Always aiming to push the limit in terms of luxurious exclusivity, Bentley came to the Beijing Auto Show with a handcrafted car that exemplified all of the high-end bespoke craftsmanship that the brand is well-known for. Limited to only 50 examples, the Bentley Mulsanne First Edition is full of functions and adornments that aim to pique the interest and desire of any car enthusiast willing to chase the peak of refinement.

The car will be offered in three forms – standard, speed, and Extended Wheelbase. While Bentley already happens to be the company car connoisseurs look to for high standards, the First Edition aims to be the car that demanding Bentley connoisseurs will turn to, and Bentley has pulled out all the bespoke stops to make that happen. Instead of the picnic tables integrated into the rear of the front seats that usually drop down to take the weight of a table or a computer feature, an integrated sterling silver vanity kit will pop out instead. This was created for the car by Asprey of London, and includes a mirror, hairbrush and a comb – each carefully weighted like a professional chef’s knife. Even the ‘Flying B’ emblem that adorns all Bentleys is uniquely engraved here, while throughout each car there are First Edition motifs, either embroidered on the leather or inlaid in the extensive wood finishing.

Speaking of wood, the Extended Wheelbase model goes a step further, proving that such a thing is very much possible, with a cabin boasting a Fulbeck veneer sourced from a 350-year-old walnut tree. This is obviously one of the most expensive, rare and sought-after wood. The tree happened to fetch a record fee (undisclosed) at auction and Bentley only managed to secure enough of it to adorn its flagship; other first editions have to make do with mere antique Ash veneer.

To prove that Bentley is on the cutting edge of technology, the Extended Wheelbase will come with Bentley 10.2-inch tablets for the rear-seat passengers – running on Android with a Bentley interface overlaid. Content can be streamed to the car’s audio system and the devices can be taken from the car and used at home or in the office.

“The Mulsanne is the epitome of Bentley’s DNA — exquisite, individual and powerful. It defines luxury in the automotive world and offers the unique Bentley blend of luxury and performance” said Wolfgang Dürheimer, chairman and chief executive of Bentley Motors. We’re inclined to agree.

This story was written in-house, based on an AFP report.