Bentley Motors’ bespoke coach-building division, Mulliner, has introduced a new design element to its offerings that it is calling the “next level of automotive luxury” – stone veneers. This innovative interior finish turns a natural material formed over millions of years into a contemporary luxury feature.
The slate and quartzite stone used in the products is sourced from select quarries in Rajasthan and Andhra Pradesh. The sections of stone are split from larger pieces and cured using glass fibre and a bespoke resin. Finally, they are shaped and hand-finished by Bentley’s Mulliner team at the company’s headquarters in Crewe, England.
The stone surfaces of the veneers are just 0.1 mm thick, meaning that they are both extremely light and translucent while still allowing the grain and pattern in the stone to be visible to the interior occupants.
Mulliner, which is aimed at high-end customers who want personalised luxury producs, is now offering stone veneers in four different colours on the Continental and the Flying Spur: Galaxy, Autumn White, Terra Red and Copper. As with any bespoke feature, customers will be able to customise their stone-finished automobiles to their exact requirements.