The third coachbuilt Bentley in the modern era lives up to the lofty standards set by its coupe counterparts
Continuing its dedication to progressive and innovative design, Bentley Motors is raising the bar yet again with the latest Mulliner-coachbuilt Batur Convertible, a gorgeous open-top wonder.
This ultra-exclusive Batur model, limited to just 16 units globally, takes cues from the previously sold-out handcrafted Bacalar barchetta and Batur coupes. Slated to be one of the last units to feature the iconic W12 engine, this luxurious two-seater delivers a solid 750 hp with its 6.0-litre twin-turbocharged powerhouse—a nod to Bentley’s legacy of rolling out makes that are big on both luxury and performance.
Aside from its advanced eight-speed double-clutch transmission with a titanium sports exhaust fitted to provide sublime auditory pleasure, this beast promises to perform as spectacularly as it looks. Refined recalibration has produced developments in intake systems, upgraded turbochargers and intercoolers; what’s promised is more than just a torquey 1000 nm drive, but also a 40 per cent increase in power and improved fuel efficiency of 25 per cent.
The architecture of the Batur Convertible seamlessly blends design inspiration from its predecessors, the Bacalar and Batur Coupe, as well as the usability of a convertible. The highlight of its two-seater character would be the ‘wrap-around’ cockpit, a nod towards the Bacalar’s configuration. One can relish in a driver-focused adventure in a cocooned environment, where a dramatic ‘airbridge’ and tapered cowls are positioned at rear. While aesthetically pleasing, functionality is also at the forefront of its design; this configuration allows for a semi-enclosed luggage compartment to be situated right behind the driver and passenger seats.
Away from the driver’s cabin, the car’s exceptional design shines through on the bodywork, featuring front splitters, side skirts and a rear trim in a tasteful high-gloss carbon fibre finish. Transforming from a luxurious coupe into an open-top Grand Tourer at the touch of a button, the convertible soft-top provides a sporty alternative as opposed to a hard-top roof. Combining insulation materials and refinements to its sealing systems and acoustic treatments, its deployment and stowage takes a mere 20 seconds.
Discerning clients wishing to create a bespoke unit can do so via collaboration with the in-house artisans at Mulliner. A specially-developed Mulliner visualiser allows for unlimited customisation of colour and material finishing on any surface. Mulliner boasts an “infinite” array of paint choices, including fully bespoke paint to hand-painted graphics. The company also worked with expert goldsmiths from the Jewellery Quarter of Birmingham, England, to craft the gorgeous rose-gold accents within the driver’s cabin, especially on on key touch-points such as the Drive Mode Selector, vent controls on the dashboard, and the steering wheel.
Each of the 16 units, meticulously handcrafted by master artisans in the Mulliner workshop in England over several months, bids a fond farewell to the much-lauded W12 engine in its final production run—while upholding Bentley’s fierce commitment to peak performance in no uncertain terms.
