Revolutionary 3D printed gold process used in 2023 Bentley Mulliner Batur interior

MANILA: The special 2023 Bentley Mulliner Batur features pure gold that was 3D printed by Bentley Motors — marking the first time this revolutionary technique is thought to have been applied in the automobile sector.

The Coachbuilt coupe — the quickest Bentley in the company's 103-year history — will receive an additional 210 grams of 18ct yellow gold thanks to the "additive manufacturing" (AM) process.

There are just 18 W12-powered 2023 Bentley Mulliner Batur models available, and all of them have already been sold to Mulliner clients for £1.65 million each (approximately P111-million).

Key driver interface components such as the Charisma Dial, which circles the start/stop button and is used to choose driving modes, are included in the optional, 3D printed gold. The dial is the focal point of a beautiful cabin and matches the style of the Batur front grille. Bentley's renowned Organ Stop vent controls on the dashboard and the steering wheel's gold insert marking are both covered in gold.

Bentley Mulliner has worked with renowned goldsmiths Cooksongold to craft the unique Batur parts. A member of the Heirmerle + Meule Group, Cooksongold is based in the historic Jewellery Quarter of Birmingham, England, where jewelry has been made for centuries. The special collaboration highlights Bentley’s ability to combine new, advanced manufacturing technologies with more traditional materials and finishing techniques.

All the sustainably sourced gold is 100 percent recycled from old jewelry, ground into a fine powder needed for the 3D printing technique. Recycling ensures there is no environmental impact from mining for new precious metals. It also reflects Bentley’s commitment to a more sustainable future and is in line with the company’s Beyond100 strategy, to be end-to-end carbon neutral by 2030.

Before being printed with laser melting printers, each 3D gold item in the Batur is digitally designed using CAD models. After that, each is manually completed by talented artisan jewelers using time-honored methods to produce the gloss and quality that are emblematic of a Bentley.

The 2023 Bentley Mulliner Batur's components are all hallmarked in Birmingham's Jewellery Quarter as proof of its solid material construction. To commemorate the late Queen Elizabeth II's Platinum Jubilee year, any parts produced in 2022 also have the Jubilee hallmark.

In February, Bentley committed a further £3 million investment to double AM capacity at the Crewe factory, converting 3D CAD models into physical parts. Future applications will facilitate more low volume manufacturing components and bespoke customer personalisation - including the pioneering use of 3D printed gold in a range of new generation models.

Bentley’s legendary 6.0-litre, twin-turbocharged W12 engine generates more than 740 PS in the Batur, with chassis technology that includes eLSD, four-wheel steering and 48V electric active anti-roll bars to match the performance. The coupe offers an endless array of options, including parts crafted in titanium, sustainable Natural Fiber composites and even low-carbon leather sourced from Scotland. The coupe’s new design DNA also shows the direction for future Bentley battery electric vehicles.

Dr. Matthias Rabe, Member of the Board for Research and Development at Bentley Motors, said: “Bentley’s approach to additive manufacturing is industry leading, evident through our pioneering use of a luxury metal in the design and development process of the Batur. One of the key benefits is that it is efficiency led, cutting down on the cost and complexity of a myriad of jobs but maintaining the value of a rare resource.

“As Bentley embraces an exciting future, we see huge potential in advanced, innovative technologies. Processes such as 3D printed gold will be a springboard that allows our customers an even greater ability to personalise, further enhancing the individualisation programme offered on every car.”

“The Batur is a significant car for Bentley. Far more than the heir to the highly successful Bacalar, the Batur showcases the design direction that we’re taking in the future as we develop our range of BEVs. Andi Mindt and his team have reimagined the classic Bentley design cues into a stronger, bolder design that remains both elegant and graceful,” Bentley Motors Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Adrian Hallmark stated.

“For any design team, the chance to redefine our own rules is the most exciting challenge. We have reimagined the Bentley design language, keeping some continuity to the past and present while also drastically changing key elements,” Bentley Motors Design Director Andreas Mindt said.

“The design of a modern Bentley should always be potent, inspirational and harmonious. The form has to be strong and muscular whilst remaining graceful – there must be both elegant flow and muscularity. The term we use is the ‘resting beast stance’ – picture a lion or tiger, laying low in attack position in long grass. That powerful shape – of ultimate power at rest, that looks fast even when stationary – is one that drives our new interpretation of the classic Bentley power line and haunch.”

Each customer is provided with an endless range of choices for the exterior details. For the paint, the customers picked from the full Mulliner color palette, traveling beyond into fully bespoke paint and even hand-painted graphics.

The front splitter, side skirts, and rear diffuser can be finished in carbon fiber or Natural Fiber composite. Meanwhile, the exterior brightware can be a combination of light and dark, satin or gloss or even titanium.

The Bentley Mulliner Batur is fitted with 22-inch Black Crystal wheels. A darker option is available, and customers can also choose to paint-match the wheels to the body or choose a different contrast color.

The Batur unveiled in Monterey is painted in Bonneville Pearlescent Silver. It is equipped with carbon fiber front splitters, side skirts, and rear diffuser painted in Black Crystal. The front end is designed with a grille of exceptional art, with the main matrix finished in Gloss Dark Titanium adorned with contrast chevrons in horizontal ombre pattern. The wheels are finished in Satin Titanium, with spokes in Satin Dark Titanium.

Inside, the 2023 Bentley Mulliner Batur is designed for long-distance grand touring. Customers can choose from sustainable interior materials including low-carbon leather sourced from Scotland, tannage leather from Italy, and Dinamica.

The carpets are made from recycled yarn, a first for Bentley. There are also bright, dark, and titanium options for the interior brightware. Certain controls are also available in 3D-printed 18K gold, as mentioned.

Beluga, Hotspur, and Hyperactive colors were used to hand-trim the interior of the launch Batur. The main Beluga hide contrasts with the new, eco-friendly Mulliner Hyperactive Orange leather. Dinamica is used to provide a complementary texture. The seats' unique “Batur Chevrons” are delicately hand-embroidered in Snap Orange thread on their outer wings, while the rest of the upholstery is stitched with contrast-colored white thread.

The Batur is the successor to the Bacalar, the 12-off Barchetta design that brought coachbuilding back to Mulliner. Bentley Mulliner has developed a reputation for successfully delivering complex projects, such as the Bacalar and the Blower Continuation Series. The 18 Batur units will be made meticulously by hand, using the coachbuilding skills that have been revived through both projects and generational hand craftsmanship.

“With Bacalar, we proved the appetite of our clients for truly bespoke and individual Bentleys. We’re building on that story with the Batur, and the fact that all 18 cars are already reserved is testament to the fact that our design team is creating cars that our clients want to buy,” Bentley Mulliner Director Paul Williams stated. “Batur is not only a beautiful handcrafted Bentley – it is the next member of a distinguished line of cars coachbuilt by Mulliner, which include WO Bentley’s favorite car in the 8 Liter and the now truly iconic R-Type Continental.”

Photos from Bentley

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