As the automotive community gets ready for The Amelia weekend March 6-9, we wanted to take a look back at one of the cars that very quickly grabbed our attention on site last year. Amidst the main show field sat an installation by Bentley, and within that this very unique Continental GTC.
One of the things we love about companies like Bentley is their readiness to jump into tailored and commissioned builds, with display cars for key events like The Amelia offering a perfect opportunity to show off their capabilities. This car, appearing to pay tribute to The Dames Point Bridge as seen on its infotainment screen, is fitting in that it harks the nearby structure in nearby Jacksonville, FL. The span, part of I-295 north and south, spans the St. Johns River to connect downtown Jacksonville with points north… points such as Amelia Island, FL that The Amelia calls home.
At the heart of any Mulliner build like this is are the special touches. The car’s Silver Taupe (silvertaupe; metallic Uni; 6745; Bentley Mulliner) exterior paint is a light metallic brown that seems an obvious nod to the concrete hue of the Dames Point Bridge. Accents to that paint include a Sky Blue painted pinstripe and Carbon Fiber Bodykit Styling Specification excluding the Bootlid Spoiler. The lower brightware of the GTC is here again color matched in Silver Taupe.
Obviously, a color harkening concrete is going to be subtle, which sets up perfectly for this cabriolet’s more bold cabin specification.
Inside, the tribute is to the blue waters of the St. Johns River, the interior leather receives Bentley’s Color Split D configuration, with primary hide being striking Sky Blue, with secondary hide of Beluga and accent hide and seat bolsters in Stratos.
Frankly, the level of specification for a display car befitting a venue such as The Amelia is staggering, so we reached out to Bentley to get the full Mulliner specification for this remarkable interior. Unsurprisingly, it’s a substantial list. It includes:
Bespoke Colour Split (Based on Colour Split D):
Beluga Secondary Hide.
Sky Blue Main Hide.
Scratos Accent Hide.
Seat Bolsters in Stratos.
Steering Wheel 6 O’Clock Spoke in Sky Blue.
Concrast Gear Lever and Steering Wheel Accent Tab in Scratos.
Contrast Stitching to Standard Areas with Additional Seat Piping in White.
Addiditional Contrast Stitching to Door Armrests in White.
Piano Black Veneer:
Sky Blue Pinscripe to Fascia and Door Waistrails (Including Upper Bullseye Vane).
Bentayga Brushed Metal Finish to Centre Console.
Concrast Stitching to Inner and Outer Diamonds of MDS Quilt Pattern in Stratos.
Concrast Mulliner Steering Wheel Honeycomb Stitching in Stracos.
Embroidered Bentley Emblems – Contrast in Stratos.
Personalised Dames Point Bridge Overlay on Bentley Rotating Display.
Mulliner Overmats:
Beluga Carpet.
Beluga Binding and Scitch.
White Micropipe.
The list of additional standard order book options for this Dames Point show car is also robust. On the outside, this included 22-inch ten spoke wheels painted black, Touring Specification, Blackline Specification, Styling Specification, Black Roof, LED welcome Lamps “By Mulliner”, and standard brakes with black painted calipers. Order book options inside the car include carpets matched to secondary hide, front seat Comfort Specification, Mood Lighting Specification, Naim for Bentley audio, Bentley Rotating Display, heated single-tone 3-spoke steering wheel, Leather Specification and Mulliner Colour Specification.
What will Bentley bring for 2025? We’ll all have to wait and see.
Continuation of the Speed Six, the most successful Bentley race car in history, with two Le Mans wins in 1929 and 1930
Every car handcrafted from scratch using period-correct tools, fixings and techniques – over a process of 10 months from start to finish
Continental GTC with the all-new 782 PS, 1000 Nm ‘Ultra Performance Hybrid’ powertrain
81 km of electric range, and CO2 emissions of 29 g/km*
[source: Bentley]
Munich, Germany – Bentley Motors will showcase the Bentley Speed Six Continuation Series following the successful completion of twelve Bentley 4½ Litre Supercharged ‘Blower’ Continuation models, the world’s first pre-war continuation series. The build of each car will take a total of ten months from start to finish.
The Continuation Series Speed Six takes two original Speed Sixes as its template: the company’s own Speed Six, GU409, and ‘Old Number 3’, a works Speed Six driven in the 1930 Le Mans 24 Hour race by Sammy Davis and Clive Dunfee. The latter was generously loaned by its owner and gave the Mulliner team invaluable data on dimensions, materials, and components.
The Speed Six was introduced in 1928 as a more sporting version of the Bentley 6½ Litre. The engine was modified to liberate more power, with twin SU carburettors, a higher compression ratio and a high-performance camshaft. A contemporary road test in The Morning Post concluded, “I consider this car to be one of the most remarkable engineering achievements of the century, the balance of speed, silence and flexibility having been maintained in a unique manner.”
182 Speed Six models were built between 1928 and 1930. Two wins at the Le Mans 24 Hour race, in 1929 and 1930, cemented the Speed Six’s pre-eminent place in Bentley racing history.
Bentley Motors is also proud to reveal the fourth generation Continental GTC Speed in Jetstream, following in the 21-year tradition of the Continental GT family by redefining the ultimate blend of supercar performance, handcrafted luxury and everyday usability.
