Limited Edition Bentley Bacalar Revealed

The Bentley Bacalar… the name rolls off the tongue as easy as it looks on the eye.

Bentley describe this car as the rarest 2-door Bentley of the modern age, and with only 12 limited edition models being built, you can see why they describe it so.

Each of the 12 models will be coachbuilt in Crewe at the Bentley Mulliner workshop, taking into consideration each of the 12 lucky owners’ individual needs and preferences. Bentley Mulliner is a prestigious name worthy of such a task. Having been established in the 1700s in Northampton to originally hire out carriages, the family business of HJ Mulliner & Co can safely boast being the oldest coachbuilder in the world. So it’s no surprise that the Bentley Bacalar looks like an instant and timeless classic right from the off.

The name comes from the Laguna Bacalar, a lake in the Mexican peninsula of Yucatan. The lake is known for its beauty, and Bentley see this rare grand tourer as worthy of the connection. The lake is famed for its blueness, and this colour is reflected within the design of the digital display.

It’s not been easy for Bentley and the meticulous plans for launching such a highly thought of beast, the current coronavirus spread has forced the company to rethink many of its plans after the Geneva Motor Show was cancelled – the Bacalar was due to showcase at the event.

Fortunately, we live in a highly connected world, and while technology has not yet come close to replacing the traditional motor show launch, here Bentley had a chance to try out a new type of launch online, with the Bacalar being launched on the official Bentley YouTube channel.

Bentley says that the Bacalar is representative of the future of coachbuilding with ethically sourced, sustainable materials. Carbon fibre is formed to make up the front and rear wings enabling subtle, intricate flowing design lines to be incorporated, while the chassis and engine borrow from the company’s Continental GTC. The whole design draws on the recent Bentley EXP 100 GT concept.

Let’s mention that colour too, it’s certainly striking – and while I appreciate that there’s many out there that think a good sports car can be ruined by a yellow paint job, the custom metallic Yellow Flame is stunning. It creates extra metallic shine thanks to the inclusion of rice husk ash. Those who have seen the paint up close suggest that depending on the light, certain other colour hues can be seen deep within too. I’ve no problem with yellow cars, and certainly no problem with this colour – it’s a real shame that folks were not able to see it in the flesh at Geneva.

It’s as beautiful inside as it is out too, with a wraparound cockpit leaving occupants feeling snug and secure in the open air. The whole car sits on striking 22-inch matt black and polished wheels and features an uprated W12 bi-turbo engine capable of 650bhp, with 667lb ft torque and a top speed of 200mph. It’s certainly got power to match its looks.

So are there any downsides? Well, it’s roofless, with Bentley describing their new grand tourer as a ‘genuine roofless Barchetta’  – a 2-seater open-air performance vehicle. Oh and it’s pretty pricey of course, with each of the 12 models being available at a cost of £1.5 million – and that’s before tax.

Is the Bentley Mulliner Bacalar worth it? I expect that Bentley will have no problem finding 12 customers. What do you think? Let me know in the comments below!