Bentley has a long and rich history filled with remarkable feats, accomplishments and individuals. The cars produced by the famous British brand over the last 96 years are unique in their precision, performance and luxury, and with the imminent launch of the world's first luxury SUV, the Bentayga, its achievements will continue to set new benchmarks and define new luxury experiences. From the launch of a new brand film starring a renowned Bentley customer, to a global illumination relay and an invitation-only gathering featuring some of the world's leading minds, Bentley is celebrating the extraordinary. Founder, Walter Owen Bentley, was the man with the original vision to build ‘a fast car, a good car, the best in its class'. He was true to his word. More than that, he created an extraordinary company, drawing on visionaries, racers, adventurers and entrepreneurs from around the world to help make his dream a reality. From one-time CEO Woolf Barnato's fabled Cannes-to-London race victory against the ‘Blue Train' in 1930, to Idris Elba's new ‘Flying Mile' land speed record set earlier this year; and from Dudley Benjafield and Sammy Davis' 1927 Le Mans victory, to Bentley's repetition of the feat 76 years later, a pioneering, adventurous spirit has always been strong with the brand. This pursuit of the extraordinary is perfectly displayed in the unique way every single Bentley is produced today, offering a unique blend of luxury and performance. The Continental GT Speed, for example, is the world's ultimate Grand Tourer with a luxuriously appointed and refined interior and an exhilarating top speed of 206 mph. The flagship Bentley Mulsanne is painstakingly handcrafted by a team of dedicated craftspeople over a period of at least 400 hours to bring a customer's personal vision to life. Bentley customers are among the most discerning, driven and successful people in the world. They demand excellence, expect perfection and seek out the extraordinary. One such customer is Jean Reno. The award-winning actor and long-time Bentley customer and ambassador features in Bentley's new extraordinary film, which debuted recently. The star of such films as Leon, Ronin and The Da Vinci Code, Reno is well placed to talk about Bentley and its extraordinary approach to car making, as he has personally owned five Crewe-built models. Beginning in Crewe and London, Bentley is coordinating a global illumination relay event in the run-up to the unveiling of the Bentley Bentayga – the fastest, most powerful, most luxurious and most exclusive SUV in the world. Major laser installations in Crewe, London, Moscow, Dubai, Shanghai and New York will project the #BeExtraordinary message into the night sky and onto iconic buildings every evening for six days, culminating in Frankfurt on 14 September ahead of the Bentayga's global debut at the IAA. Bentley's network of 200 dealers in over 55 markets and its official partners, such as St. Regis Hotels, Vertu, Breitling and ExxonMobil, will also participate, around the world. Millions of people are expected to see the illuminations first hand, but you can also follow the relay on Bentley's social media channels – Instagram, twitter and Facebook by searching for #BeExtraordinary. Wolfgang Durheimer, chairman and chief executive of Bentley Motors, hosted a gathering in the heart of London. The dinner took place at Maison Assouline, an historic building in Piccadilly. Founded by Prosper and Martine Assouline, Maison Assouline is a flagship boutique, dedicated to luxury and culture truly and features a unique book collection and bindery. The theme of the evening was ‘extraordinary': celebrating remarkable people debating what it takes to truly be extraordinary and discussing experiences and achievements. The guests were a collection of some of the greatest minds from the worlds of art, design, philanthropy, fashion music, sport and business. They include Bill Roedy, Chairman of MTV's Staying Alive Foundation and Ambassador for UNAIDS; celebrated London-based fashion designer, Alice Temperley; award-winning photographer and videographer, Greg Williams; and Rupert Alexander, the youngest portrait artist to paint the British Royal Family since the 18th century. — SG