For the new Continental GTC Speed, a brand-new Ultra Performance Hybrid powertrain has been developed. The new powertrain combines a new 4.0 litre V8 engine capable of producing 600 PS (584 bhp) with a 190 PS (187 bhp) electric motor. Performance of the Continental GTC Speed is breath-taking for an open-air Grand Tourer.
The Convertible features Bentley’s seven-bow fabric roof system, available in a range of seven exterior colours (including tweed) and deployable in 19 seconds at speeds up to 48 km/h. With a completely new 400-volt electrical architecture enables the most advanced suite of powertrain technology to be offered by a luxury automotive brand today, delivering emissions of 29 g/km of CO2 and an electric range of 80 km on the WLTP drive cycle.
Fourth-generation bespoke GTC auctioned at 2025 Naples Winter Wine Festival (NWWF) benefitting the Naples Children & Education Foundation (NCEF)
Auction lot 45 raised $1.7M in 2025, the highest lot of the day
Auction winner to take delivery of Bentley’s latest open top grand tourer and join exclusive 2025 Monterey Car Week program
GTC sports unique Damson exterior with bespoke Mulliner interior of White and Damson hides with Silver Piping
Specification curated by Mulliner with Bentley Naples for the auction
The NWWF, in its 25th anniversary year, resulted in the most successful auction ever raising more than $34M for the NCEF
[source: Bentley]
Naples, FL – The first bespoke new Continental GTC Speed was auctioned for charity at this year’s Naples Winter Wine Festival. Bentley’s latest pinnacle open top grand tourer took part in the Naples Winter Wine Festival (NWWF), raising $1.7M to support at-risk and underprivileged children in Collier County. This brings the total amount raised at the 2025 NWWF to over $34 million, resulting in the most successful auction to date for its 25th anniversary year.
The Bentley Naples auction lot included two core areas: delivery of a unique Continental GTC Speed with Mulliner specification crafted specifically designed for the Naples Winter Wine Festival and an exclusive one-off package and access to Bentley’s largest event of the year, Monterey Car Week, taking place in August 2025.
The GTC features a striking Damson exterior paint paired with a Dark Grey Metallic fabric roof, while the Light Grey interior roof complements the White main hide and Damson secondary hide, accented with silver seat piping. Adding to its exclusivity are personalized Naples Winter Wine Festival treadplates, blackline and touring specifications, LED welcome lights, and a Moonbeam-painted pinstripe around the exterior. The GTC also features a unique piano white and Damson-painted veneer, a specification exclusive to Mulliner, making this vehicle truly one of a kind.
This year, for the first time, Bentley auctioned its most powerful engine offering, the Ultra Performance Plug-In Hybrid V8, which produces 771 horsepower, over 100 more than the previous version, and can accelerate from 0 to 60 in 3.2 seconds.
In addition to the new Continental GTC, the winners will experience Bentley’s exclusive Monterey Car Week 2025 program in August, the brand’s most significant activation of the year. The package includes four nights of luxury accommodations at The Inn at Spanish Bay, two tickets to Bentley’s VIP Terrace during The Quail, A Motorsports Gathering, and two VIP tickets to the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, complete with access to The Bench hospitality suite at The Lodge, offering unparalleled views of the prestigious awards. Winners will also receive an exclusive invitation to Bentley’s Beach Dinner at Seal Rock Beach and access to Bentley’s Signature Party at the Beach and Tennis Club.
“Bentley Motors is pleased to support Bentley Naples as we see through another successful auction at the Naples Winter Wine Festival continuing its charitable efforts,” said Jun Watanabe, Senior Director, Sales and Operations at Bentley Americas. “Contributing to the community and fostering a sense of purpose are integral to our broader understanding of sustainability, paving the way for future generations to thrive.”
As part of Bentley’s commitment to philanthropy, the proceeds from the auction benefited the Naples Children & Education Foundation (NCEF), which works to improve the lives of underprivileged children in Collier County, Florida. The Naples Winter Wine Festival, now in its 25th year, is celebrated for its exceptional auction lots and its dedication to community impact, having raised more than $336 million since its inception.
“We have been honored to be involved with the Naples Winter Wine Festival Auction since 2006 and it’s transformative work the Naples Children & Education Foundation (NCEF),” said Jason Reidel, Managing Partner of Bentley Naples. “Each year, together with Bentley Motors Inc we are grateful for the opportunity to play a role in supporting this incredible mission and making a meaningful difference in our special Southwest Florida community.”
“We are sincerely grateful to Bentley for allowing us to showcase this phenomenal automobile in our 25th annual Naples Winter Wine Festival live auction,” said Bill Beynon, Team 25 Co-Chairs. “Their extraordinary support this year and in the past several years has enabled us to raise much needed funds for essential programs that will improve the lives of underprivileged and at-risk children in our community.”
About Naples Winter Wine Festival The Naples Winter Wine Festival (NWWF), one of the world’s most prestigious charity wine auctions, offers a weekend of unforgettable memories. Guests enjoy world-class food and wine during intimate dinners in elegant, private homes and other landmark settings throughout Naples and are invited to bid on once-in-a-lifetime travel and wine experiences during an electrifying live auction. Since its inaugural event in 2001, the NWWF has raised more than $336 million, making a profound difference in the lives of hundreds of thousands of children in Collier County.
