Bentley Motors and Steinway & Sons have joined forces in a collaboration that brings together two highly specialised crafts. The partnership has resulted in a limited-edition Flying Spur Speed in Arctic White with a Piano Black veneer interior, accompanied by a series of 52 Steinway grand pianos in Ultra Black and Ultra White finishes. These choices reflect a shared commitment to precision and restraint, appealing to a clientele who value quality and considered design over ostentation.
A Collaboration Rooted in Craftsmanship
What makes this partnership remarkable is the depth of engagement between the two organisations. Bentley and Steinway exchanged expertise in woodworking and veneering through visits to each other’s factories. The initiative highlights how traditional craftsmanship can inform modern manufacturing, even across industries that appear worlds apart.
Both brands share an unwavering commitment to precision and individuality. Since 1919, Bentley has relied on over 4,000 dedicated colleagues to craft extraordinary vehicles from the finest materials. Meanwhile, Steinway & Sons has spent 170 years setting uncompromising standards, with each piano requiring roughly a year to complete.
Limiting production ensures that quality is never sacrificed for scale, as dive bespoke car models and just two piano factories worldwide embody a philosophy that prioritises excellence over volume. Indeed, nine out of ten concert pianists select Steinway pianos, a testament to the brand’s enduring reputation.
The Flying Spur Speed
The Flying Spur Speed is equipped with an Ultra Performance Hybrid V8, and its Arctic White exterior provides a clean and understated presence. The Piano Black veneer interior is the result of careful selection and finishing, a process that mirrors the exacting standards applied in crafting Steinway pianos.
Every surface and detail is considered and executed to ensure consistency and longevity. The vehicle demonstrates that attention to materials and finish is as critical to automotive design as it is to musical instruments.
Limited-Edition Steinways
Steinway’s contribution includes 18 Model B and 8 Model D Concert Grands, produced in Hamburg. These limited editions reinterpret the company’s established designs, balancing innovation with tradition. Guido Zimmermann, President of Steinway & Sons Europe, describes the editions as instruments that uphold the company’s heritage while exploring new expressions of design. Each piano is designed to appeal to musicians and collectors who value craftsmanship, precision, and enduring quality.
“The Ultra Black and Ultra White editions embody our ability to honour heritage while exploring new expressions of design. These pianos are not only instruments of the highest musical quality but also works of art, created for those who value craftsmanship, individuality, and timeless beauty.”
Guido Zimmermann, President, Steinway & Sons Europe
A Meeting of Manufacturing Philosophies
The collaboration represents a meeting of approaches rather than a meeting of styles. Bentley’s engineers and craftsmen observed Steinway’s methods in wood selection and finishing, while Steinway teams explored Bentley’s approach to engineering and assembly. Both companies combine modern techniques with traditional skills to produce objects built to last. Wayne Bruce, Chief Communications and D&I Officer at Bentley, describes the partnership as a dialogue between two crafts, resulting in objects that are rare, precise, and designed for longevity.
“Our collaboration with Steinway & Sons is a meeting of worlds, where craftsmanship connects music and motion. The Flying Spur Speed, paired with Steinway’s Ultra Black and Ultra White editions, represents a dialogue between two distinguished names, creating objects of rarity and enduring beauty.”
Wayne Bruce, Chief Communications and D&I Officer at Bentley
Bentley continues to produce bespoke models with a focus on material integrity, technical performance, and refinement. Steinway maintains a similar discipline, taking time to ensure each piano meets strict quality standards. Limiting production allows both brands to maintain focus on detail, ensuring every car and piano delivers the intended experience to the owner.
The Road Ahead
Following the Hamburg reveal, the black-and-white trio, the Flying Spur Speed and two Steinway grand pianos, will tour Europe in a series of concerts designed for connoisseurs of both brands. The initiative allows audiences to experience the meticulous craftsmanship firsthand.
Bentley continues its journey toward an exclusively electric future through the Beyond100+ strategy, aiming for a revolutionary transformation by 2035. Steinway, by contrast, remains steadfast in its traditional approach, each piano still taking roughly a year to complete. Different paths, yet both brands remain united by one principle: never compromise on quality, regardless of changing times.