Bentley at Monterey Car Week 2021
3Six new Bentleys appear publically for the first time over the course of #montereycarweek 2021
New Flying Spur Mulliner launched to customers and media
Bentley Mulliner Bacalar and Blower Continuation Series complete Mulliner showcase
Bentley’s new range of hybrids come together for the first time, with new Flying Spur Hybrid joining Bentayga Hybrid
Continental GT Speed Convertible also makes first appearance
100 customer test drives from the Home of #Bentley in Monterey
More than 2,500 guests join #Bentley over four days
(Crewe and Monterey, 16 August 2021) Bentley made a hugely successful return to public Events in the USA with six debuts at #montereycarweek 2021. A four-day exhibition of the company’s latest products and Beyond100 strategy was run entirely in accordance with CDC guidelines, keeping Bentley’s guests and staff COVID-safe throughout. All three of #Bentley Mulliner’s stunning portfolios – Classic, Coachbuilt and Collections – came together for the first time, alongside a public debut of Bentley’s new hybrid range featuring both the new Flying Spur Hybrid and the Bentayga Hybrid.
The Home of #Bentley in Monterey was once again the destination for more than 2,500 #Bentley customers and aficionados over the course of the #Event, with 100 of them taking test drives in the latest products. The Home featured a different line-up of Bentleys every day, supported by a hand-crafted display detailing the company’s Beyond100 strategy – Bentley’s nine-year journey to become the world’s leading sustainable luxury mobility company. The display featured the biofuel-powered Continental GT3 Pikes Peak at its centre, surrounded by a selection of in-development sustainable materials and information on the brand’s path to complete carbon neutrality and climate positivity.
Another attraction was Bentley’s “Unifying Spur,” its body decorated with artwork created by designer Rich Morris to highlight Bentley’s new diversity and inclusion strategy that celebrates Bentley’s dedicated networks of colleagues and aims to increase diversity at management level to 30 percent by 2025.
Christophe Georges, President and CEO of #Bentley Americas, comments:
“Returning to Monterey for the first time after rejoicing in our centenary at Pebble Beach in 2019 has been a fantastic experience. After the challenges of the pandemic we chose to celebrate our customers, alongside our thoroughly modern and diverse range of new models, and being able to see customers in-person after such a long time apart was a great experience for everyone. #montereycarweek is always a highlight in our calendar, and was particularly special this year as #Bentley continues to deliver the strongest results in the company’s history.”
Bacalar, Blower, a brace of Hybrids and the new Flying Spur Mulliner
The breadth of Bentley’s handcrafted model range was apparent in the cars on display this year.
The new Flying Spur Mulliner – the pinnacle of the Flying Spur range, and featuring unique Mulliner details – was unveiled at the Home of #Bentley on Thursday evening. 22” Mulliner wheels with self-levelling centres, a unique “Double Diamond” front grille and satin silver mirror caps give the Flying Spur even greater elegance, and are matched in the cabin with a comprehensive suite of trim features and materials that elevate Bentley’s renowned handcraftsmanship to an even higher plane.
The Flying Spur Mulliner was joined by its Continental GT coupe and Convertible siblings to represent the Mulliner Collections portfolio, one of three arms of #Bentley Mulliner. The Coachbuilt portfolio was demonstrated by the development prototype (“Car Zero”) of the Bacalar project, resplendent in new Scarab green paint and a retrimmed cabin, both specifically created for #montereycarweek. With the first examples of 12 highly exclusive customer cars now in build in Mulliner’s workshop, the Bacalar was used for demonstration drives with some of its clients, and made a star appearance at The Quail, A Motorsports Gathering on Friday, August 13. The Bacalar then took pride of place on the Concept Lawn for Sunday’s Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance.
The final star attraction from Mulliner was the representative of the Classic portfolio, in the form of the engineering prototype of the Blower Continuation Series. Having completed a 6,000 mile development and durability programme, Blower Car Zero was run on the roads around the peninsula every day during #montereycarweek, covering 350 miles without missing a beat. Customers, media and guests were treated to passenger rides in the world’s first pre-war continuation car, to both delight and surprise at the car’s breath-taking performance.
Bentley Motors will return to the Monterey peninsula for Car Week next year, from 15th August 2022.