What: 2024 Bentley Continental GTC Mulliner W12 Color:Pink Frost(pinkfrost; unknown; unknown; Bentley Mulliner) VIN: SCBDT4ZG3RC017079 Mileage: 33 Price at Time of this Writing: $459,260 CarFax: N/A Window Sticker: N/A Location: O’Gara Coach, Beverly Hills, CA Dealer listing:Link
Why we love mention it:
There’s no doubt the Bentley Continental GTC you see here is polarizing. When the Bentley dealership in Beverly Hills commissions a special order car from Mulliner to celebrate the final W12 twin turbo delivery to the store, maybe it shouldn’t be so surprising that they’d go with something as bold as pink over pink.
Not much is known about Pink Frost at this time, though it’s an incredibly light and almost white pastel pink, light pastel in the vein of Porsche Chalk or Audi Cumulus Blue… but pink.
We also don’t know much about the interior specification. The car’s listing states it as “Beluga”, though it’s definitely got Bentley’s Mulliner – Bespoke Interior Color Split on the build list and we’re guessing that may have been to mirror the Pink Frost exterior color.
Whatever, the car is a one of one build by Mulliner for Bentley Beverly Hills, with other options including Mulliner – Personal Paint – Solid & Metallic, Mulliner – Bespoke Interior Colour Split, Bang & Olufsen for Bentley, Mulliner PCG – Pinstripe Fascia/Door WR, Mood Lighting with Personalised TP, Mulliner PCG – Bespoke Treadplate Plaques, Mulliner PCG – Mulliner Overmats (Front) and Mulliner – Quilted Tonneau Cover.
There’s no doubt this is a fascinating build, and a significant one named explicitly on the sill plate. For the right buyer seeking this sort of car, it is spectacular. For many others, it will no doubt cause discussion.
As part of the Global Media Drive for the new Continental GT Speed in Andermatt Switzerland, Bentley has released photos of each car on location for the drive. This includes full build specifications. Over the last few days we’ve been color checking all of them, and our final specification is this tasteful brown droptop.
Technically, the Mulliner hue is known simply as Bronze. Whether bronze (little B) or brown we really don’t care. It’s attractive, and that is especially so when paired with granite painted exterior brightware and machined 22-inch ten swept spoke wheels.
The specification gets even better on the inside where the monotone cabin is Cumbrian Green leather with Camel accents, dark tint Engine Turned Aluminum fascias and contrast stitching throughout.
Worth noting, the car also has several options that we’ll list here along with U.S. pricing. These include First Edition Specification ($41,190), Carbon Ceramic Brakes with Painted Calipers ($18,820), Extended Range Solid and Metallic Paint ($8,655), 22-inch Ten Swept Spoke Wheels ($4,000) and Contrast Stitching ($3,930).
First Edition Specification includes Touring Specification, Front Seat Comfort Specification, Front Wellness Seating including postural and lumbar adjustment, Naim Audio, Bentley Rotating Display, Technical Veneer Choice or Single Finish Veneer, Animated LED Welcome Lamps by Mulliner, Mood Lighting Specification, Deep Pile Overmats front and rear, First Edition Exterior Badge, First Edition Treadplates, First Edition Embroidery to Seats, Garage Door Opener and Valet Key.
Front Seat Comfort Specification (included in First Edition Specification) includes Adjustable Seat Bolsters, Adjustable Seat Cushion Length, Power Adjustable Headrest, Ventilation and Massage, Heated Front Armrest and Hide Trimmed Seat Belt Buckles.
Touring Specification (included in First Edition Specification) includes Lane Guidance, Predictive Adaptive Cruise Control, Night Vision and Head-up Display.
Unique design details, bespoke craftsmanship, enhanced wellness and additional technology bring pinnacle Mulliner versions of Bentley’s three new hybrid Grand Tourers
782 PS, 1000 Nm Ultra Performance Hybrid powertrains make these the most powerful Mulliner models yet and the ultimate daily supercars
Exclusive signature features include a Mulliner ‘Floating Diamond’ front grille, bright chrome to exterior and tri-tone interior colourway
Continental GT Mulliner and GTC Mulliner feature new ‘Harmony’ design single headlights with ‘cut crystal’ reflector details
Hand-crafted interiors include unique Mulliner quilt patterns, embroidery and choice of colour splits with a third accent colour
Mulliner 22” wheel finished in Tungsten Grey with polished accents as standard including self-levelling wheel badges
All-new 782 PS, 1000 Nm ‘Ultra Performance Hybrid’ powertrains deliver supercar performance and effortless electric luxury with no compromise
‘My Bentley App Studio’ integrates popular apps directly into the car
[source: Bentley]
Crewe, United Kingdom – Bentley’s new portfolio of daily supercars expands today with the addition of the Mulliner versions to the fourth-generation Continental GT, GTC and Flying Spur, from Bentley’s bespoke division. Building on the specification of the performance-focused Speed models with the addition of even more options and luxury details, the Mulliner range offers a striking visual difference with bespoke craftsmanship, increased wellness features and additional technology as standard. The Mulliner versions define the pinnacle models of each of Bentley’s newest product families.
