There are Bentleys and then there are Bentleys coachbuilt by Mulliner, Bentley’s in-house bespoke division, which prides itself on being the longest-standing coachbuilder in the world. A Bentley is regarded as one of the most elegant, luxurious, yet powerful cars on the road, but when coachbuilt by Mulliner, it transforms into one of the most exclusive cars in the world. This latest release, the Batur convertible, adds to that legacy as the latest Bentley Mulliner of the modern era.
Previous coachbuilds – the Bacalar Barchetta and Batur coupe – set the bar immensely high; both sold out and redefined what individual tailored design and coachbuilt vehicles could be. The Batur convertible continues the lineage of its predecessor, the coupe, following a design DNA that looks set to steer the visual direction of Bentley’s future cars.
Handcrafted over the course of several months, each of the 16 Bentley Batur convertibles will be a unique vehicle in its own right. Coachbuilt cars allow for a far greater level of customization, and with such freedom and exclusivity, there is usually a high price to match.
Unsurprisingly, the Batur Convertible also carries forward the iconic W12 engine in its most powerful form. Producing 750 hp, this hand-assembled 6.0-litre twin-turbocharged engine has played a major role in Bentley’s 21st-century successes and is bowing out this summer. As one of the final Bentleys to utilize the W12, the Batur convertible can be seen as somewhat of a swansong for the meteoric powertrain.
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A modern grand tourer with vintage roots
Stepping away from the sentimentality, the Bentley Batur convertible — a two-seat, two-door, grand tourer — harks back to the open-cockpit cars of Bentley’s early days. Mulliner has leaned into this with the design, the car’s ‘wraparound’ cockpit looks particularly racy while also giving a nod to the Bacalar.
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There is also an ‘airbridge’ situated behind the two seats and tapered cowls, protecting driver and passenger, and further adding to the vintage racing aesthetic. These design choices position the Batur convertible as a dynamic, driver-focused grand tourer, well suited to transporting across countries and beyond. These longer distances are made all the more comfortable in the luxuriously appointed cosseted interior, while the airbridge also enables a semi-enclosed luggage compartment behind the seats.
Few vehicles are better suited to adventure than a convertible. Capable of stowing or deploying its roof in 19 seconds while driving at 30 mph, the Batur convertible can quickly transition from coupe to open-top grand tourer whenever the situation calls for it.
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A bespoke Bentley
As this is a Bentley coachbuilt by Mulliner, the ability for each owner to customize their vehicle has been pushed to the furthest extent. Aside from altering the exterior form of the car, pre-delivery owners will be able to select and alter the color and finish of essentially any surface on the vehicle.
Looking at the exterior, paint choice has no limit. There is a full Mulliner color palette, however, if owners are looking to go the fully bespoke route and select something off-menu, it’s possible. The airbridge and tonneau cover allows for the use of intriguing secondary colors, while the front grille can be given a graduated contrast color, adding to the Batur convertible’s dynamism, if owners so wish.
This extensive customization continues inside the cockpit. The standout feature is the option to include 3D-printed rose gold detailing on key driver touchpoints, such as the Bentley Drive Mode Selector. To achieve this, Bentley worked with goldsmiths based in the historic jewelry quarter of Birmingham, England. It’s exclusive materials like this, combined with limitless customization that leads those so inclined to select a Bentley coachbuilt by Mulliner.
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