innately exclusive character, they delight the most discerning, demanding tastes and have always been a benchmark for the global automotive industry. A tradition of successful cars, each of them redefining what makes an Italian sports car in terms of design, performance, comfort, elegance, and safety, currently available in more than 70 markets internationally. Maserati line-up includes the Grecale, the “everyday exceptional” SUV, the GranTurismo, the iconic Italian grand tourer, and the GranCabrio, the new convertible of the Trident; all models characterized by the use of the highest quality materials and excellent technical solutions. A range equipped with 4-cylinder hybrid powertrains – available for Grecale – and V6 petrol, with rear-wheel and four-wheel drive, embodying the performance DNA of the Trident brand. The top of the range is made up of the MC20 super sports car and the MC20 Cielo spyder, powered by the ground-breaking 100% Maserati Nettuno V6 engine, which incorporates F1-derived technologies into the power unit of a standard production car for the first time. The GranTurismo is available with both the high-performance V6 petrol engine, derived from the Nettuno, and a 100% electric version: the GranTurismo Folgore, the first car in the Modena-based brand’s history to adopt this solution. The full-electric range also currently includes the Grecale Folgore, Maserati’s first 100% electric SUV, and the GranCabrio Folgore. Finally, the House of the Trident’s latest addition is the Maserati GT2 Stradale, the road-legal version of the GT2 that took Maserati back to the track in closed-wheel championships. The heart of the new super sports car is the V6 Nettuno engine, reaching 640 hp (471 kW) in the latter configuration. The GT2 Stradale is therefore the most powerful road-going Maserati with an internal combustion engine. The mission at Maserati is to write the future of mobility in the luxury segment, focusing on its customers’ requests. The Brand, in line with the Stellantis “Dare Forward 2030” strategic plan, is now taking Italian luxury all over the world.
Giorgetti Maximum quality, aesthetic innovation and workmanship are the key points of Giorgetti, historic brand of Made in Italy design, founded in Meda in 1898. Giorgetti style is characterized for its exclusivity and atypical uniqueness, thanks to timeless objects, creating an all around interior design. Collaborations with designers, which began at the end of the 80s, gave the brand the chance to create functional, contemporary pieces with an unmistakable style, integrating the highest artisanship with woodworking tradition, with the use of sophisticated tooling machinery and the most modern product technologies. All this results in collections of chairs, armchairs, tables, bookcases, furniture, beds and accessories designed by some of the most renowned project designers, from Carlo Colombo to Massimo Scolari, from Dante O. Benini to Draga&Aurel, from Adam D. Tihany to HBA, from Pierre-Yves Rochon to Setsu & Shinobu Ito. From design to production, Giorgetti takes pride in the fact that its creative and productive processes are exclusively Italian, so they can use the brand “Made and Manufactured in Italy”. A choice which allows the entire production process to be checked with respect for the environment as well as guaranteeing the creation of long-lasting furniture. The numerous shop-in-shop spaces and the brand’s presence in international multi-brand stores with Ateliers and Stores, allow Giorgetti to define a widespread distribution to reach Made in Italy enthusiasts all over the world, consolidating its strategic position: Beijing, Boston, Cairo, Koln, Foshan, Guangzhou, Ho Chi Minh, Hong Kong, Houston, Jakarta, Johannesburg, Kyiv, London, Los Angeles, Milan, Mexico City, Moscow, Mumbai, Nanjing, New Delhi, New York, Ningbo, Paris, Seoul, Shanghai, Shenzhen, Singapore, Taipei, Washington and Xi’an. From a domestic scale to a large one, Giorgetti also has a contract service, the main objective being to supply clients with comfortable, elegant and original solutions. Since 2015 Giorgetti is part of the Progressio SGR private equity fund, with the aim of increasing and consolidating its presence on the foreign markets, respecting the tradition and the values that have made this company an excellence of Italian design.