To the exterior, all models receive a new Mulliner signature ‘Floating Diamond’ radiator grille with chrome surround and centre bar, chrome lower grilles, chromeware to the side of the car and chrome-finish tailpipes. The chromeware is complemented by Satin Silver mirror caps. Alternatively, all of the exterior chrome and the mirror caps can be specified in gloss black, through selection of Mulliner Blackline. The Mulliner range also includes a specifically designed 22” wheel in two different finishes, Tungsten Grey or gloss black, both with polished accents and finished with self-levelling Bentley Mulliner wheel badges.
For the Continental GT Mulliner and GTC Mulliner, the fourth-generation face of the car features twin single headlamps with a new, unique and highly intricate ‘cut crystal’ reflector, while a Mulliner badge is fitted to the front wings. For the Flying Spur Mulliner, the Flying B radiator mascot is included as standard (with chrome or black finish), as well as a new Mulliner wing vent with double-diamond detailing.
Welcome and Coming Home light sequences featuring an animation of the Bentley wings are among the many other delightful Mulliner features, as are red-tinted tail lamps (replacing the grey-tinted lamps of the Speed).
Mulliner illuminated outer treadplates and deep-pile overmats welcome passengers inside the ultimate Bentley cabin, which offers a Mulliner curation of custom-made, three-colour combinations. The sumptuously trimmed cockpit is complemented by accent colour piping and unique Mulliner embroidery to the hand-stitched seats with a newly designed Mulliner diamond perforation pattern. For the Continental GTC Mulliner, the new stitching pattern extends to the tonneau cover, visible whenever the seven-bow fabric roof is lowered. New standard features for the Mulliner range also include Wellness seating with Postural Adjust and Auto Climate to the front seats (and to the rear in the Flying Spur), minimising fatigue and providing a level of relaxation and onboard wellness that is truly unique.
The Mulliner design theme continues in the LED driver’s instrument panel, with stylish and exclusive graphics. The now famous Bentley Rotating Display, sports pedals, heated duo-tone three-spoke steering wheel and panoramic sunroof for the Flying Spur and Continental GT add further to the luxurious ambience.
Mulliner models receive leather-bound keys in a unique, Mulliner-branded handcrafted presentation box, matching the three-colour cabin configuration of their car. The two keys are provided in colour-matched cases with contrast stitching.
All of the Mulliner range also include Touring Specification, Colour Specification, animated welcome lamps, mood lighting and Grand Black veneers with a Mulliner overlay. Customers may opt for any of Bentley’s other mainstream veneers in lieu of Grand Black, at no cost.
Visual delight and hand crafted opulence
The interior of the new Mulliner models is a masterclass of craftsmanship showing painstaking attention to detail. A wide choice of new Mulliner-designed hide colour splits is further enhanced by a third accent colour in the form of a distinctive design line.
The new Mulliner models are offered with Comfort Seat Specification, available for all four seats of the Flying Spur Mulliner and the front two seats on the two-door Continental models. Wellness functions such as Postural Adjust and Seat Auto Climate minimise fatigue and promote a sense of relaxed comfort even on the longest journeys. The wellness and comfort of driver and passengers is further enhanced by an air conditioning system that now includes air ionisers, a new particulate matter filter and displays showing air quality outside and inside the vehicle. The system synchronises with the car’s satellite navigation, knowing when it might be necessary to improve cabin air quality (for example by recirculating the cabin air when in a tunnel).
Abundant power and refinement
As befits such pinnacle models, the new Continental GT Mulliner, Continental GT Convertible Mulliner and Flying Spur Mulliner feature Bentley’s remarkable new Ultra Performance Hybrid powertrain, shared with the Speed versions. The new powertrain combines a new 4.0 litre V8 engine capable of producing 600 PS (584 bhp) with a 190 PS (187 bhp) electric motor. Peak system output is 782 PS (771 bhp) and 1000 Nm (738 lb ft) of torque. The new powertrain delivers extreme performance and sets the latest Bentleys apart from their competition – with more horsepower, more torque and a significant drop in CO2 and fuel consumption figures to around one tenth of equivalent conventional petrol powertrains. In turn, this provides an extraordinary range of driving capability, from extreme but daily supercar performance to effortless electric luxury.
At one extreme, it’s capable of serene, silent progress in pure EV mode for up to 50 miles (81 km) for the Continental GT (47 miles (76 km) for the Flying Spur), ideal for Zero Emission Zones or city travel. Full electric mode can be deployed at speeds of up to 87 mph / 140 km/h, with throttle applications of up to 75 per cent. The battery can be fully replenished in as little as 2¾ hours thanks to significant improvements in charger and battery capacity, with 11 kW peak charging power. When more spirited driving is desired, the combined 782 PS of Bentley V8 and e-motor delivers sensational performance. Complementing the power of the new Ultra Performance Hybrid is a new dual valve damper system and dual chamber air springs, which enables more sophisticated tuning options. The result is that the new Mulliner models can achieve an even more impressive combination of performance, handling, and magic carpet refinement.
