This Party Trick By Bentley On The Mulliner Batur Is Made Of Gold, Literally

Bentley Motors has introduced 3D printed solid gold in the Mulliner Batur – the first time such a process is believed to have been used in the automotive industry. The ‘additive manufacturing’ (AM) technique will add up to 210 grams of 18ct yellow gold to the coachbuilt coupe.

The Batur is restricted to just 18 examples, all of which have been sold to Mulliner clients at £1.65m (S$2.75m) each, excluding taxes and options. The optional, 3D printed gold includes key driver touch points, such as the Charisma Dial, encircling the start/stop button and used to change driver modes. Gold is also applied to Bentley’s vent controls on the dashboard, as well as a gold insert marker on the steering wheel.

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 jewellery has been made for centuries.

All the sustainably sourced gold is 100% recycled from old jewellery, ground into a fine powder needed for the 3D printing technique. Recycling ensures there is no environmental impact from mining for new precious metals.

Every 3D gold part in the Batur is digitally designed using CAD models, before a printing process with laser melting printers. Each is then hand finished by skilled artisan jewellers, using traditional techniques to achieve the polish and quality that is synonymous with a Bentley.

All parts produced for the Batur are hallmarked in Birmingham’s Jewellery Quarter as a sign of having solid material authenticity. Additionally, any parts manufactured in 2022 also receive the Jubilee hallmark, celebrating the late Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee year.

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 Flying Spur 2.9 Hybrid was recently crowned OneShift’s Best In Interior in 2022. Given the brand’s emphasis on top-notch cabin quality, we'd accept bets for “regular” Bentleys to include gold in their options list soon. Hopes are high for our next Bentley loaner to shine brightly once again from within.