‘The Black Rose’ – a special customer commission, and one of only three right-hand-drive Baturs – revealed by Bentley
The first ever expression of three dimensional printed solid rose gold in the ultimate grand tourer
Specially commissioned Black Rose exterior paint with satin Rose Gold accents, with a matching interior
Customer commissioning process demonstrates the breadth of techniques, colours, materials and finishes that are available through Bentley’s bespoke Mulliner division
Bentley committed to offering industry first manufacturing and craftsmanship to its customers with continued collaboration
Sustainably sourced raw materials reflects commitment to sustainable luxury
[source: Bentley]
Crewe, England – Bentley has unveiled a truly exceptional example of the co-creation commissioning journey every Batur customer experiences, with a unique result – a car christened ‘The Black Rose’, and themed around the beauty of rose gold.
The Black Rose is one of 18 Baturs being built by Mulliner’s Bespoke Studio, and results from an extensive co-creation journey between the client and Mulliner’s design team. This exquisite car features bespoke ‘Black Rose’ metallic paintwork commissioned by Mulliner exclusively for the customer, with a gloss Beluga upper body. Satin Rose Gold accents adorn the front grille, ‘endless bonnet line’ brightware, mirror caps, lower body kit and 22” tri-tone wheels, which surround the impressive carbon ceramic brakes with black calipers.
Inside, the rich darkness of the hides, fascias and fabrics is punctuated only by the glint of rose gold. An automotive industry first, Bentley’s gold Additive Manufacturing (AM) 3D printing technique adds up to 210 grams of hallmarked 18-karat rose gold to the interior of the coachbuilt coupe at key driver touchpoints. These include the Drive Mode Selector and Bentley’s iconic Organ Stop vent controls on the dashboard, as well as a rose gold insert marker on the steering wheel, exemplifying the level of bespoke detailing on offer.
Surrounding the rose gold elements is a cabin that provides a dark canvas of materials working in perfect harmony – rich Beluga leather, charcoal grey tweed fabric, and veneers painted in Black Rose metallic paint to compliment the exterior.
Industry first in Three Dimensional Printed Gold
Bentley Motors has collaborated with renowned goldsmiths Cooksongold in an industry first to combine new and advanced manufacturing technologies with more traditional materials and finishing techniques. Utilising sustainably sourced raw materials from 100 percent recycled jewellery reflects the manufacturers’ commitment to sustainable luxury.
All parts produced for the Batur are hallmarked in Birmingham’s Jewellery Quarter as a sign of having solid material authenticity. Additionally, any parts manufactured in 2022 also receive the Jubilee hallmark, celebrating the late Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee year.
In 2022, Bentley committed a total of £3 million investment to double the AM capacity at the Crewe factory, converting three dimensional CAD models into physical parts.
Hallmarked 18-karat rose gold is one of many innovative finishes that customers have the choice of exploring in the Batur through Bentley’s bespoke Mulliner division. From aerospace-inspired titanium to sustainable, leather-like textiles made from by-products of the coffee roasting process, choices like these only add to the immense range of leathers, woods and other options. The only limit is the imagination of the individual customer.
The Art of Commissioning
From the Roaring Twenties onwards, Mulliner coachbuilt bespoke bodies for some of the world’s most iconic Bentleys, including the famous R-Type Continental of 1952.
Today, Mulliner operates as Bentley’s bespoke division, delivering everything from personal commissions to coachbuilt cars. It offers an exclusive, face-to-face service for customers who demand the rarest and most exquisite vehicles, often co-designing features and finishes to suit the unique tastes of the individual.
Restricted to just 18 exclusive examples, the Batur signified the start of a design revolution at Bentley, and its success has been followed by the Batur Convertible, unveiled in May 2024. The Batur Convertible is the third car in Mulliner’s Coachbuilt family, following the Bacalar barchetta and the Batur coupe. Strictly limited to just 16 units, the Batur Convertible is the most powerful W12-powered drop-top Grand Tourer in Bentley’s history.