A palette of choice
For all three Mulliner models, customers can choose from a paint range of 101 colours, though this can be expanded to any colour from Bentley’s past, and bespoke paint-matching is also available. For the interior, 15 primary hide colours, 11 secondary shades and 6 accent colours offer endless colour combinations, while Mulliner can also utilise bespoke shades of leather to expand the range even further. The leathers are joined by eight wood veneer options and a further three technical finishes – which can be utilised as single or dual finishes and can also be paint matched to any interior hide or exterior paint colours.
Seamless integration of technology
All models benefit from the latest generation of electrical architecture, providing a significant step forward in infotainment and driver assistance technology. This technology is the most advanced in the luxury segment and includes an environment display (shown in the driver’s instrument panel) that supports and enables driving in semi-assisted mode. The ownership experience is further enhanced via My Bentley App Studio, Bentley’s digital ecosystem for customers. This offers access to a wide variety of vehicle and third-party applications which can be downloaded directly to the infotainment system, independent of a smartphone.
Bentley Mulliner
Mulliner is the birthplace of coachbuilding – the oldest automotive coachbuilder in the world – and is renowned throughout the automotive world for crafting some of the most individual Bentleys ever created. As Bentley’s personal commissioning division, Bentley Mulliner is able to respond to the requirements of Bentley’s most discerning customers’ requests for bespoke features to any Bentley. Beyond their bespoke services, Mulliner is also responsible for the Blower Continuation Series and Speed Six Continuation Series – recreating Bentley’s most iconic cars from the 1920s – and the exclusive, coachbuilt Bacalar, Batur and new Batur Convertible models.
Another car on the Global Media Drive for the new Continental GT Speed in Andermatt Switzerland, Bentley is this red version with a nod to nostalgic color names. Known as Candy Red, the hue is a medium dark red that works well on Crewe’s open-top grand tourer.
The Candy Red paintwork by Mulliner is accented with Slackware on the exterior, then set off by full-black painted 22-inch ten swept spoke wheels.
Inside, the monotone cabin features Beluga leather with Gravity Grey accents, high-gloss carbon fiber fascias and contrast stitching throughout.
The Specification of the car is as follows and we’ll list it here along with U.S. pricing. These include First Edition Specification ($41,190), Carbon Ceramic Brakes with Painted Calipers ($18,820), Mulliner Range Solid and Metallic Paint ($12,115), Continental Blackline Specification ($4,745), 22-inch Ten Swept Spoke Wheels – Black Painted ($4,000) and Contrast Stitching ($3,930).
First Edition Specification includes Touring Specification, Front Seat Comfort Specification, Front Wellness Seating including postural and lumbar adjustment, Naim Audio, Bentley Rotating Display, Technical Veneer Choice or Single Finish Veneer, Animated LED Welcome Lamps by Mulliner, Mood Lighting Specification, Deep Pile Overmats front and rear, First Edition Exterior Badge, First Edition Treadplates, First Edition Embroidery to Seats, Garage Door Opener and Valet Key.
Front Seat Comfort Specification (included in First Edition Specification) includes Adjustable Seat Bolsters, Adjustable Seat Cushion Length, Power Adjustable Headrest, Ventilation and Massage, Heated Front Armrest and Hide Trimmed Seat Belt Buckles.
Touring Specification (included in First Edition Specification) includes Lane Guidance, Predictive Adaptive Cruise Control, Night Vision and Head-up Display.
A one-of-one Continental GTC S, inspired by surfing and exclusively for China, makes its public debut, having already been sold
Bentley Batur, the exquisite Mulliner Coachbuilt two-seat grand tourer, is unveiled for the first time in a new exterior colour by Mulliner, Gloss Aquamarine, with new design DNA showing direction for future Bentleys
Luxury flagship Bentayga EWB Mulliner displayed together with Flying Spur Azure Hybrid, demonstrating stunning bespoke features
In 2024, Bentley will offer special collections inspired by Chinese culture, meeting the personalisation demands of Chinese customers
[source: Bentley]
Beijing, China – Bentley Motors presents a number of models all crafted by Bentley’s personal commissioning division, Mulliner, at Auto China 2024. A one-of-one Continental GTC S, exclusively created for China, makes its public debut in Beijing, having already been sold. The exceptional Mulliner Coachbuilt project – Bentley Batur – makes its first public appearance in China with a new exterior paint colour, presenting a striking new look. The Bentayga EWB Mulliner – Bentley’s luxury flagship, is also displayed at the luxury stand alongside the Flying Spur Azure Hybrid, demonstrating stunning bespoke features.
Also announced, are the design details of the special collections inspired by Chinese culture. All of these models showcase Bentley’s ultimate luxury personalisation, defining the extraordinary benchmark for contemporary luxury mobility and lifestyle.
“As the world’s oldest coachbuilder whose origins date back to the 16th century, the Mulliner name is known among Bentley cars for its ultimate luxury personalisation,” said Ansar Ali, Mulliner and Motorsport Director at Bentley Motors, “we’re delighted to see that customers’ interest in luxury personalisation peaked in 2023, rising by 43 per cent from the previous year, with three quarters of Bentley customers exploring the 46 billion different personalisation configurations available from our options range to add personal bespoke content from Bentley’s Mulliner division. Our discerning Chinese customers and the luxury market here continue to inspire and push us to explore new boundaries, so we are excited and motivated by the future opportunities in this market.”
