Bentley has shared a few interesting bits of information regarding its Mulliner Batur luxobarge. For the first time in automotive history, the company resorted to 3D printing to produce interior trim details out of 18-carate gold.
To perfect the approach, Mulliner teamed up with Cooksongold. The team behind the project recycled gold jewelry into a fine powder suitable for a 3D printer to work with.
The interior of the opulent car uses a total of 210 grams of gold, most notably on the center console dial, the dashboard and the steering wheel. Bentley says it plans to expand the scope of applicability of 3D printed elements in cars soon, whether made of gold or other precious materials.
The Bentley Mulliner Batur debuted this summer (see video). All 18 vehicles had been pre-sold ahead of the official reveal despite a starting price of £1,650,000. Packing a W12 boosted to 740 PS (730 hp / 544 kW), the car became officially the company’s most powerful production vehicle on record.