By now, you would think that Mulliner would have done just about every kind of luxury interpretation imaginable. That is at the heart of its job as Bentley’s in-house personalization division. Over the past few years, we’ve seen Mulliner turn Bentleys into works of pure art and opulence. You’d be surprised, though, how creative this group can get, and no more is that in full display than in its latest project, the Continental GT Convertible Galene Edition.

Yes, Mulliner just finished another limited edition build for Bentley. Yes, it looks amazing. Yes, it takes its name from the Greek goddess of calm seas. And yes, it’s nautically-inspired, right down to the whole treatment in the exterior and interior of the convertible. It says a lot about the Continental GT Convertible Galene’s status as a decadent limited edition that even Princess Yachts, the creators of some of the most expensive yachts in the world, got involved in the project with Mulliner. The styling cues in the exterior and interior are indicative of what Princess Yachts does with its own expensive products, and you can tell by how the whole model turns out that it’s a Bentley that’s ideally suited for a specific clientele. Only 30 units of the Continental GT Convertible Galene Edition will be built, too. That’s hardly a surprise considering the people behind its creation. Luxury begets luxury, and the Continental GT Convertible Galene Edition is a physical embodiment of that.

Continue after the jump to read more about the Bentley Continental GT Convertible Galene Edition by Mulliner

What makes the Bentley Continental GT Convertible Galene Edition by Mulliner so special?

Since this is Mulliner we’re talking about here, the concept of “special” takes on an entirely different meaning. Take the exterior of the Continental GT Convertible, for example. It’s one thing to have an exclusive color scheme for the body, but considering that this is a jointly designed program by Mulliner and Princess Yachts, nothing else but the most sophisticated color tone is good enough. So the two decided on Glacier White, which is about as pure and clean a white shade as anything I’ve seen on a car. A matching body kit is also included in the set-up, as does a dark blue roof that helps create an aquatic-themed, two-tone contrast that brings out the exclusive identity of the car.

The other notable feature in the exterior is the Sequin Blue strap on the lower belt line of the convertible. That’s meant to evoke the color of the ocean, and in true Mulliner fashion, it looks absolutely stunning when paired with the Glacier White color of the body. Rounding out the exterior details is a set of 21-inch polished Propeller wheels.

Step inside the exclusive convertible and you’ll be greeted by a whole new world of aquatic refinement. The seats, for example, are dressed in Linen and Portland hides and are complemented with Camel hand cross-stitching. I don’t particularly know what Portland hide is, but it sounds exotic, and I expect nothing less from Mulliner on that front. Even the door panels are dressed in the same material with the addition of Brunel hides. All three materials are also present on the dashboard, center console, and armrests, while Linen and Brunel hides cover the steering wheel. As an added touch, Mulliner also used the Camel material to create the 12 o’clock stripe on the steering wheel.

Adding to the overblown levels of sophistication in the interior are the embroidered headrests and the use of the same Glacier White finish of the convertible’s body. It’s present in the stowage case, which also happens to be lined in Brunel Alcantara. Even the fascia panels are decked in the Glacier White finish, although customers can specify these parts to feature a hand-painted Jaume Vilardell illustration of a super yacht sitting beside a script of Mulliner’s name. Last but certainly not least is the introduction of an all-new material finish that Mulliner created. It’s called “Pinstripe Walnut” and it can be seen lining the floor of the trunk. It’s also found on the center stack and console in the cabin, as well as the illuminated treadplates.

As unique as the Continental GT Convertible Galene Edition looks, it still derives power from the same source. In this case, that source is a 4.0-liter bi-turbo V-8 engine with 500 horsepower and 487 pound-feet of torque on tap. These figures allow the convertible to sprint from 0 to 60 mph in 5.0 seconds on its way to posting a top speed of close to 200 mph.

Bentley has yet to put a price tag on the Continental GT Convertible Galene Edition, but we do know that the company is only making 30 units of this exclusive piece.

The nautical world has been the source of inspiration for many automakers in recent years

Abarth 695 Rivale

The Abarth 695 Rivale was only introduced a month ago and it was designed to pay homage to the automaker’s ties with yacht maker Riva. The special edition 695 certainly looked the part of one, thanks in large part to a two-tone Riva Sera Blue and Shark Grey body finish. It also has a similar stripe trim inspired by the world of the open seas. This time though, Abarth used a color called Aquamarine to separate the two body colors of the car and emphasize the nautical theme of the model. Satin chrome finishes were also included, specifically on the door handles and the moldings on the tailgate. Last but not least are the “695” badges found on the tailgate and rear bumper of the car, put in place there to denote the unique limited edition nature of this specific Abarth 695.

Meanwhile, the interior of the Abarth 695 Rivale is awash in blue upholstery, meant once again to denote the color of the ocean. Customers do have the option to add mahogany accents on the dashboard to go with the standard carbon fiber finish. Speaking of carbon fiber, the premium material can also be found on the kick plates of the hot hatch.

Read our full review on the Abarth 695 Rivale.

Aston Martin DB11 Henley Regatta Edition

As recent as the Abarth 695 Rivale was, the Aston Martin DB11 Henley Regatta Edition arrived much more recently to the market. While it’s not particularly inspired by a specific motorboat or any kind of water vessel – that would be the AM37 powerboat-inspired Vanquish Volante – it does pay tribute to the Henley Royal Regatta, a rowing event held annually on the River Thames by the town of Henley-on-Thames that’s considered as one of the oldest sporting events in the world after being founded in 1839.

Among the notable features of the DB11 Henley Regatta Edition are Diavolo Red paint finish and the Satin Scintilla Silver roof. It also features a menu of Aston Martin’s own packages, including the Carbon Fiber Body Pack and the Carbon Fiber Exterior Pack. Inside, Aston Martin went with a Metallic Black leather as the primary upgrade. The premium material is then complemented by Chancellor Red leather on the seats and door panels and swathes of Obsidian Black Alcantara on the headliner and pillars.

Read our full review on the Aston Martin DB11 Henley Regatta Edition.

Rolls-Royce Wraith Nautical Edition

Any mention of Bentley’s connection to the nautical world wouldn’t be complete without mentioning that its chief rival, Rolls-Royce, also has strong ties to that world. That much was made clear when Rolls introduced the Wraith Nautical Edition back in 2016. Like the Continental GT Convertible Galene Edition, the Wraith Nautical Edition was drowning in special edition touches. It came with an Arabian Blue and Orchid White two-tone paint finish, which Rolls-Royce described as capturing the “streamlined power of a graceful sea vessel.” As provocative as the exterior of the Wraith Nautical Edition is to look at, the interior opens up the refinement to a whole new world.

The dashboard, for example, is made of veneer that replicates the decking on classic cruiser boats. There’s also an anchor motif that blends into the veneer on the passenger side of the dash. The seats are likewise dressed in brown Forest Fall leather highlighted by Navy Blue piping, a nice color combination to go with the dark blue carpet on the floor. And since this is Rolls-Royce we’re talking about, the Wraith Nautical Edition had to have the company’s famed bespoke Starlight Headliner, which essentially turns the roof of the luxury sedan into a starlit sky.

Read our full review on the Rolls-Royce Wraith Nautical Edition.}

References

Read our full review on the 2018 Bentley Continental GT Convertible.