Bentley’s Mulliner Rolls-Off its 500th Car of the Year 2022

Every luxury car brand has its own bespoke design team that works exclusively on commission builds and commemorative models only. For Bentley, its bespoke arm is known as Mulliner. This world-renowned bespoke coachbuilder’s history went back as far as the 19th century, where every carriage is built with finesse and takes time, even for luxury car standards.

Which is why their latest feat is quite remarkable. As the year 2022 is coming to an end, Bentley’s Mulliner has recently delivered its 500th model of the year. To put that figure into perspective, Mulliner only managed to produce 1,000 vehicles in an eight-year span from 2014 to 2021 – twice the amount, but eightfold the duration compared to this year’s figure.

Taking the honours to be the 500th Mulliner to be rolled-off its factory in Crewe, England, is a Bentley Flying Spur S Hybrid. Commissioned by a fellow Britishman, this Flying Spur is draped in Spark Blue tint – one of the 25 Mulliner’s latest paint options.

Juxtaposing against the bright blue bodywork is the addition of Blackline spec, which sees some of its exterior parts blackened, including the iconic Flying B hood ornament that’s actually illuminated. Apart from that, the Spur’s massive 22-inch ten-spoke wheels are also getting the blacked-out treatment, though not illuminated.

Inside the Flying Spur’s cabin, the seats are wrapped with Beluga-hued leather upholstery with diamond pattern engraving and Klein Blue trims. While leather is the more common material used for interior trimmings, this Spur’s owner opted for a carbon-finished dash instead that blends well with the polished metal finishes on the dial bezels, air vents and other controls.

Recently launched this year, the non-Mulliner Bentley Flying Spur S Hybrid comes standard with blackened parts, such as its front grille, side mirrors, window surrounds, bumper accents and many more. Boasting a 2.9-litre twin-turbocharged V6 mill plus an electric motor setup, this hybrid luxury saloon produces 536 HP and 750 NM, while capable of travelling up to 41 KM solely on electric power.

Since 2018, orders for Bentley’s Mulliner bespoke options have increased five-fold, thus resulting in a 36% rise of its optional revenue per car in the same period. With the 500th model of the year 2022, finally roll-off, this indicates that demands for bespoke vehicle customisation have risen significantly in the past five years or so, in spite of the global pandemic.