Bentley Batur includes 3D-printed 18-karat gold parts
This isn’t the first time a car manufacturer has used additive manufacturing for its vehicles… But with 18-carat gold, it gets even more surprising.
Bentley Motors incorporating 3D-printed solid gold, at Mulliner Batur exclusively. This is the first time that such a revolutionary process has been used in the automotive industry. This technique of additive manufacturing (MA) will add up to 210 grams of 18ct yellow gold in the bodied coupe.
Every 3D printed piece of gold in the car is made using laser powder bed fusion technology. Depending on the brand, the gold used is 100% recycled from old jewelry and crushed into the fine powder needed for the 3D printing technique. This process reflects Bentley’s commitment to a more sustainable future. This is part of the strategy Over 100 company, which aims to achieve end-to-end carbon neutrality by 2030.
Every 3D gold part of the coupe was digitally designed using models CAD. After printing, each piece is then hand-finished by skilled artisan jewelers using traditional techniques to achieve the polish and quality expected of Bentley.
This car has stunning features, such as eLSD, four-wheel steering, and even a 48-volt active stabilizer that improves its performance. This model also incorporates other parts made using additive manufacturing, such as a 3D printed titanium cover. “The Batur is an important car for Bentley. More than a successor to the Bacalar, this model shows the direction we will take in the future in terms of design, as we develop our range of electric vehicles. Andi Mindt and his team reimagined classic Bentley design cues with a stronger, bolder approach that remains both elegant and beautiful.”describes Adrian Hallmark, the chairman and CEO of Bentley.
Batur powered by W12 is limited to 18 copies onlyall of which have been sold to customers Mulliner (customization service) for £1.65 million each (excluding taxes and options). Optional 3D printed gold is on the dial Charisma, which surrounds the on/off button and is used to change the driving mode. It is also used for ventilation controls Organ Stopemblematic of Bentley, on the dashboard, as well as for an insert mark in gold on the steering wheel.
Matthias RabeBoard Member for Research and Development at Bentley Motors, said: “Bentley’s approach to additive manufacturing is at the forefront of the industry, which can be seen in our pioneering use of a luxury metal in the Batur design and development process. One of its main advantages is that it is all about efficiency, reducing the cost and complexity of an overwhelming job while preserving the value of a scarce resource. »
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Featured image: © Bentley
