When ordering an exotic vehicle such as a Bentley, some clients will simply take whatever is on the showroom to speed up the process, and they end up with something boring like black, white, or silver. Fortunately, more buyers than ever are taking advantage of Bentley's Mulliner Bespoke option, with more than 500 personal commission projects in 2022.

The take rate for Mulliner bespoke content has increased fivefold since 2018 and Bentley's options revenue per car is up by 36% during that period.

Bentley has shown off some vibrant Mulliner creations this year, including 80 special editions for the Chinese market and outlandish pastel models to celebrate a bygone era of Hollywood. Mulliner even created its own coachbuilt car, the 2023 Bentley Batur, which is a swan song for the W12 engine.

The 500th Mulliner commission this year was a 2023 Bentley Flying Spur S Hybrid finished in a new shade called new Spark Blue. This new exterior color is paired with the Blackline specification exterior brightwork and 22-inch ten-spoke Sports wheels.

Inside, the Flying Spur features gloss carbon fiber veneer and diamond quilted Beluga hide upholstery with Klein Blue contrast accents.

"Reaching the milestone 500th commission in a year would not have been possible without the ongoing support of both the main Bentley Design Studio and all the other functions of the wider Mulliner Team," said Paul Dickinson, Chief Commercial Officer of Mulliner & Motorsport.

"2021 had already been a record year for Mulliner Design that saw the team needing to grow by 50% to meet customer demands and in 2022 that team has really been tested as it has seen a year-on-year increase of 85% in customer/retailer commissions," he added.

It previously took Bentley seven years (from 2014 to 2021) to reach 1,000 Mulliner commissions, so hitting 500 in a single year is an impressive milestone.

Bentley now offers 25 different satin finishes through Mulliner, including Marlin Blue and Alpine Green, as global demand for this option continues to increase.