Just 18 examples will be made, and Bentley says it previews the brand's future design as it transitions to an electric future.
BentleyBentley is headed towards an electric future, and its signature W-12 engine will soon retire. Both to celebrate the W-12 and preview what its future electrified cars will look like, Bentley has created the Batur, a 730-hp, $2 million grand tourer. It’s the most powerful Bentley ever and just 18 will be made.
Bentley
This is Bentley’s second modern coachbuilt car, a follow-up to the open-top Bacalar that debuted last year. In Bentley’s early days, the automaker would supply the chassis that was sent to a separate coachbuilder of the buyer’s choice for bodywork. Bentley’s Mulliner divison, which started out as a coachbuilder itself and now is the brand’s in-house customization arm, is responsible for hand building the Batur.
Bentley Bentley
The Batur represents arguably the brand’s biggest design shifts since the original Continental GT arrived in 2003. In the press release, Bentley calls out the new, lower front grille, and non-round headlights. There’s also a trim piece that blends in with the hood that runs all the way to the C-pillar. The C-pillar combined with the simple, triangular rear quarter-window give the Batur a distinct profile from a Continental GT. It recalls Nineties Bentleys like the Continental R and some Seventies Pininfarina-designed coupes like the Fiat 130. Inside, the layout should be familiar to anyone who’s sat in a current Continental GT, though the materials and trim is distinctive. Most spectacular are the pieces made from 3D-printed 18K gold.
Naturally, the chassis is closely related to the Continental GT’s, with Bentley’s excellent 48-volt active anti-roll system standard, as is rear-wheel steering, three-chamber air springs, adaptive dampers, and an electronic rear-limited slip differential from the Continental GT Speed. The transmission is the familiar, Porsche-derived eight-speed dual-clutch.
Bentley
You probably won’t be surprised to find out that the Batur is already sold out, with deliveries are expected to begin in 2023. Bentley’s first EV, which will take design inspiration from the Batur, will arrive in 2026, riding on an Audi-developed platform.
Keyword: The Bentley Batur Is a 730-HP, $2 Million Limited-Edition Grand Tourer