Bentley’s bespoke and personalisation division, Mulliner, handcrafted a striking and highly personalised duo-tone Bentayga EWB Azure V8, which they delivered to the expectant customers.

An example of the growing trend among Bentley customers for personal commissions, the car is a stunning example of a truly individual Bentley – the result of the free rein that a Mulliner commission provides. Among the unique features requested by the owners was a bespoke two-tone exterior finish, prompting Bentley Motors to bring forward its introduction of two-tone finishes for Bentayga EWB by 12 months.

Additionally, Bentley encourages its customers to participate in the design of unique vehicles through a process known as ‘co-curation’. This goes beyond the tens of billions of specifications available from the Bentley options list. The Mulliner team of designers and skilled artisans welcomes vibrant colour schemes, bespoke materials, and customized features as a challenge in their workshops. As a result, customers can expect a truly personalized experience when designing their Bentley vehicles.

The ‘Kingfisher’ Bentayga EWB

A couple in Irvine, California, commissioned a Bentayga EWB, which demonstrates how Mulliner can evolve a Bentley through their handcrafted expertise. The customers originally visited Bentley Newport Beach to order a Bentayga EWB Azure V8 First Edition, intending to select exterior colours and interior finishes from the 46 billion different configurations available with the standard options range.

Mulliner’s Design Manager, Phill Dean, helped inspire the couple to let their imaginations roam free. They soon became attracted to Kingfisher, a brilliant metallic electric blue finish. However, they felt that the Blackline styling specification required a contrasting exterior colour to complement it. Conversations with Bentley’s Paint Shop established that a duotone would be possible, initiating a process to bring the launch of this option on Bentayga EWB forward by a year.

With a Mulliner commission, anything is possible. We started to discuss the specification in the showroom at Newport Beach, but it soon became clear that we needed more time to go over every tiny detail. We resumed the commissioning at the customers’ home – we finished at around 1.00 am.

Phill Dean

The ‘One of One’ edition Bentayga

The Bentayga EWB commissioned by the customers is a striking and individual creation, with a duo-tone exterior of Onyx over Kingfisher Blue conceived to dazzle in the California sunshine. The couple requested the deletion of Bentley lettering on the tailgate and rear privacy glass, along with a base specification of the Azure wellness-focused package, which included Blackline and Touring specifications. They were content with letting the winged B badge speak for itself.

The Blackline specification seamlessly integrates the Onyx finish into the bonnet, roof, and upper body, along with the gloss black grille, front air intakes, wing vents, side coachlines, and rear diffuser. It makes a dramatic contrast with the Kingfisher blue finish, while the dark roof and cabin create a lower, sportier visual impression. The colour split is repeated in the 22” ten-spoke wheels with a painted finish in Kingfisher and Beluga. Self-levelling Bentley wheel badges add the finishing touch to the exterior.

A personal vision of luxury

Phill Dean and the customers spent many hours exploring the palette of choice to meticulously craft the stunning interior of this unique Bentayga EWB. Their choices included the four-seat configuration with Bentley’s airline seat specification for the two rear seats, Naim for the Bentley audio system and mood lighting. More vibrant, however, is the customers’ own vision of luxury, with a cabin in the dramatic combination of Mandarin and Imperial Blue leather.

The designers chose a light, contemporary, and sustainable Open Pore Koa Veneer for the fascia, rear centre console, door inners, and picnic tables. But it’s the flashes of Kingfisher accent hide that make the most dramatic impact. They appear on the seat bolsters, lower fascia, six o’clock tab on the steering wheel, gear lever, and door trim. Kingfisher hide is also revealed on the upper surface of the picnic tables when extended.

The Mulliner key box secures jewellery and valuables while sporting a combination of Imperial Blue hide and Mandarin. Furthermore, Bentley embroidered the seat emblems in Kingfisher on the inner surfaces that feature Imperial Blue Alcantara. In addition, the designers utilized the same colour for contrast stitching throughout the cabin. Moreover, the Kingfisher micro piping with Mandarin stitching and outer binding even adorns the Imperial Blue over mats. Fittingly, the door treadplates are engraved with a “One of One” message bespoke to the customer.

A growing trend for personal commissions

The company offers the two-tone exterior finish as a factory option, which is an example of how customer feedback has helped shape the product options regarding colour and trim for the Bentayga EWB.

Meanwhile, the trend for Mulliner bespoke commissions continues to grow, with around 75 per cent of the vehicles that left Bentley’s Dream Factory in Crewe, England, in 2023 featuring Mulliner content. This represents a 43 per cent rise in Mulliner content over 2022 (itself a record year), proof of the growing demand for luxury personalisation across the Bentley line-up.

For more information, visit www.bentleymotors.com.