The Batur, Bentley’s new hard-to-get Mulliner coupe, made its debut at this year’s Monterey Car Week in front of a crowd of 500 Bentley owners. The Batur is intended to be “more than the heir to the highly successful Bacalar,” and looks to characterise a new design direction for the British automaker as Bentley begins developing their range of BEVs.
As Bentley looks toward embracing electrification with open arms, the Batur offers an opportunity for the automaker to give its mighty W12 engine a proper farewell.
The Batur features a 740PS+ version of Bentley’s hand-assembled 6-litre twin-turbocharged machine and is said to be the most powerful Bentley yet – talk about going out with a bang.
Debuting with the Continental GT in 2002, the 6-litre W12 has undergone several iterations with each new Bentley release. The Batur remains faithful to this trend with the introduction of a new intake system, upgraded turbochargers and new intercoolers. The engine is mated to Bentley’s eight-speed double-clutch transmission.
This celebration of the W12’s power has been rightfully paired with what Bentley say is their most advanced chassis available. Drive Dynamics Control, accessed via the centre console, allows riders to select between four different driving styles: Sport, Bentley, Comfort, and Custom. These various ride styles allow the driver to tailor ride comfort and body control to their liking. The Drive Dynamics Control also manipulates the 48V electric active anti-roll control system, a system capable of totally decoupling wheels at either end of each axle. The system can also be used to adjust front-to-rear roll stiffness, ultimately allowing drivers to better balance the throttle when the Batur is set to Sports mode.
The Batur’s stunning design can be further enhanced by a range of customisation options, Painted Black Crystal 22-inch wheels come as standard on the Batur, with a darker option combining dark gloss faces and satin spokes also available. The possibility to paint-match
each wheel to the body also exists, great for owners that may wish to have their Batur blend into a sleek silhouette. The front splitter, side skirts and rear diffuser – all additions made to maximise aerodynamic performance – are constructed in carbon fibre or Natural Fibre composite, depending on the owner’s preference. And if you thought that wasn’t enough customisation, the Batur is available in an infinite number of exterior paint options.
The two-seat interior has been designed to accommodate personalisation and long-distance grand touring. Much of the Batur’s interior design is inspired by that of the Bacalar, building upon its core elements with the addition of a host of sustainable luxury materials. These include low-carbon leather sourced from Scotland, sustainable tannage leather from Italy and Dinamca, a suede-like sustainable leather alternative.
The ultra-rare Batur is limited to just 18 series examples. Each unit is priced at £1.65m, with all 18 units already reserved by Bentley Mulliner clients.
Images: https://www.bentleymedia.com/en/images
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