New Bentley Batur Convertible gets 750hp W12

The third model in Mulliner's new era of coachbuilding is a chip off the old block

For a company that claims to be racing to toward hybridisation (and eventually, full electrification) with a merry whistle at its corporate lips, Bentley does seem a tiny bit reluctant to swear off its most bombastic combustion-only products. This, the third coachbuilt Bentley of the modern era, is not yet claimed as the very last model to feature the outgoing W12 - but merely ‘one of the last’. So the new Batur Convertible, limited to just 16 examples and with a seven-figure price tag, is just part of the 6.0-litre story - not the dramatic full stop.

Still, with its two-door, two seat configuration - and the retractable roof that the earlier open-top Bacalar went without - the new Convertible does occupy a fresh position in Mulliner’s super-exclusive lineup. Plus it retains the 750hp version of the W12, which means you get 738lb ft of torque alongside. So the Batur ought to be capable of 0-62mph in around 3.5 seconds and crack 200mph. Assuming it reflects our experience of driving both the Bacalar and the coupe-shaped Batur, raw speed is unlikely to be an issue even for the most demanding Bentley buyer.

Based on the car being an amalgamation of its stablemates in styling terms, it’s safe to assume that most prospective customers are onboard with the new look, too. The Batur obviously differs significantly from the Bacalar at the front, although its rear end is much more redolent of the barchetta - albeit with some significant alterations. These include the significantly more tapered cowls rear of the headrests (to incorporate the new roof) and a redesigned ‘airbridge’ behind the seats. There is also a ‘semi-enclosed’ luggage compartment behind the front seats.

Bentley was evidently concerned with offering slightly more usability than was available to the Bacalar owner, an intent best represented by the fully electric fabric hood which can deployed or stowed in 19 seconds at speeds of up to 30mph. There is no picture of the ‘modern, tactile alternative to a hardtop roof’ so we’ll assume it’s a carryover of the Continental GT’s fabric hood (the Batur obviously sharing its underlying architecture with the existing convertible).

What it does not share is the ocean-deep opportunity for personalisation, with Mulliner suggesting that its latest visualiser ‘allows any part of the car to be customised in colour and surface finish’. Paint choice is said to be infinite, and the exterior brightwork can be ‘any mix of light and dark, satin or gloss or even titanium’. Moreover, while the dashboard itself is mostly carried over, Bentley has worked with goldsmiths in the Jewellery Quarter of Birmingham to create the option of 3D printed rose gold parts for ‘key driver touch points’, including the Drive Mode Selector and the Organ Stop vent controls.

Each Batur Convertible will be handcrafted at Mulliner’s workshop in Crewe, a process that takes several months once the car is ‘co-created’ with its customer. Bentley doesn’t mention whether or not all 16 examples have already sold, although on the basis of ‘selected clients’ being prominently mentioned, it’s safe to assume that each one was assigned long ago. It’s also safe to assume that, as with the Batur and Bacalar, none will leave the factory for less than two million quid. Which accounts for Bentley’s perserverance when it comes to the W12’s long goodbye.