The Mulliner name is one of the most famous in the world when it comes to car personalization. Mulliner is the world’s oldest coachbuilder, and has helped Bentley to create some truly stunning cars since 1923. More recently, the division is famous for its personalization of various Bentley models, as opposed to creating coachbuilt bodies for the cars. But the division is now celebrating a very significant milestone. It is celebrating its 500th car that it has completed in the last 12 months.
That is an impressive number when put into perspective. From 2014 to 2021, Mulliner was only able to outfit 1,000 vehicles. So the fact that it has done half that number in just a year is hugely impressive. Mulliner and Bentley wanted to mark this milestone with something special. So for the 500th car of the year, out has come a special Bentley Mulliner Flying Spur S Hybrid. This is for a client in the United Kingdom, and it features a stunning Spark blue body finish. It is every bit the special car you would expect for the 500th Mulliner of 2022.
A Special Car For A Special Milestone
Exploring the Mulliner in more detail shows off the truly stunning Spark blue body. This is a brand-new color from the division, and putting it on your 500th car of 2022 is a great way for it to make its debut. Not only that, but this special Flying Spur features the Blackline specification as well. This helps to darken the exterior brightwork. It also provides a stunning contrast to the Spark Blue exterior of the flying Spur. Adding to that are the sensational 22-inch ten-spoke wheels dressed in black.
A very neat finishing touch is the Flying B badge. While that is standard, on this 500th Mulliner of 2022, it is now illuminated. A very classy little touch indeed. Bentley and Mulliner have worked on the interior of the Flying Spur S as well. Inside we see Beluga-color leather upholstery, that features some gorgeous diamond quilting. Touches of Klein Blue help to cap off that quilting very nicely. Mulliner have also added some high-gloss carbon fiber across the cabin. The metal air vents, dial bezels and various other controls within the interior all have a beautiful polished finish.
The Power At The Hear Of This Special Mulliner Creation
The Flying Spur S is one of the best modern Bentley’s available. So it is little wonder that Mulliner had this down for their 500th car of 2022. The car had its public premiere at the 2022 Goodwood Festival of Speed. Black parts come for the grille, lower fascia as well as the side inlets and mirror caps. Black also features on the window surrounds, exhaust outlets plus the rear bumper accents. Tinted taillights are another standout feature. The Flying Spur S though has more than just great looks to shout about.
At the heart of the Flying Spur S is a 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 engine. This makes 543 hp and 568 lb-ft of torque, making this quite a potent creation. However, this particular Mulliner creation is a bit different. This is the hybrid version of the Flying Spur S. Instead of a V8, we have a hybrid-assisted 2.9-liter twin-turbo V6 engine. That V6 engine is still hugely powerful at 536 hp and with 553 lb-ft of torque. So going down two cylinders does not lose you much power at all. Plus, it has the bonus of being able to go 26 miles on electric power. Perfect for a quick shopping trip.
The Perfect Car For A 500th Edition Of The Year
This has certainly proven to be the best year in the history of Mulliner Bespoke. And 2022 saw plenty of highlights. Bentley speaks about a Continental GT Convertible that was in fact commissioned by Bentley Naples in Florida. This features Blackline specification brightwork and stunning 22-inch Speed wheels in gloss black. Plus, it is in a stunning Arctica White exterior finish. Another Continental GT is the one commissioned by Bentley Tampa Bay. This particular example is in a Marlin blue satin paint finish.
The Best Way To Celebrate A Special Year
For their 500th model of 2022 though, there was no better way for Mulliner to celebrate it. This special Flying Spur S Hybrid is a remarkable creation. It features all the stunning exterior changes that you would come to expect from any Mulliner creation. Plus, they have not let the interior go unloved either. Very few bespoke design departments exist in 2022. And of those, not all of them have the same eye for detail that the Mulliner division of Bentley has. Bentley Mulliner are showing that bespoke design is alive and well in 2022, and we are incredibly grateful that it is.
Source: Bentley