“In China, twice as many of our customers are choosing Bentley’s personal commissioning services through the Mulliner division as opposed to two years ago, a clear sign of the desire for truly unique commissions and exclusivity by our Chinese customers,” said Kim Airey, Managing Director of Bentley Motors Chinese Mainland, Hong Kong and Macao. “To further reinforce the importance of Mulliner personalisation in China, Bentley will offer a number of China-exclusive personalised collections co-created with Mulliner in 2024. The extraordinary cars are inspired by our Chinese customers and dealers, and the perfect synthesis of Mulliner’s craft, capabilities, and local culture,” Airey added.
Mulliner Coachbuilt: The ultimate personal commission
Mulliner Coachbuilt cars combine an incredibly wide range of rare artisanal skills, modern sustainable design, and cutting-edge engineering and innovation to deliver a service no other car manufacturer can match – creating truly wondrous coachbuilt Bentleys.
Limited to just 18 cars, the coachbuilt Batur is the most powerful Bentley ever, a two-seat grand tourer only Mulliner could create. It is also characterised by a new, minimalist design language that sets the stage for the future style of Bentley models. The Batur displayed at Bentley’s stand presents, for the first time, a new exterior colour by Mulliner, Gloss Aquamarine. The stunning looking car perfectly echoes the inspiration for its name – a beautiful body of water, Lake Batur.
The new design principles create a stronger and bolder exterior for the Batur that simultaneously remains elegant and graceful, relying more heavily on curvaceous surfaces bisected in the right places to reflect light and dark and bring increased muscle to the design. It looks fast even when stationary. This special feature – the “endless bonnet” – makes the car long and lean and gives an elongated proportion to the front end. The line stretches from the bonnet along the whole length of the car, and highlights the cleaner shape. Meanwhile, the visual mass of the car is moved rearwards, giving the impression that the car is sitting on the rear axle, which adds further depth to the haunches. The famous Bentley grille is redesigned to be lower and more upright, giving the car a stronger face and a more dominant stance. The grille is flanked by a new headlight shape and design, bringing self-confidence with a luxury stance.
Any part of the Bentley Batur model can be customised in colour and surface finish. Endless samples of unique materials bring texture to the process, and the resulting designs will be truly individual and created by the customer – limited only by their imagination.
Batur has a two-seat interior space, with every element of its cabin tailored to the customer’s specifications. Clients can choose from a variety of sustainable interior materials. Mulliner’s in-house design team combined luxury materials and unique surfaces, giving this model a special personality. The use of 3D printed 18K gold, sustainable leather and veneers in Natural Fibre composite lays a solid foundation for the Mulliner to achieve its sustainability goals.
Mulliner Bespoke: Create something unique
Mulliner Bespoke offers a limitless range of stunning bespoke finishes and features, from interior speciality veneers and precious metals to a light illuminated to the ground displaying your design, which can make your Bentley truly unique and personal.
Bentley Motors unveiled the latest bespoke masterpiece from Mulliner at Auto China 2024, which is a one-of-one Continental GT Convertible S, exclusively created for the Chinese market. Its design – interior and exterior – is inspired by one of the most popular adrenalin-filled sports in the world – surfing – and it perfectly embodies the young spirit and aspiration of Chinese customers today.
The Snow Quartz exterior paint is a palette that pays homage to the natural colours of ocean waves, complimented by the Light Celeste pinstripe on the Mirror Cap Housings. The cabin design is inspired by ‘Green Room’, referring to the stable room inside the wave, the ultimate goal of every surfer. The interior is finished in Light Celeste as the main hide and complemented by Beluga as the secondary hide together with a Dual Gradient Single Finish Veneer featuring Brunel over Light Celeste, a Piano Brunel centre console with hand painted Light Celeste chevron pinstripe, and the contrast S emblems in Brunel have been embroidered on the headrests, reminding us of summer surfing.
The Flying Spur Azure Hybrid also shares the luxury stand, presenting various bespoke personalisation details in the cabin, including Galaxy Stone over Imperial Blue Dual Finished Veneer. Bentley’s team of expert veneer hunters went to extraordinary lengths to select the stone veneer, showcasing a fusion of century-old craftsmanship and advanced technologies. This results in variations in colour, pattern, and texture which are almost impossible to imitate. Bentley’s revolutionary stone veneer interior finish makes for a magnificent contemporary feature of natural products formed over 200 million years ago.
Bentley also unveils three China-exclusive personalised collections co-created with Mulliner at Auto China 2024. The limited collections are inspired by Chinese culture, and will be launched in 2024. Limited to a production of 8 cars, Koi Carp Collection is inspired by Koi Carp, which expresses good wishes for auspiciousness and prosperity in Chinese culture. Six unique Koi Carps are included in the interior design with different shapes on backrests and the inner sill plate respectively, ‘swimming’ clockwise to circle the occupants in the luxury cabin. Also limited to a production of 8 cars, Landscapes Collection is inspired by a famous ancient Chinese painting ‘A Thousand Li of Rivers and Mountains (千里江山图)’, which depicts the vast country landscape, such as rivers and hills, representing Chinese people’s responsibility to the home and their nation. The contrast bespoke landscape embroidered emblems on the backrest subtly represent the shape of the Chinese characters ’Rivers and Mountains (江山)’. The Ru Yi Collection is limited to the production of 3 cars, its design concept is inspired by Chinese traditional Ru Yi, which is usually owned by ancient nobles and symbolises power and good fortune. The backrests are decorated with Ru Yi embroidery in gold, and is the first time Mulliner has embroidered a Chinese calligrapher’s writing seal script character in the interior design. The ‘Ru Yi (如意)” seal characters are presented in the exterior badge, treadplate, and passenger fascia, adding dynamic and powerful features to the models.
