Transformation
Bentley has always been a reference for refinement and luxury, but over the years, it has also become a symbol of performance. Putting those three aspects together has given the brand staying power and allure in today’s automotive world.
To stay competitive, the British brand has been making improvements to its production facilities in Crewe, England. One of the newest facilities to make its debut is the state-of-the-art paint shop – and the automaker has the perfect Continental GT S to showcase it.
Bentley
All About Paint
To commemorate the opening of the new Paint Shop, Bentley introduced a special one-off Continental GT S finished in what the brand calls ‘Spectraflair.’ This new paint color is the result of all the new paint techniques and technologies embedded in the new facility. The paint facility now stands as the tallest structure in the whole Bentley compound, and covers a massive 12,500 sqm (3 acres).
“For decades to come, this Paint Shop will help to solidify our position as leaders in paint quality and be a core strategic enabler of Bentley’s capability to build on our recent developments in paint offerings – such as new Ombré and satin finishes – to develop truly bespoke, world-class finishes across our diverse product range,” said Andreas Lehe, Bentley’s Board Member for Manufacturing. The facility operations will be split between two floors to optimize the entire painting process.
Bentley
Spectraflair
Bentley has also installed sophisticated thermal and energy management systems to ensure comfortable, cooler working conditions on the ground floor where the pain team works. These systems can also harness the warmer air generated by the high-tech paint application systems on the first floor and redistribute it throughout the facility. This essentially means the facility doesn’t need heating for two-thirds of the year.
To move the car bodies around, Bentley is introducing a fleet of 10 Automated Guided Vehicles (AGVs), making it the first automotive paint shop to use self-propelled carriers.
The new Spectraflair color is a take on their existing Verdant hue, featuring a stunning spectrum of colors that sparkle through the Verdant hue under natural lighting. It will be available through the By Mulliner bespoke program.
At the moment, the Continental GT and GTC, Flying Spur, and the brand’s first-ever Electric Vehicle, launching later this year, will be immediately painted at the new facility. The Benteyga will be integrated into the operations over the coming years.
Bentley
