New: Bentley Mulliner Batur
New Shapes
Bentley Mulliner Batur
© press-inform – the press office
Bentley heralds the departure of the legendary W12 engine with the Mulliner Batur. The farewell to the style-defining engine is accompanied by a design outlook on the electrified future of the British luxury brand.
The collector’s frenzy among solvent car fans is unbroken. The twelve examples of the Bentley Bacalar convertible were quickly sold out, despite the considerable price tag of 1.77 million euros. Now Bentley is adding a coupe with the Batur. This time there are at least 18 copies, which are only available to Mulliner customers for 2.32 million euros per automobile and are also already reserved. And they should be gone in no time. In return, the buyer also gets a very special vehicle with a titanium exhaust, elements made of sustainable natural fibers and 3D printing made of 18-carat gold. If noble, then right.
For the stately price, the buyer gets a glimpse into the electrified future of the British premium brand from next year. Not with the drive, which hammered the crankshaft and differentials with twelve pots as before, but with the design, which Bentley described as a “revolution”. It starts with the front, which says goodbye to the familiar round-eyed face and relies on more conventional headlights, in which the lighting elements are combined under one glass. This shape is more arbitrary and reminiscent of Mazda than a clear new accent. After all, the imposing radiator grille remains.
The flank also differs significantly from the previous smooth surface, as can be seen on the Continental, with a distinctive bead and a pronounced edge. The rear is rounder than before, anything but unsightly and, like the silhouette of the coupé, follows aerodynamic concepts that play an even greater role in BEVs than they already do. As befits such an exclusive car, the Batur is celebrating its premiere at Monterey Car Week, arguably the most exclusive automotive event of the year.
In line with the spirit of the times, the materials are geared towards sustainability. The leather comes from Scotland and therefore the CO2 consumption for transport is low. In addition, natural fibers are used and if you want, you can also get the mechanical “organ stops” for ventilation with 3D printing made of 18-carat gold.
As I said, the drive is not quite there yet. “Under the handsome shell is the most powerful engine that we have developed so far,” says Bentley boss Adrian Hallmark. Technically, the coupe uses the Continental GT Speed and offers a lot from the top Bentley shelf. The six-liter W12 engine delivers at least 544 kW / 740 hp and a maximum torque of 1,000 Newton meters. The powerful engine is started with a button surrounded by a golden wreath. This leap in performance of around 100 hp compared to the fastest Continental is generated by larger turbochargers, correspondingly adapted engine electronics, a new intake tract and new intercoolers.
To ensure that this power also gets to the ground, an electronic limited-slip differential (eLSD) is installed on the rear axle of the Mulliner Batur, which, together with torque vectoring, ensures driving dynamics via braking intervention. In addition, there is the lightning-fast 48-volt roll stabilization system, all-wheel drive with rear-axle steering. The chassis is also based on the proven adaptive three-chamber air spring. The driving programs available are Sport, Bentley, Comfort and the individual Custom. Deceleration is provided by 440 millimeter brake discs at the front and 410 millimeters at the rear axle, which are located behind 22-inch rims.