'Most potent' W12 yet set for new Mulliner Bentley

Bentley confirms coachbuilt Batur follow-up for next month, limited to just 16 examples

Turning Mulliner loose on its own ‘coachbuilt’ projects has proved a welcome revelation for Bentley. Not just because it has turned out some genuinely interesting hand-built cars in the shape of the Bacalar Barchetta and Batur coupe, but because a seven-figure sticker price proved no impediment whatsoever to selling them to the general public. (When we say ‘general public’ we obviously mean the secret list of one-percent super-fans that Crewe can expect to pick up the phone on any given day). Both coachbuilt models were sold out long before we ever set eyes on them. 

That is almost certainly true for the third iteration, which is due to be unveiled on May 7th. Given the track record established by its predecessors, this would be true even if the car were simply the next in line - but on the basis that it will be ‘among the last ever Bentleys to use the iconic W12’ which has been tweaked to create the ‘most potent iteration’ of the engine for this purpose, it’s safe to assume that the scrabble to say ‘yes, please’ was an elbows-out affair. Particularly as the accompanying teaser video suggests that a Speedster might be inbound. 

Moreover, Bentley has opted to limit production to just 16 examples. And the fact there's a ducktail spoiler clearly visible in both vid and picture format suggests that Bentley has ramped up the car's performance bias (which seems appropriate for a derivative that will, by definition, output more than 750hp). Assuming it does turn out to be another convertible, the thought of sharing airspace with a potentially louder - and certainly brawnier - W12 is an intriguing one. 

Bentley isn’t giving anything away with its 142-word press release, most of it being dedicated to reminding us that its in-house bespoke division is claimed as ‘the oldest surviving name in coachbuilding’. Whether that’s true or not, Mulliner is certainly endeavouring to be one of the most relevant still functioning today. Another hand-built model, inevitably tailored to the taste of 16 lucky individuals, ought to cement that status globally before Bentley gets on with the business of electrifying everything that comes next. 

• Bentley Mulliner Bacalar | PH Review
• Bentley Batur comes home to roost | PH Footnote