'The Surgeon' Reveals Custom Flying Spur Hybrid at Art Basel Miami

3 December 2022, Miami

Bentley debuted a one-of-a-kind, and unusual Flying Spur Hybrid, selected by 'The Surgeon', during the brand's premier nighttime event at Art Basel Miami.

Following the release of a limited-edition line of Bentley-inspired shoes, Dominic Ciambrone, popularly known as The Surgeon, the leading force in the personalised shoe market, unveiled this stunning automobile.

During Art Basel week, Miami becomes a magnet for design enthusiasts due to the presence of twenty international art fairs, over 1,200 galleries, and thousands of artists. As such, it is the ideal showcase for the artisanal craftsmanship of Mulliner, Bentley's in-house personal commissioning division, to celebrate the power of individuality with three one-of-a-kind vehicles that fuse artistic expression with unrivalled craftsmanship – crowned by the Flying Spur Hybrid by The Surgeon.

The motivation behind Flying Spur Hybrid x The Surgeon

The Surgeon is a pioneer in the bespoke shoe market, renowned for his ability to effortlessly combine high fashion with street culture. A visit to Bentley's Mulliner division in early 2022 led him to produce a limited edition of 10 pairs of custom shoes with Bentley craft hallmarks like diamond quilting and cross stitching, as well as his distinctive 'Surgeon' skull and scalpel monogram.

The shoes served as the inspiration for a second collaboration, which was based on Bentley's newly praised Flying Spur Hybrid. It was a great canvas for The Surgeon's creativity due to its exquisite lines and handmade interior. The combination of a 2.9-liter V6 combustion engine with a powerful E-Motor is the next stage in Bentley's Beyond100 journey towards an electrified future of luxury.

The vehicle's specifications offer no room for improvement. The Mulliner Blackline specification substitutes exterior polished chrome with all-black brightware, while the Styling Specification adds carbon fibre front splitter, side sills, rear diffuser, and boot lip spoiler.

Combining Gloss, Satin, and Bronze

Combining the Flying Spur Hybrid and an x-bred horse Similar to the concept of his own company, The Surgeon employs a striking exterior colour scheme that is dramatic but harmonious. Ciambrone selected a two-tone paint finish of Anthracite over Anthracite Satin, providing a subtle statement of strength and confidence. The homogeneous colour scheme is broken only by the limited application of Satin Bronze on the lower front, side, and rear bumpers. A custom Satin Bronze pinstripe runs the length of the Bentley, while the 22-inch Satin Anthracite wheels get a Satin Bronze pinstripe around the outer rim. The Surgeon badges on the D pillars and the Hybrid badge on the fender have the same finish. A Gloss Black lighted Flying B radiator mascot provides the final touch.

Craft and Design in Harmony

As soon as you enter the Flying Spur Hybrid x The Surgeon's cabin, you are immersed in a world of uniqueness and innovation. The design on the outside sill panel reads "The Surgeon," while the inside sill plate displays his own credo, "Never Stop." The emblem of a skull and crossed scalpel is projected into the ground by handmade LED welcome lighting, which are another charming element.

The inside upholstery incorporates Linen as the primary hide on the seats, doors, and lower fascia, and Beluga as the secondary hide on the fascia top, centre through-console, and rear cargo shelf. Bronze contrast stitching is included on the seats, seat piping, and steering wheel in a cross-stitch design. The term 'Surgeon' is embroidered in Bronze on the seats, and the Surgeon logo is stitched blind on the headrests.

Walnut veneer adorns the cabin, and Ciambrone has honoured Mulliner's craftsmanship by specifying contrasting veneer finishes; the upper veneer is open pore Crown Cut Walnut with a satin finish, and the lower veneer is High Gloss Crown Cut Walnut with a laser-etched repeat motif of the skull and crossed scalpel logo. A Gloss White pinstripe stretches across the fascia from entrance to door and over the top vanes of the bullseye air vents to divide the two veneers. In addition, the rear doors contain Walnut inserts with a "three-dimensional" diamond design.

The front and rear centre consoles are covered in Grand Black gloss veneer, with the Surgeon logo inlaid in chrome on the rear cupholder. Bronze Satin is featured on the B+O speaker cones, while a custom shade of matching Bronze hide can be seen at the six o'clock tab on the steering wheel and as a covering for the gearlever, so unifying the style of the outside and inside.

The revolving Bentley display in the centre of the fascia provides three face options: analogue dials, a digital display, and walnut veneer. When showing the latter, 'Surgeon' is shown with a gold overlay. Bentley's distinctive knurled finish on controls and touchpoints adds to the physical and aesthetic appeal.

Three automobile works of art

The unveiling of this extraordinary Flying Spur Hybrid concludes Art Basel Miami's evening-long celebration of the art of custom automobile design. Alongside the Bentley Flying Spur Hybrid x The Surgeon are two distinct and colourful commissions, each with a distinct purpose. The Sager Strong Continental GT Speed Convertible was inspired by Hall of Famer and fashion icon Craig Sager, notably the jacket he wore in 2016 to collect the Jimmy V Perseverance Award. The proceeds of the February 2023 auction will be dedicated to the battle against blood cancer. A Continental GT V8 Convertible, meanwhile, is inspired by the work of famous Brazilian-born artist and Miami resident Romero Britto, embodying his colourful life philosophy and honouring his pop art triumph.

The one-of-a-kind Flying Spur Hybrid chosen by "The Surgeon" honours design and craftsmanship at the highest level.

Duotone Anthracite over Anthracite Satin with Satin Bronze brightware, pinstriping, and wheel embellishments.

Customized inside is adorned with distinctive stitching and embroidery, Satin Bronze highlights, and Bronze piping.

Dual-finish wood veneers with laser-etched skull and crossed scalpel logos; 3D diamond-patterned walnut panels with Gloss White pinstriping in rear doors.

Follows a previous collaboration on limited-edition Bentley shoes.Customers who make a purchase will get a matching pair of "Bentley x The Surgeon adidas Forum Low" shoes.

Sager Strong Continental GT Speed Convertible, one of three Bentley works on display at Temple House in Miami, will be auctioned for charity in early 2023.

Britto Continental GT V8 completes the exhibition.

Regarding Bentley Motors

When it comes to high-end vehicles, none compares to Bentley Motors. All operations for the Continental GT, Continental GT Convertible, Flying Spur, Bentayga, and Bentayga EWB, as well as design, research, development, engineering, and the Mulliner division, are coordinated from Crewe. British luxury car makers like Bentley are known for a unique blend of excellent craftsmanship, using skills passed down through generations, technical experience, and cutting-edge technology. As an added bonus, it is a product of the highest quality standards of British industry. Over four thousand people call Bentley's Crewe headquarters home.