World-leading musicians Anna Lapwood, Tina Guo and Sister Bliss unite as part of Bentley’s Extraordinary Women programme
Union honours International Women’s Day on Saturday 8th March
Trio collaborate to design bespoke Continental GTC, to be handcrafted in Crewe and revealed in Q4 this year
Unique result symbolises collaboration and female empowerment in celebration of International Women’s Day
Extraordinary Talk held for Bentley colleagues, featuring inspiring discussions on creativity, leadership and driving change in male-dominated industries
[source: Bentley]
Crewe, England – Bentley Motors has welcomed three exceptional, world-leading musical artists to its Crewe headquarters to design a one-of-a-kind Continental GTC, commissioned to honour female empowerment and collaboration. Celebrated organist and conductor Anna Lapwood MBE, world-renowned virtuoso cellist and composer Tina Guo, and Sister Bliss of legendary dance music group Faithless, joined forces to create a bespoke Bentley that embodies creativity, craftsmanship, and inclusivity.
This special commission is part of Bentley’s Extraordinary Women programme, an initiative dedicated to championing gender equality, fostering inclusion, and empowering women globally. Bentley Motors invited these exceptional artists to join the programme in recognition of their remarkable contributions to music, their influence as role models, and their dedication to challenging industry norms.
The unique Continental GTC, tailored through Bentley’s Mulliner division, represents the artistic and personal influences of each musician, blending bespoke design elements that reflect their personal journeys and shared vision. Bentley’s Mulliner design team played a pivotal role in bringing the vision to life, with two leading female designers at the forefront of the project. These industry leading experts ensured every detail of the Continental GTC reflected the essence of the musicians’ artistry. Their expertise in bespoke luxury design continues to set new standards in automotive personalisation, reaffirming Bentley’s dedication to fostering talent across industries, including the arts, automotive, and beyond. The result of this extraordinary collaboration will be revealed in Q4, after the car has been handcrafted by the craftspeople and artisans at Bentley’s Dream Factory in Crewe, England.
Alongside this design project, Bentley hosted the next session of its ‘Extraordinary Talks’ series for its colleagues, where Lapwood, Guo, and Sister Bliss shared inspiring discussions on creativity, leadership, collaboration and driving change in male-dominated industries to an audience of over 100 colleagues. The talk encouraged colleagues to embrace innovation and support a more inclusive future.
Bentley Motors continues to support DEIB initiatives that drive positive change. This unique Continental GTC serves as a striking representation of what can be achieved when talent, vision, and collaboration come together.
Anna Lapwood MBE
Anna Lapwood, awarded an MBE at just 28, has captivated millions on social media and in live audiences by redefining the role of the organ, blending classical music with modern genres and pushing the boundaries of performance. Lapwood has built a following of more than two million across her social media channels, regularly performs concertos with leading symphony orchestras and conductors and collaborated with artists including Raye, Bonobo and Benedict Cumberbatch. Anna’s passion for the organ is matched by her mission to support girls and women in music. She was the first female in Magdalen College Oxford’s 560-year history to be awarded the Organ Scholarship and since then has run regular organ workshops for young players around the country. Having spent some years being encouraged to “play like a man”, Anna is proud and humbled to see so many adopt her hashtag, #playlikeagirl. She is an Associate Artist of the Royal Albert Hall in London, and in 2023 was awarded the prestigious ‘Gamechanger’ Award from the Royal Philharmonic Society.
Today, Anna announces ‘Firedove’, her new album set for release on 30th May via Sony Classical. Recorded through the night at Nidaros Cathedral in Norway, ‘Firedove’ brings together all of Anna’s different musical worlds for organ & choir with classical pieces, film scores, minimalism, new commissions and unexpected pop covers.
Tina Guo
Tina Guo, a Chinese-born American Grammy-nominated virtuoso cellist, is known for her genre-defying approach and collaborations with some of the world’s most celebrated artists. Guo has performed as the featured soloist in scores for major film productions (including Sherlock Holmes, Dunkirk, Inception and many others), TV shows and video games. One of the most recorded solo cellists of all time, Guo recent film projects include DUNE, DUNE 2, Gran Turismo and Top Gun: Maverick, while also delivering music for new video games Dragon Age: The Veilguard, Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 and Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora.
