Bentley has created the ultimate accessory for the falconry enthusiast, with the new Bentayga Falconry by Mulliner – their personalisation division. It features a bespoke installation in the rear housing all the equipment required for a falconry expedition.
The highlights of this edition are two individual natural-cork-fabric-trimmed units: a master flight station and a refreshment case, set on movable tray for easy access. Inside the master flight unit is a special Piano Black veneered drawer – with a Saker falcon crest – containing GPS tracking antennas, tools, tethers for the birds and a 3.5” wooden handled Buck Knife.
Beneath this is a laser-embossed Hotspur hide stowage tray with individual compartments for the GPS bird tracking unit, binoculars and hand-crafted leather bird hoods and gauntlets. The refreshment case houses three metal flasks and durable cups, a blanket and refreshing face cloths.
Two individual perches are stored in a special natural-cork-fabric-trimmed case which slots into a hard pocket built into the side of the boot. A boot-floor and rear-sill protection cover – also in cork – is neatly integrated into the rear., allowing falconers to prepare their bird conveniently.
Inside the Bentayga’s Hotspur-hide-trimmed cabin, there is a removable transportation perch and tether on the central armrest, and an exquisite example of Mulliner’s skill with marquetry. The sweeping desert landscape, featuring a soaring Saker falcon – was created using 430 individual pieces of wood sourced from all over the world and hand-crafted over nine days.
The specific breed called the Saker Falcon used for hunting for thousands of years and is still one of the most sought-after and valuable birds today, with exceptional examples fetching as much as $1,000,000.
No two Mulliner veneers are the same and the skill demonstrated by the Crewe-based craftspeople comes initially from selecting exactly the right piece of wood for its unique qualities, such as the speckling of Lacewood that mimics the rippling of the windswept desert.
In the depiction of the falcon itself, the vanes of each individual feather are achieved by cutting the shape from specific veneers. Sand shading (a classic hand-crafting technique which enhances definition) adds a darker gradient to the tips of the wings, creating shadow and the illusion of depth. Each of the 430 pieces used in the Saker falcon marquetry inlay have undergone four separate processes of cutting, sand shading, pressing and double cutting – before being assembled by hand over nine days. Before the finished inlay is pressed and lacquered, checks are made under magnification to ensure that the fit of each piece is perfect and that aesthetically the grain direction and sand shading are even and consistent. Woods from all around the world were used to create the piece including Chestnut, Eucalyptus Pommele, Holly, Lacewood, Maple, Olive Ash and Ripple Sycamore.
With the Bentayga Falconry kit, sustainably harvested natural cork fabric was selected as this fabric is natural, easily maintained and – thanks to its extreme durability. It displays the natural patterns found in this material.
The laser-embossed Hotspur hide is left with a technical honeycomb-style finish which contemporises the hide.
It offers the widest range of on- and off-road drive settings of any vehicle via Bentley’s Drive Dynamics Mode and optional Responsive Off-Road Setting. Up to eight modes are available, allowing drivers, at the simple turn of a dial, to select the perfect dynamic set-up for any surface or road condition and it is complemented by Bentley Dynamic Ride (electrically activated 48V active roll control) and Electric Power-Assisted Steering (EPAS).
The Responsive Off-Road Setting can be applied to a wide variety of off-road surfaces, while the Driver Information Panel displays information on pitch, roll, wheel articulation, steering angle, compass bearing and altitude.
The Bentayga also comes with multi-mode air suspension with our different modes to choose from: High 2, High 1, Normal and Low. High 2, for example, can be manually selected when tackling severe off-road surfaces. Customers can also lower the rear suspension via a switch in the boot, to ease loading and trailer hitching.
