Bentley has followed up the Continental GT Mulliner Convertible, which itunveiled earlier this year,by releasing an equally exquisite hardtop version of the bespoke car – designed and built by the oldest coachbuilder in the world.

The pairforms part of Bentley Mulliner’s new Collections portfolio and the coupe will make its debut at Salon Privéin the UK later this month.

Like the convertible version, the Continental GT Mulliner features a "Double Diamond" grille, which was inspired by Bentley’s Diamond-in-Diamond interior quilting concept.The bespoke grille’s silver-on-black mesh is complemented by diamond-patterned (and branded) fender vents, while the mirror housings, equipped with Mulliner welcomelamps, are finished in Satin Silver, as are the Mulliner-branded illuminated tread plates.

The Continental GT Mulliner will be available with either a twin-turbo V8 or a twin-turbo W12 powerplant.

The newcomer is available in literally dozens of exterior paint finishes, but if a customer still can’t find the exact colour they want, Bentley’s artisan paint specialists can fashion a bespoke colour (matched to any item or sample)for them. All-new 22-inch, 10-spoke polished alloy wheels (painted and polished in a silver-black scheme and equipped with self-levelling "B" wheel badges, of course) complete the look.

Inside, the standard Mulliner Driving Specification brings the aforementioned Diamond-in-Diamond quilting to the Continental GT Mulliner's cossetting seats, doors trims and rear quarter panels. Buyers can choose from 8 custom-made tri-colour schemes on the Mulliner palette for the look of the leather and stitching, with a combination of primary and secondary hide joined by a 3rd colour through a flowing design line.

The graphics of the Bentley's digital instrument cluster were designed to complement the Breitling watch in the centre console.

According to Bentley, it takes almost 400 000 stitches to deliver this quilting across the cabin of the car, with each diamond containing no fewer than 712 individual stitches – each one precisely aligned to point to the centre of the diamond it creates.

The diamond theme continues with the milled metallic finish of the centre console, which is flanked by Grand Black walnut veneer with chrome overlays that flows into the doors, where it is completed by a discreet Bentley ‘B’ motif. And, if the Grand Black finish is not to a buyer’s taste, they can choose from a range of 87 other contemporary, colourised veneer options that can be matched to the interior or exterior of the car.

This example of leather quilting (from the inner door) demonstrates thecustom-made tri-colour scheme.

The roof of the cabin is trimmed along its full length with indented hide, or smooth hide to match the seat backs if the fixed glass roof is selected. The floor mats are edged with micro-piping to match the tri-colour scheme and have chrome Bentley ‘B’ retention caps.

As is customary in a contemporary Bentley interior, a Breitling clock sits proudly in the middle of the centre console, but in this case,the brushed-metal finish of the timepiece is complemented by the design of the main gauges of the digital instrument cluster “where careful skeuomorphic design and digital textures make the virtual dials look like (they’re made from) real metal,” Bentley says.

Mulliner branding features on the embroidered headrests as well as the burr wallnut veneer on the front passenger's side.

Meanwhile, the Continental GT Mulliner’s interior features 7 distinct LED mood lighting themes and, as is the case with its Convertible sibling, the newcomer can be specified with a "Naim for Bentley" audio system, which comprises 18 speakers and 2 Active Bass transducers driven by a 2 200-watt, 20-channel amplifier and 8DSP sound modes (with Active Bass).

Buyers can order their car with either a 4.0-litre, twin-turbocharged V8, or a 6.0-litre, twin-turbocharged W12 powerplant, both in combination with Bentley’s 48V electric active anti-roll technology – Bentley Dynamic Ride. Those who opt for the V8version will be able to waft from 0-100 kph in 3.9 seconds and achieve a 318-kph top speed, while the W12 derivative’s stated 0-100-kph time is 3.7 seconds (with a top speed of 333 kph).

TheGT Mulliner's exterior appearance is greatly enhanced by the 22-inch alloys, which match the grille'sdual-tone finish.

The Crew-based manufacturer says it will begin taking orders for the Continental GT Mulliner (both coupe and convertible) from October 2020, with deliveries expected to commence early next year. We also expect the revised Bentley Bentayga Speedto arrive in Mzansi next year.

And, when customers take delivery of their exclusive, largely hand-built Mulliners,theywill receive a leather key in a sumptuous, Mulliner-branded handcrafted presentation box that, wait for it… matches the 3-colour interior configuration that they specified. Opulence indeed!

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