Alongside her work for film scores, Tina is a classical soloist performing with orchestras across the globe, and has toured as a soloist with her electric cello as part of Hans Zimmer Live since 2016.
Tina also co-composed the Main Theme for Wonder Woman with Hans Zimmer – music that has since become an anthem for female empowerment, and a defining example of her own power and ability. Guo performs on a Gand & Bernadel cello made in Paris, France in 1878, a customized Yamaha SVC-210 electric cello, and an erhu made in Shanghai, China.
Sister Bliss
Sister Bliss, one of the founding members of legendary dance act Faithless, has led a pioneering 17-year career, producing eight albums, six top-ten singles and selling over fifteen million records worldwide, breaking new ground for female DJs. Founding Faithless as the core musician together with producer Rollo and vocalist Maxi Jazz in 1995, Sister Bliss is responsible for the music behind all of Faithless’ most iconic records, including Insomnia – voted the fifth best dance track of all time. Faithless have headlined major festivals across Europe, including four appearances at Glastonbury.
As one of the first female DJs to find incredible mainstream success, Sister Bliss paved the way for a generation of female talent to rise up through the traditionally male-dominated dance music industry. Following a break after the tragic loss of Maxi Jazz in 2022, Sister Bliss announced that Faithless would return to the stage in 2024 after an eight year absence. 2025 will bring continued touring with summer dates across the UK and Europe and the release of Faithless’ next studio album, Champion Sound.
Even more exterior accent colours and options now available for fourth-generation Continental GT and Continental GT Convertible
The 46 billion ‘standard’ ways to configure a Continental GT now becomes truly infinite, thanks to the world of Mulliner
Accent colour options include body kits, wheel designs and door mirrors
Wheel finishes offered in a wide choice of single colour, duo tone, satin and pearlescent shades
Options also available for Flying Spur and Bentayga personalisation
Bespoke co-creations use accent colours to realise the designer’s vision
One in four Bentleys now feature Mulliner bespoke options
[source: Bentley]
Crewe, England – Bentley customers now have access to an even wider array of exterior personalisation options for the fourth Generation Continental GT and Continental GT convertible. Bentley’s bespoke and coachbuilding division – Mulliner – has expanded its wide range of exterior accent colours, allowing owners to express their individuality and eye for detail through subtle enhancements, each executed with meticulous care by Mulliner’s artisans.
Accent colour options include pinstripes to body kits and door mirrors, and wheel designs painted in single colours, two contrasting colours, or with pinstripe details. Adding to the breadth of choice, wheels can be specified in solid or metallic colours, as well as satin and pearlescent finishes.
Exterior accent colours can complement or contrast the model’s exterior finish. They can also echo an interior finish or any hide colour, uniting interior and exterior colour palettes. For example, the new dark chrome interior finish offered for the Continental GT could be paired with a matching exterior accent colour in dark grey. The Mulliner Personal Commissioning Guide is the gateway to a world of possibilities, enabling each customer to realise their unique vision.
Emphasing style and performance
With their lean, muscular lines the fourth generation Continental GT and Continental GT Convertible readily inspire a personal and dramatic colour specification. For these models, Mulliner now offers a contrast accent pinstripe for the aerodynamic body kit in either gloss or satin finish. The perfectly executed pinstripe traces the outer edges of the front spoiler, sills and rear diffuser. A pinstripe accent colour is also available for mirror caps and wheel rims.
Another contrast option offered by Mulliner is a Beluga black roof finish for the new Continental GT*. This creates a bold, performance-focused look. It recalls the livery of the Pikes Peak limited edition, which celebrated the record-breaking ascent of Pikes Peak in just 10 minutes, 18.4 seconds by a Continental GT.
