TALL, DARK AND HANDSOME

The formidable Bentley Umbra was conceived to stand out in every possible way

- SUFFIAN HAKIM 

THERE WERE TWO mind-blowing reveals when I attended Bentley’s Christmas luncheon late last year. One was that Bentley makes its own honey, harvested from a colony of 10 bee hives set up by the brand at its headquarters in Crewe in northwest England as part of its #GoToZero sustainable strategy. We sampled it — it’s a saccharine honey with a slightly runny, delectable consistency.

The other was the Bentley Umbra. The Umbra is an exquisite expression of the Bentayga S built by

Mulliner, Bentley’s bespoke coachbuilding arm. Available in a strictly limited run, it’s a powerful car with a first-of-its-kind design and aesthetic elements for the British carmaker. Buyers can choose a V8 or hybrid engine, but we’ll look closely at the V8 build here.

The project was kept strictly hushed, and it’s fitting that the announcement on Bentley’s social media had the tagline: “From the shadows, Umbra emerges”.

A Mulliner Exclusive

The enigma around the car is perhaps borne from the fact that it was a project by Mulliner, Bentley’s bespoke coachbuilding arm.

The vehicles produced here are exclusive commissions, and most stand out not just among Bentleys but within the automotive industry at large. They push the envelope in terms of what British and European cars can be.

The Mulliner vehicles are crafted to turn heads, and in the Umbra, they’re clearly at the top of their game. From the brooding and deeply compelling Hallmark exterior to the Beluga-painted front bumper with a fade design, a pioneering feature for Bentley, there is a dark allure to the Umbra.