TUNNING

Mulliner: Prep celebrates work on 500 cars over last 12 months

Mulliner, Bentley's personalization division, celebrates a major milestone in 2022 by working on 500 cars over the last 12 months. To put that number in perspective, the team needed from 2014 to 2021 to prep 1,000 vehicles.

Mulliner model number 500 this year is a Flying Spur Hybrid for a UK customer. The sedan features an exterior trim in Spark Blue, a new color within the division, and also features Blackline specification, with components in black instead of chrome. It mounts 22-inch ten-spoke light-alloy wheels in black, while the Flying B badge is illuminated.

Inside, attention is drawn to the upholstery in Beluga leather with lozenge padding and touches of Klein Blue. The high-gloss carbon fiber decoration also stands out. In addition, the air vents, bezel ball hinges and other controls have a polished finish.

The Flying Spur Hybrid was introduced in July 2021 with many components in black, such as the grille, window frames and exhaust pipes. In addition, the headlights and taillights are darkened.

Under the hood, it has a 2.9 V6 biturbo engine with 416 hp, and a 136 hp electric unit, powered by a 14.1 kWh battery, which offers an emission-free range of 40 km. In total, the combined power rises to 544 hp, so it is logical to think that this car, despite its 2,430 kilograms, accelerates from 0 to 100 in just 4.3 seconds.

Bentley created the Mulliner division to customize its vehicles in 2014. Since 2018, special orders have multiplied by five. This popularity contributed to the increase in revenue from options for each car by 36% over the same period.

“The year 2021 was a record for Mulliner Design, which saw how its team needed to grow 50% to meet customer demands. In 2022, this team has really been put to the test, as there has been an 85% year-on-year increase, explained Paul Dickinson, commercial director of Mulliner and Motorsport division.

It seems evident that the most wealthy customers are increasingly demanding and non-conformist, and they don't mind increasing the payment to take a unique car to their garage, with a customization that nobody else has in the world.

Autonews