Bentley has paid homage to the Arabian Gulf and its pearl diving history with its limited edition Bentayga Mulliner Pearl of the Gulf.
There will be on five cars built to order by Mulliner in Crewe and will be W12-powered cars, each featuring Mother of Pearl and Arabian Gulf-themed motifs.
Each limited edition model has a bespoke interior that celebrates the Arabian Gulf’s history of pearl diving, a tradition that dates back millennia and was once the region’s main economic driver.
The colour schemes will be inspired by the natural beauty of pearls – with a Mother of Pearl Breitling clock as the dashboard centrepiece.
The quilted seats and door inserts will have gold thread embroidery and to help keep valuables safe in the Bentayga Mulliner Pearl of the Gulf, Mulliner has installed an ingenious fingerprint secure storage in the car as well.The fingerprint sensor technology has been applied to a high pressure die-cast aluminium secure stowage unit located in the cabin.
The exterior of this exclusive collector’s Bentayga is available in three Mulliner colour finishes: “Ghost White Pearlescent, Porcelain, or a duo-tone Ghost White Pearlescent over Porcelain.” The Mulliner Pearl of the Gulf sits on 22-inch Paragon wheels.
Bentayga offers the widest range of on and off-road drive settings via Bentley’s Drive Dynamic Mode and optional Responsive Off-Road Setting. Up to eight modes are available at the turn of a dial, allowing drivers to select the perfect set-up for any surface or road condition. This is complemented by Bentley’s Dynamic Ride and Electric Power-Assisted Steering.
History of pearl diving in the region
Archaeologists have evidence to suggest the tradition of natural pearl diving in the Gulf dates back more than 7,000 years. It is still considered one of the region’s most treasured traditions and was responsible for the founding of the great coastal cities.
Traditional methods of pearl diving survived well into the 20th century, before the industry in the Gulf went into decline with the invention of methods to make artificial pearls that were cheaper and more readily available.