Curated by Mulliner: Explore endless possibilities
From special finishes and colour schemes to beautifully crafted interior and exterior features, Curated by Mulliner offers flexible personalisation options, allowing Bentley customers to customise based on their preferences and experience the sense of achievement and joy of creating a masterpiece with their own hands.
Bentley’s luxury flagship Bentayga EWB Mulliner, showcased at Auto China, offers more cabin space than any comparable luxury competitor and its bespoke enhancements make every journey an occasion to be savoured. The experience from the driver’s seat is equally as special as that of the expansive rear cabin, providing the world’s most luxurious SUV thus far. For cabin customisation, there are eight three-colour combinations to choose from, curated by the Mulliner Design team, which is a Mulliner design signature and only available for Bentley’s pinnacle models. Customers can also specify their own Mulliner Bespoke Interior using any three colours, producing nearly 4,000 tri-tone interior colour combinations. The show car on the stand presents a Bespoke Interior Colour Split using Linen as the main hide with Imperial Blue as the secondary hide and a Camel accent colour. To further demonstrate Mulliner’s personalisation capabilities, a bespoke and unique front-to-rear colour split separates the rear seats from the front, flowing from Imperial Blue in the front to Linen by the rear seats.
Mulliner and Boodles unveil co-created one-of-one Continental GTC
Elegant Porpoise Grey and Linen colour palette with subtle contrast of Boodles signature Powder Pink
“Be Boodles Bentley” Pendant, diamond-set and crafted in 18ct white gold, inlayed to the centre console
One-off ‘Be Boodles’ blind stitch embroidery on Linen upholstery took 278,566 stitches and six hours to complete
Dual-finish veneer in Piano Linen and 200-million-year-old Autumn Stone veneer, just one-tenth of a millimetre thick
Gold air vent organ stops invoke Boodles’ 226-year goldsmith heritage
Boodles exterior sill plate and exterior badging on fender
Both Mulliner and Boodles trace their roots back to 18th century
Boodles Commission Continental GTC to be shown on the 11th April at Jack Barclays in London
[source: Bentley]
Crewe, UK – Two of the oldest names in British craftsmanship, Boodles and Mulliner, have collaborated to create a one-of-one Bentley Continental GTC. The result is a unique showcase of craftsmanship and design, based around a restrained colour spectrum from Anthracite to Linen with Boodles’ signature Powder Pink providing the subtlest of contrasts. Inside, accents of 24ct gold, natural stone veneer and painstaking ‘Be Boodles’ blind stitch embroidery are among the highlights of this jewel among Bentleys.
The collaboration between Mulliner – Bentley’s in-house coachbuilding and bespoke division – and Boodles, the 2023 Walpole Awards ‘British Luxury Brand of the Year’, began in May 2023 when a creative team from the celebrated jewellers visited the Mulliner workshops. Together with Mulliner’s designers, they devised a specification featuring an understated colour palette, rare materials, and intricate craft details. The team felt such a stunning interior deserved to be viewed in sunlight, making Bentley’s Continental GTC a natural choice for their one-of-one creation.
The Boodles Continental GTC is a unique bespoke commission and will be shown on 11th April at Jack Barclays in London.
Understated elegance
The exterior of the Boodles Commission Continental GTC uses a timeless and elegant colour palette, with the Anthracite exterior finish and light grey fabric roof accentuating the lean and muscular lines of Bentley’s open grand tourer. Mulliner 22” wheels are painted in Tungsten with a polished finish, with brake calipers in gloss black. But there are hints of the delights within, in the form of a pinstripe in Boodles’ signature Powder Pink that traces a line around the edge of the Styling Specification front spoiler, sills and rear spoiler. A ‘Boodles 1798’ exterior badge in grey with chrome text appears on the front fender, just ahead of the door on either side. Upon opening the doors, the ground-illuminating welcome lamp projects the Boodles logo.
Inside the ‘jewel box’
Opening the lid of a Boodles jewel box is a moment of delight and revelation, and the co-creators of the Boodles Continental GTC aimed to provoke the same sense of wonder for those entering the Bentley’s cockpit. As with the exterior, the colour spectrum is modern, with Linen upholstery as the main hide colour, complemented by pale grey Porpoise secondary hide on seat backs, fascia top roll, gear lever and steering wheel. Boodles’ Powder Pink appears as an accent hide colour on the steering wheel tab, inner door pockets and console side pocket lowers.
Powder Pink is used for the seat piping as well as the hand cross-stitching that traces the outline of seats, fascia, console, and waist rails. Door panels and upper seat backs feature a blind stitch repeat pattern of the interlocking ‘Be Boodles’ motif, which alone required 278,566 stitches and six hours of painstaking work. Much like the car, the ‘Be Boodles Bentley’ pendant, set into the centre console, has been handcrafted as a complete one-off piece. It features a mirrored pair of diamond-set ‘B’ emblems, imitating the curving lines of antique lace, created in 18ct Single Mine Origin white gold. Finally, a pair of loose cushions in Linen hide are embroidered in Porpoise with ‘Boodles 1798’ and edged with Powder Pink piping.
