Bentley Pairs with Linley for 10 Ultra-Exclusive Continental Flying Spurs for China

Bentley has decided to make its already highly distinct Continental Flyer Spur even more unsual by producing a limited edition of 10 of the four-door luxury sedans in conjunction with Linley, a leading British design firm.

Just to make these 10 Continental Flying Spurs even more ultra-exclusive you have to live in China to buy them, which Bentley said in a news release is the English manufacturer's biggest four-door market. (Take that United States and Saudi Arabia.) The ten cars will incorporate signature Linley elements designed to appeal to customers who value pedigree and lineage, handcrafted quality and peerless design.

Christine Gaskell, member of the board for personnel, Bentley Motors, commented at the launch at Jack Barclay, Bentley dealer, in London’s Berkeley Square: “Our collaboration with Linley brings a new element to the interior of one of our globally best-selling models. The Continental Flying Spur has a unique executive style and elegance which is complemented wonderfully by the Linley veneers. We share an expertise in the use of natural materials and a commitment to superlative craftsmanship.”

What's somewhat interesting about this is all Bentley sedans and coupes are by their very nature one of a kind. When Bentley builds a car it is always built to order. Each Bentley has its unique elements.

Apparently not Linley unique, though, which is where the 10 Flying Spurs come into play. Specially selected Linley veneers in Santos rosewood have been applied to the fascia, console, waistrail and roof console and integrated within the cars for the first time. The veneers cover the entire wood surfaces of the model, where Bentley chestnut or walnut would normally be used.

David Linley, Chairman of Linley, said: “It is a great honor to be working alongside such an esteemed British brand as Bentley. Our two brands share a commitment to superlative craftsmanship and design. I believe that the culmination of our efforts has resulted in a car that is utterly unique and reflective of the passion that both brands share for pushing boundaries of engineering and excellence.”

The iconic Linley Helix motif has been taken from the distinctive Linley Helix Furniture Collection and has been set, using the highly specialized skill of marquetry inlay, into the waist-rails and picnic table of the Flying Spurs. The Helix pattern is made up of four different types of veneer that contrast with the Santos rosewood to show the wave effect delivered by the marquetry.

In addition, the rear console has been modified for a customer-commissioned Linley humidor. Brett Boydell, senior designer at Bentley, says: “The humidor has been designed by Linley and it drops into a unique console. We have reconfigured the console so that the humidor can fit in, moving things around and creating a space. It was an engineering feat to meet the quality requirements of a Bentley and the design cues of Linley.”

“The car had to look different and we wanted a strong statement inside the interior, so we chose Santos rosewood, a straight grain veneer. Bentley usually uses burr veneers for their interiors as they are more malleable around compound curves. Using a straight grain veneer was a new challenge but together we succeeded and the final results look stunning,” said Mark Blanchard, Head of Design at Linley.

Stainless steel Linley treadplates also feature on the cars, as does a Linley for Bentley rhodium-plated plaque in the glove box. There is also a stainless steel overlay of the Linley logo on the passenger fascia panel. Modified fluting on the seats features burnt oak contrast stitching, with additional burnt oak hide accentuating the storage areas and door pockets.

A Linley branded leather bag with a cashmere blanket and other Linley items such as a leather luggage tag is also included in the trunk of the limited edition Flying Spurs.