New Mulliner finish fades between two colors over 56 hand-hours; first shown on a Continental GT Speed at Monterey Car Week.
Bentley used Monterey Car Week to unveil its most complex factory paintwork to date, a hand-blended gradient finish called “Ombre by Mulliner” that fades from one color to another across the entire car.
Shown Friday at The Quail, A Motorsports Gathering, the new finish appeared on a Continental GT Speed commissioned to showcase the technique. That one-off transitions from Topaz at the nose to Windsor Blue at the tail, while a Topaz-and-Beluga interior echoes the two-tone theme.
Bentley says Ombre is the first production-order finish of its kind from Mulliner, the brand’s in-house coachbuilding and personalization division. The effect is produced at the company’s Crewe, England, “Dream Factory,” where new paint facilities enable the multi-stage process. According to the company, artisans first apply contrasting base colors at the front and rear, then build the fade in carefully controlled passes, a sequence that takes seasoned technicians about 56 hours to complete before final clearcoat and polishing.
The finish is available to order now through Bentley’s global retailer network in three factory-curated color pairings, with additional combinations possible through bespoke commissioning. Pricing was not disclosed; Mulliner options typically vary based on specification and complexity.
The debut underscores Bentley’s growing emphasis on ultra-personalized builds as the automaker retools its lineup. The company is phasing out its W12 engine and rolling out performance-oriented hybrid powertrains, while demand for Mulliner features has risen to record levels, the brand says. Recent investment in Crewe’s paint shops has expanded the palette to more than 80 standard hues and dozens of extended and Mulliner shades, along with special finishes such as Satin and Duotone.
While gradient exteriors have appeared in the aftermarket, Bentley’s Ombre arrives with factory quality controls and a warranty, a point likely to appeal to buyers who want dramatic finishes without sacrificing long-term durability. The process requires consistent panel alignment, rigorous color-match across body components and repeatable blending tolerances so the fade reads as a single surface under varying light, Bentley engineers said in background materials.
At The Quail, the Ombre Continental GT Speed joined a wider Bentley presence on the Monterey Peninsula, where the brand also highlighted its expanding suite of Mulliner crafts, from marquetry to bespoke embroidery and unique veneers. The company said customer interest in one-off and limited-series commissions continues to grow, particularly in North America and the Middle East.
For Bentley, the paint launch is as much about signaling capability as it is about a new option code. The carmaker framed Ombre as a showcase for the craftsmanship it intends to carry into its electrified era, where surface execution and material quality will play a larger role in differentiating high-end models.
Orders for Ombre by Mulliner are open immediately. Deliveries will depend on model allocation and build slot availability, the company said.
