Bentley Motors Ltd., british manufacturer of exclusive cars, has announced that it will use metal 3D printing technology to produce trim elements for its newest limited edition car model – Mulliner Batur. There would be nothing extraordinary about it, if not for the fact that the 3D printed elements will be made of 18-carat gold. Bently handled the engineering side, with the styling, exterior and interior designed by Mulliner. Only 18 cars of this model will be manufactured and according to information provided by Bentley – all are already reserved.
According to the company, the Bentley Mulliner Batur will be the fastest and most powerful car it has produced in its 108-year history. It will be equipped with a twin-turbocharged 6.0-liter W12 engine with 740 hp. The car will cost min. EUR 1.9 million (excluding taxes and extra equipment options).
The car contains elements weighing approx. 210 grams, which were printed in gold. Gold elements were made by renowned goldsmiths from the Cooksongold company from the Birmingham Jewelery Quarter. The gold parts will also bear the Jubilee mark to commemorate the platinum jubilee of the recently deceased Queen Elizabeth II. One element is the “Charisma Shield” that surrounds the engine start/stop button. There are also other gold touch points inside the car, although Bentley has not yet released photos of them.
All sustainably sourced gold is 100% recycled from old jewelry that is atomized into a fine powder. The elements are then 3D printed from the gold obtained in this way on industrial metal 3D printers, and then hand-finished by jewelers. Recycling apparently ensures that the extraction of new precious metals will not have an environmental impact. It also reflects Bentley’s commitment to a more sustainable future.
“Bentley’s approach to additive manufacturing is industry-leading, as evidenced by our pioneering use of luxury metal in the design and development of the Batur. One of the key benefits is that we are driven by efficiency, reducing the cost and complexity of countless tasks,” said Dr. Matthias Rabe, Bentley Motors R&D Board Member.
The company recently invested £3m to double its 3D printing capacity at its Crewe factory to make it easier to produce more components in less volume. The golden elements are not the only parts made in 3D printing technology that will be used in the Mulliner Batur – the sports exhaust system made of titanium will be equipped with tips printed on 3D printers.
Source: www.bentleymotors.com via www.auto-swiat.pl
Photo: www.bentleymotors.com (press materials / all rights reserved)