Precious materials
The interior abounds with bespoke details. Fascia and door waist rails feature dual-finish Piano Linen and Autumn Stone veneers, bisected by a painted pinstripe in Powder Pink. Advanced laser-cutting techniques enable Mulliner to create panels of veneer just one-tenth of a millimetre thick from natural stone formed over 200 million years ago.
Dials, bezels, air vents and controls are framed in Mulliner’s Knurling Specification, giving them a jewel-like finish that catches the light on multiple facets. The central vanes of the air vents are painted in powder pink, allowing them to align perfectly with the fascia pinstripe, while the ‘organ stop’ controls for the air vents are plated in 24ct gold. A ‘Boodles 1798’ overlay in chrome on Piano Linen appears on the lower fascia veneer and both door waist rails. The award-winning Bentley Rotating Display includes a central dial with the Boodles jewellery motif, while other bespoke touches include Boodles illuminated door sills and ‘one of one’ engraved treadplates.
A unique collaboration
Mulliner and Boodles can each lay claim to centuries at the highest levels of design and craftsmanship. Mulliner, now the bespoke commissioning division of Bentley Motors, can trace its origins to a Northampton coachbuilding firm in 1760 that was commissioned to create coaches for the Royal Mail. Boodles, meanwhile, was established in 1798 in the prosperous trading city of Liverpool and has become synonymous with jewellery of exceptional quality; its ‘Raindance’ ring was chosen for the V&A Museum’s permanent exhibition as an icon of British jewellery design.
The Boodles Bentley Continental GTC is the fruit of their collaboration, a true one-of-one creation. It will be offered for sale from the 11th of April onwards.
About Boodles Since 1798, Boodles has represented the epitome of fine British jewellery. Still a privately-owned family business, Boodles stands for the very best in creative design; the highest quality diamonds and gemstones; and the fusion of traditional craft skills with innovation. Every piece of Boodles jewellery is designed and hand finished in Britain. There is an emphasis at Boodles on provenance: they take pride in being able to trace diamonds all the way back to source, and on using gold of a Single Mine Origin. At once classic and contemporary – and always distinctive – Boodles is perhaps best known for Raindance; the iconic ring which was recognised by the V&A Museum and entered into its permanent collection. In 2023 – the year of the 225th anniversary – Boodles was named by the UK’s luxury sector body, Walpole, as Best British Luxury Brand of the Year.
Special Bentley Mulliner 100 Anniversary Collection to celebrate the centenary of Bentley retail partner in Zurich
Luxury quartet based on Bentayga S, Flying Spur Speed, Continental GT and GTC Speed models
Limited Edition models are result of a collaboration with Mulliner who worked on a co-creation with unique features: exterior colour, treadplates, ‘100’ welcome lamps and embroidered ‘100’ headrest emblems
Anniversary coincides with important moment in Bentley history
Bentley Zurich has been operated by Schmohl AG since 1950
[source: Bentley]
Münich, Germany – Bentley Motors is celebrating the centenary of its retail partner in Zurich, Schmohl AG, with a quartet of luxury cars. The uniquely-styled 100 Anniversary Collection is based on four Bentley models – the Bentayga S luxury SUV, the Flying Spur Speed four-door sedan, as well as the Continental GT and GTC Speed definitive grand tourers.
Each example is handcrafted in Crewe, England, by Mulliner, Bentley’s in-house personalisation and bespoke department. For the 100 Anniversary Collection range, Mulliner has developed a new Slate Blue Metallic exterior paint and matching Slate Blue Metallic Styling Specification, with personalised ‘100’ welcome lamps. The Flying Spur Speed, GT and GTC Speed examples also benefit from a bootlid spoiler. Personalised ‘100’ welcome lamps greet both driver and passengers as they step in or out of the 100 Anniversary Collection models.
Inside each exquisitely appointed cabin, the 100 Anniversary Collection cars are crafted with Cognac main hide and Beluga secondary hide, with Diamond Quilt contrast stitching. Personalised embroidered ‘100’ headrest emblems adorn the seats, while Piano Black over Copper Stone dual finish veneer complements the dashboard and doors, with Diamond Knurling Specification to brightwork as standard.
Talking about the centenary, Roderick Pike, General Manager of Bentley Zurich, explains:
“A centenary is a key milestone and a special celebration. Schmohl AG was formed in 1923, the same year the Bentley 3 Litre became the brand’s first car to compete at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, setting the fastest lap in the process. The new 100 Anniversary Collection cars reflect a proud partnership with Bentley, offering unique features to honour our special relationship.”
Balazs Rooz, Regional Director of Bentley Motors Europe, added:
“We are delighted to be celebrating this milestone with Bentley Zurich who have been with us since 1950. Switzerland is an important market for Bentley Motors Europe and with this collection we honour and highlight our achievements over the years. At the same time, with our Beyond100 strategy we are also looking forward towards an electrified range by 2024.”
