Launching its new ‘Spectraflair’ paint finish, Bentley has announced its state-of-the-art Paint Shop as part of a strategic development plan for future product offerings.
Marking a landmark moment in Bentley’s ongoing transformation of its headquarters in Crewe, England, the company has announced the commencement of operations in its newest cutting-edge Paint Shop.
This state-of-the-art facility will offer an expanded choice of nearly 100 individual exterior paint colours to its customers, alongside its innovative ‘Spectraflair’ paint finish. This occasion was cemented by the completion of a one-of-one Continental GT S in the new Spectral Verdant finish with a hand-sprayed Union Flag racing stripe – a signature Bentley model that showcases its timeless appeal to the automotive industry.
The Paint Shop boasts 12,500 square metres and stands as the tallest building at Bentley’s Crewe site. However, more importantly, it highlights the company’s next step in setting a new benchmark in high-value, digital manufacturing capabilities, having been designed with dedicated space to introduce bespoke paint processes.
“Today marks one of the most significant milestones in our Dream Factory journey, and one of the proudest moments for me since I joined Bentley in 2023. The new Paint Shop is a testament to the skill and commitment of everyone involved in its development, construction, and integration into the company’s overall manufacturing operations,” notes Andreas Lehe, Board Member for Manufacturing at Bentley.
This facility is the first in the world to use Automated Guided Vehicles (AGVs) to move car bodies around the shop, and all Bentley models, including its first battery electric vehicle (BEV) launching late 2026, will be painted in the facility by 2036.
Inside the Paint Shop, operations take place across two floors that have been carefully constructed to optimise the production process and create the ideal conditions for both labour-intensive and automated application work.
“For decades to come, this Paint Shop will help to solidify our position as leaders in paint quality and be a core strategic enabler of Bentley’s capability to build on our recent developments in paint offerings – such as new Ombré and satin finishes – to develop truly bespoke, world-class finishes across our diverse product range,” details Lehe.
Additionally, the new facility offers sophisticated energy and thermal management technologies to ensure comfortable, cool working conditions on the ground floor, where the handcraftsmanship of the skilled paint team is needed the most. It also simultaneously captures warmer air generated from the high-tech paint application systems and redistributes this recovered energy across the facility, meaning the Paint Shop does not require heating for two-thirds of the year.
To add to its improved energy efficiency, Bentley has introduced a water-based paint primer to replace the traditional solvent-based solution. A greater accuracy of paint application, reduction in masking materials, and a filtration monitoring system will enable the Paint Shop to see an approximate 45 percent overall reduction in waste materials compared to the previous facility.
Volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions attributed to the company’s long-standing paint operations will be reduced by up to 98 percent due to the implementation of a Residual Thermal Oxidiser (RTO), which directs fumes from the paint process to be burned at 1,000°C to purify the air expelled from the new facility, thereby helping to protect the surrounding ecosystem.
The exterior of the building boasts 45 sets of display panels, which have been finished in a variety of colours from Bentley’s customer paint palette offering. Every individual panel has been painted by Bentley’s expert team using the same techniques applied to each vehicle that leaves the facility.
