Wallpaper* & Bentley: more than meets the eye

This staggering panorama of Dubai was captured by Bentley using a panoramic gigapixel camera suspended from one of the city’s tallest buildings. At the heart of the 57.7 billion-pixel image, the Bentley Flying Spur W12 S is waiting to be discovered

(Image credit: TBC)

By Jonathan Bell

in Features

From the soaring towers of Dubai, Bentley has captured the world’s most detailed landscape image using a panoramic ‘Gigapixel’ camera. Suspended 264 metres off one of Dubai’s tallest buildings, the camera withstood the Emirate’s hazy 40-degree heat and 15 mph winds to capture 1,825 individual frames. Painstakingly stitched together with careful attention paid to light balance, the result is a 57.7 billion-pixel panorama, which is so wide, it even shows the curvature of the earth.

From among Dubai’s swirling network of highways, turquoise waters and glittering glass towers, eagle-eyed viewers will just about be able to pick out a Bentley Flying Spur W12 S parked within Dubai’s luxury marina. However, zoom in, and there is no mistaking. Using NASA-derived technology, the ‘Gigapixel’ camera’s powerful lens allows viewers to get so close that they can inspect its famous winged bonnet badge in sharp focus.

A testament to Bentley’s attention to detail, the intricate process took no less than 48 hours to create. The amount of time that Bentley has invested in perfecting this single image is impressive, but coming from the British marque that thinks nothing of dedicating 130 man-hours to the build of a single Flying Spur, perhaps it’s not so surprising.

Just like the photograph it features in, the Flying Spur W12 S is full of extraordinary detail and hidden delights. Designed with both the driver and passenger in mind, Bentley describe the W12 S derivative as ‘a luxury sedan for those who wish to be chauffeured, as well as those who choose to drive’. Beneath its bonnet lies a mighty 6.0-litre, twin-turbo W12 engine with enhanced power (635 PS) and torque (820 Nm) outputs. To match the impressive power upgrades, Bentley saw fit to install a new responsive suspension tune to improve handling and provide even more traction.

In terms of appearance, all of the hallmarks of traditional Bentley styling are here but are accompanied by some subtle sporting updates; sharp feature lines complement muscular rear haunches, while LED daytime running lights, subtle blackware elements and a choice of stylish alloy wheels lend it a contemporary, athletic character.

In a new 360-degree film featuring John Paul Gregory, Bentley’s Head of Exterior Design, the Flying Spur W12 S reveals itself to possess an altogether darker and more assertive character than its stablemates. In the film viewers can further explore the Flying Spur W12 S’s sleek detailing, from the new gloss-black rear bumper to the new black ‘S’ on the W12 S badge. For Bentley the devil has always been in the detail.

Bentley Car driving round corner — A testament to Bentley’s attention to detail, the intricate image took 1,825 individual frames and no less than 48 hours to create. Zoom in to find the Bentley Flying Spur W12 S parked within Dubai’s luxury marina

Dark orange Bentley car — Like the image itself, the Bentley Flying Spur W12 S is a testament to Bentley’s staggering attention to detail - each one takes 130 man-hours to the build

Close up of Bentley logo on front of car

Using NASA-derived technology, the ‘Gigapixel’ camera’s powerful lens allows viewers to get so close that they can inspect the car’s famous winged bonnet badge in sharp focus

(Image credit: TBC)

Jonathan Bell has written for Wallpaper* magazine since 1999, covering everything from architecture and transport design to books, tech and graphic design. He is now the magazine’s Transport and Technology Editor. Jonathan has written and edited 15 books, including Concept Car Design, 21st Century House, and The New Modern House. He is also the host of Wallpaper’s first podcast.