Subtle details demonstrating individual flair
As with the Continental GT, the contrast accent pinstripe for the Flying Spur traces the lower edge of the body kit. Alternatively, Mulliner offers a carbon fibre body kit, which can either feature the carbon fibre weave beneath a protective clear lacquer finish or be specified in a finish of the owner’s choice. This component, too, can be specified with a contrast accent pinstripe. Wheel rim and mirror cap pinstripes in matching accent colours complete the look.
Bright and bold for Bentayga
Contrast accent options for the Bentayga include pinstripes to mirror caps and wheel rims. Painted brake callipers are offered in a choice of Klein Blue, Signal Yellow and Ice Silver as an alternative to the standard black finish. The Bentayga’s optional carbon fibre body kit can also be specified with a contrast accent pinstripe.
Wheels – the finishing touch
Wheel finishes make a dramatic difference to the visual impact of the finished vehicle; a single colour, perhaps matched to the body finish, create a unified and contemporary look. In contrast, a metallic duotone – with the spokes and pockets of the wheel in contrasting colours – draws the eye to the wheel’s intricate design and creates a more opulent effect. A more subtle effect is achieved through pinstriping around the circumference of the wheel rim. Customers can choose painted wheels in either solid, metallic, duo tone, satin or pearlescent finishes – using the entire paint range or even commissioning their own truly bespoke colour and finish.
Bespoke creations
Accent colours add a key ingredient to Mulliner’s bespoke creations. When fashion designer Supriya Lele collaborated with Mulliner designers to create a one-off Bentayga S, she created a bespoke colour, Nīla Blue, inspired by her Indian heritage. This bespoke hue, subtle yet distinctive, echoes the sense of enduring elegance that characterises her work. The same shade was used as an accent colour on the wheel rims, while the Mulliner White accent colour on the bodykit anticipates the restrained use of white piping in the interior.
Another one-off, co-curated by Bentley Naples, was Mulliner’s first bespoke fourth Generation Continental GT Convertible. Design highlights included sumptuous Damson exterior paint with Moonbeam accent colour, complementing the White main hide, Damson secondary hide and silver seat piping of the interior. This one-off creation was auctioned at the Naples Winter Wine Festival and raised $1.7m for at-risk and underprivileged children.
A growing trend
With one in four Bentleys leaving the Crewe factory now featuring Mulliner content, customer demand for greater individuality and distinction continues to grow. David Parker, Chief Commercial Officer at Mulliner, commented: “Our team of designers, engineers and artisans aim to ensure that each customer’s tastes and personality can be expressed, whether by exclusive paint and hide colours, materials, or bespoke features. The only limits are those of the imagination”.
* Black roof option for Continental GT available when panoramic roof is specified.
The launch of an all-new car doesn’t always mean tailored news. Yes, it may be handsome or show an off some new or newly used colors or specification, but it’s often a bit early to be seeing specials or limited editions, and tailoring isn’t always first out of the gate.
Audi’s just shown off its new A6 Avant, the ninth in their C-segment designation lineage and thus known as C9. Our sister site ooooIYYK.comhas run an in-depth analysis of the car so worth heading over there to check that out if you want to know everything about it. For Tailored Driver though, we’re going to focus on the paint and any unique specification because it’s worth noting.
First up is the paint. The color is Madeira Brown Metallic (madeirabraun; metallic UNI; L78S; Audi), seen here with black optics. The paint color is a dark brown metallic introduced with the Q8 e-tron. It isn’t far off from the brown in the original Audi Sport “tri-colore” rhombus logo of the 1980s, though we’re not sure if that’s intentional like we’ve seen BMW M do with its own tri-colore rhombus inspired hues.
Next up are a few Audi exclusive teasers. Audi Deutschland’s website Audi.de already has its consumer-facing C9 A6 section live. Yes, it’s in German but most browsers have translation tools built in nowadays, so I figured you’d want to know. The site does not include a configurator tool revealing production details just yet, though it does have additional photos and animations that reveal further details of the car.
