World's first 3D Wood panels available in Bentley Flying Spur

Bentley is offering a ground-breaking new Three-Dimensional Wood rear door trim for the first time, launched for the Flying Spur.

Three-Dimensional Wood is a world-first for the automotive sector - a striking, diamond-shaped pattern enhanced with a three-dimensional (3D) surface finish machined directly into the wood.

The new option is one of the unique veneer choices from the Bentley Mulliner 'Collections' and forms a contemporary luxury design statement, bringing tactility to the natural beauty of wood.

Each rear door and quarter panel is handcrafted from a single block of sustainable American Walnut or American Cherry timber, in a harmonious marriage of traditional skills and modern technology.

The concept for 3D-machined wood was first shown in Bentley's EXP 10 Speed 6 concept car at the Geneva Motor Show in 2015, and received wide acclaim. The distinctive feature was inspired by the form of leather used for the diamond-quilted areas in Bentley's Mulliner Driving Specification interior suite. Three-Dimensional Wood required 18 months of production development by expert technical craftsmen before Bentley Mulliner could then bring the complex concept to reality.

The Three-Dimensional Wood parts are not made using veneers, as is typically applied to the fascia and waist rails. Instead, each is created from a single block of timber.

To achieve the 3D surface, skilled operators carve the wood with a multi-axis routing machine to a tolerance of 0.1mm, less than the thickness of a human hair, hand-finishing the cuts for perfect results. An open-pore lacquer is then applied, allowing the true colour and texture of the wood to shine through for a refined, natural appearance.

The back or 'B surface' of the log is machined to match a die cast aluminium door panel template. The timber is then bonded to the template before the assembly is placed back into the machine and the front or 'A surface' is cut into its 3D form. Both American Walnut and American Cherry timber are sustainably sourced from North American hardwood forests. Bentley selects the very finest timbers, with no knots or resin inclusions through the depth of the wood. Only these logs offer an attractive grain and smooth finish, plus a natural texture and warm colour to complement the superbly appointed Flying Spur cabin.