We’re including some of those photos here when they call out Audi exclusive. The first is a profile shot in Quantum Grey. Like the reveal car, it’s also an S line specification, though it doesn’t have black optics so shows Audi’s ubiquitous Multi-Spoke S wheel design in familiar two-tone graphite grey with high-sheen face, plus elements like the vertical air curtain inlets in silver. These are little details of course, but it’s still worth calling attention to them.
Another shot is an interior photo depicting Audi exclusive capabilities for the cockpit. Specifications listed include neodymium gold and mint grey with poplar wood with silver brown natural finish.
Atlanta. Porsche Experience Center Atlanta (PECATL) today announced the opening of a new exhibit in the Heritage Gallery featuring some of the rarest Porsche cars on the road and track. As part of the celebration of the Center’s 10th anniversary in Atlanta, the exhibit titled “The Why?” – aims to uncover what motivates and inspires the brand’s most devoted owners and fans.
“The exhibit isn’t only about the cars; it’s about the people behind them and the special meanings those cars hold for them,” said Michelle Rainey, Director of Porsche Experience Centers.
The new collection features one-of-a-kind personal builds and legendary race cars—from the 1994 911 Turbo S Flachbau to the 1953 356 Pre-A, a shining example of Porsche’s beginnings over 70 years ago. The cars are surrounded by displays that tell the unique stories of each car in detail.
Included in the lineup: 1994 911 Turbo S “Flachbau” A rare “Flatnose” 911, this Turbo S is one of only 76 ever built.
2018 911 GT2 RS MR (Manthey Racing) The ultimate roadgoing 911 GT2 RS, the 911 GT2 RS MR features extreme changes to both its dynamic performance and aerodynamics to create the most agile and focused iteration of the ‘991’ generation of the 911.
1953 356 Pre-A The 356 Pre-A is where the Porsche story began more than seven decades ago. One of the early U.S. imports through the famed Hoffman Motor Car Company, it exemplifies the core principles of beauty and engineering integrity that guide us today.
2023 RSR-19 “Rexy” Part of the beloved “Rexy” race car series, this T-Rex-inspired, Porsche RSR-19 raced with AO Racing in 2023. With its toothy grin meant to evoke a T-Rex, “Rexy” has become a firm fan favorite.
Lowenbrau 962-103 Known as the “Holbert Racing Löwenbräu Special,” this 962 was built in 1984 for the IMSA GT Championship and has become one of the most successful and recognizable race cars in Porsche history.
This collection will be on display until July, when new vehicles will join the exhibit which runs through 2025.
How to visit: “The Why?” at the Porsche Heritage Gallery inside Porsche Experience Center Atlanta is open to guests with existing reservations, whether they are here for a drive experience—on the track or in a simulator—dining at Restaurant 356, or attending a private event. For those without a prior booking, the exhibit can also be accessed by booking a tour or purchasing a general admission ticket at PorscheDriving.com/Atlanta.
About Porsche Cars North America, Inc. | One Porsche Drive, Atlanta, GA 30354 USA Established in 1984, Porsche Cars North America, Inc. (PCNA) is the exclusive U.S. importer of the Porsche 911, 718 Boxster, 718 Cayman, Macan, Cayenne, Panamera and Taycan. The Porsche Car Configurator can be used by anyone to customize and pre-order any vehicle in that lineup at any time. Headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, since 1998, PCNA is home to the first Porsche Experience Center in North America, which features two module-based 1.6 mile driver development tracks, a business center and Restaurant 356. The campus is also home to the U.S. headquarters of Porsche Classic. The company operates a second Porsche Experience Center near Los Angeles. That complex features a driver development track with eight educational modules totaling 4.1 miles, a business center, Restaurant 917 and the headquarters of Porsche Motorsport North America. PCNA supports 203 independently owned and operated Porsche dealerships in the U.S., four Porsche studios and five satellite stores in the U.S., including supplying parts, service, marketing, and training. They, in turn, work to provide Porsche customers with a best-in-class experience that is in keeping with the Porsche brand’s 75-year history of leadership in the advancement of vehicle performance, safety, and efficiency. PCNA is an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Porsche AG, which is headquartered in Stuttgart, Germany. *
At the core of this success is Porsche’s proud racing heritage that boasts some 30,000-plus motorsport wins to date.
The summer of 1995 saw Lanzante etched into the motorsport history books, securing victory at the 24 Hours of Le Mans with the #59 McLaren F1 GTR. Lanzante will honour this legacy with its most ambitious project to date.
‘Project 95-59’ – codenamed after the year and the race-winning Le Mans entry number – is a limited-run, bespoke-engineered model based on a McLaren platform, embodying the experiences and knowledge built up by the team across three decades. It has been designed with the driver at the centre of the action, with a focus on engineering, technical, ownership and useability. The result is a driver-focused three seat layout with luggage capacity, enhanced touring range and a target power-to-weight figure of 700hp per ton.
The driver-focused model has been penned by renowned automotive designer Paul Howse, whose impressive creative CV includes the aerodynamic shape of the iconic P1. This latest design has been exclusively previewed to a select group of VIP customers as the design and development programme accelerates towards a public debut at Goodwood Festival of Speed.
More details of this unique celebration will be announced in the coming weeks.
Follow Lanzante via @lanzantelimited on Instagram to be kept up to date.
Sant’Agata Bolognese – The Lamborghini Polo Storico tenth anniversary celebrations began in St. Moritz on 21 and 22 February with two days dedicated to the company’s classic cars and heritage center. On the evening of 21 February the Balthazar Downtown restaurant hosted an exclusive dinner for a select group of Polo Storico customers and collectors. The following day, international journalists and customers were welcomed to the Lamborghini Polo Storico Lounge. An extraordinary Diablo SE 30(viola30; metallic uni; 210113; Lamborghini) captured the guests’ attention throughout the weekend. The car, painted in “Lambo Thirty”—a brilliant purple created especially for this version—was spectacularly positioned, “flying,” on the panoramic terrace of Balthazar Downtown. The terrace looks out over the frozen water of Lake St. Moritz, where two more historic Lamborghini vehicles were in the spotlight: the Countach “pace car”, which took part as support at the Monaco Formula 1 Grand Prix in 1981 and 1982, and a Miura SV were brought to St. Moritz by their owners to participate in the “The I.C.E. St. Moritz” concours d’elegance.
“In St. Moritz, we kicked off a year of celebrations that will take us to some of the world’s most exclusive locations, engaging our international community.” stated Alessandro Farmeschi, After Sales Director at Automobili Lamborghini. “It was really meaningful to meet up in the Alps with our customers. Together, in the last ten years we’ve worked on unique projects, certified exceptional cars and promoted the history of our brand around the world.”
Among the vehicles that drew the biggest crowds was the eye-catching, legendary Countach LP 400S, also known as the “Countach Pace Car” because it was used as the safety car at the Monaco Formula One Grand Prix in 1981 and was the official car of the Race Director the following year. One of the most iconic Lamborghinis ever employed in a sporting environment, the Countach in question is currently being analyzed as part of the Polo Storico certification process. It was accompanied on the parade around a frozen St. Moritz by a red Miura SV that was certified by Lamborghini Polo Storico in 2018. It was the last and most powerful version of the model, which was launched by Lamborghini in 1966 and was the world’s first super car.
The value and prestige of Lamborghini’s historic cars have also been confirmed by the public at the Concours d’Elegance. In fact, the Miura SV won the Hero Below Zero award, given based on public preferences.
The Lamborghini Polo Storico tenth anniversary celebrations will continue in Rome from 24 to 27 April at the Anantara Concours d’Elegance: a new international event exclusively for Italian classic cars. Some of the most iconic masterpieces from motoring history will parade through the heart of the Italian capital, watched by crowds of admiring fans from all over the world. Lamborghini Polo Storico will be present with its own stand.
