Wednesday 26th February 2020

Bentley Mulliner teases Bacalar super GT | Update

There's only been one two-seat Bentley since 1930, until now...

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Earlier this month we brought you news of the Bacalar, Bentley's incredibly exclusive, responsibly sourced, sustainably built, grass-fed, free range car of the future. Details were scarce, except for an apparent connection to the EXP 100 GT concept which made its debut mid-way through last year.

Today's continuation of the drip-feed of info is barely more enlightening, but it does give us another piece with which to begin to complete the puzzle: the Bentley Mulliner Bacalar will be only the second two-seat Bentley since 1930. That two-seat layout with its "wraparound cockpit" is said to create a luggage space big enough for a pair of bespoke travel cases behind the "exquisitely stitched" front seats.

Two-seat Bentleys may rarely enter production, but they won't be entirely unfamiliar to regular visitors to Geneva's Palexpo hall. Back in 2017 the British manufacturer displayed its topless EXP 12 Speed 6e concept, itself a follow-up to the EXP 10 Speed 6 coupe of 2015. While neither of those cars made it close to the production status afforded the Bacalar, their influence can undoubtedly be seen in the styling of the current generation of Continental.

It's possible, then, that the Bacalar - and the EXP 100 GT from which it draws inspiration - could soon have an impact on a far greater number of Bentley's customers than the lucky few who will own the car itself...

 

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Just last year we were shown "the future of Bentley" in the shape of the EXP100 GT. While that concept - an EV with up to 1,360hp and 1,106lb ft - previewed a distant autonomous take on the Gran Tourer, Bentley has today announced a car which should make a much more immediate impact.

According to my research, the Baklava is a "a rich, sweet dessert pastry made of layers of filo filled with chopped nuts and sweetened and held together with syrup or honey." Bentley claims it will "reveal the future of coachbuilding" and "represents Grand Touring at its most exhilarating." Its design is apparently inspired by the aforementioned EXP 100 GT, while its "dramatic" form said to be constructed using both sustainable and ethically-sourced materials.

Hand-built in collaboration with Bentley's Mulliner coach-building department, the Balaclava offers "a form of cloth headgear designed to expose only part of the face, usually the eyes and mouth." Its Geneva reveal will take place on March 3rd, after which, it will be "offered for purchase only to a very few." Unlike the car from which it draws its inspiration, then, the Bacalar will seemingly be realised in limited production form, making it an even more enticing prospect than the staggering-yet-fanciful design which preceded it. Now, about those desserts...

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[Bencolem]

The name Bacalar most likely derives from Mayan languages: b?ak halal, meaning "surrounded by reeds". Clearly aimed at Estate Agents then.

[Macboy]

Am I missing the humorous tone of the article or have you just chosen to ignore that it's called Bacalar and used Baklava because you think you're clever?

Edited by Macboy on Wednesday 12th February 17:48

[Painter38]

Macboy said:

Am I missing the humorous tone of the article or have you just chosen to ignore that it's called Bacalar and used Baklava because you think you're clever?

Edited by Macboy on Wednesday 12th February 17:48

Turn your computer off.

[Macboy]

Painter38 said:

Macboy said:

Am I missing the humorous tone of the article or have you just chosen to ignore that it's called Bacalar and used Baklava because you think you're clever?

Edited by Macboy on Wednesday 12th February 17:48

Turn your computer off.

But seriously. You think this is acceptable “journalism”? It just makes the “author” sound like a try too hard comedy-store first-timer.

[Bushi]

"Hand-built in collaboration with Bentley's Mulliner coach-building department"

Shouldn't repeat this utter nonsense.

[matrignano]

Macboy said:

But seriously. You think this is acceptable “journalism”? It just makes the “author” sound like a try too hard comedy-store first-timer.

You obviously didn’t spot the balaclava misspelling

[ate one too]

Bacalar is the municipal seat and largest city in Bacalar Municipality in the Mexican state of Quintana Roo, about 40 kilometres north of Chetumal, at 18° 40' 37" N, 88° 23' 43" W.

In the 2010 census the city had a population of 11,084 people.

[anonymous-user]

ate one too said:

Bacalar is the municipal seat and largest city in Bacalar Municipality in the Mexican state of Quintana Roo, about 40 kilometres north of Chetumal, at 18° 40' 37" N, 88° 23' 43" W.

In the 2010 census the city had a population of 11,084 people.

Thank goodness for that, although I do not see an obvious link to Bentley heritage. For a moment I thought I saw bacalao, which would be far worse. Lambo likes naming their cars after fearsome fighting bulls, I thought Bentley was going down the route of naming their cars after fish suitable for deep frying...

[rodericb]

Aletsch said:

Thank goodness for that, although I do not see an obvious link to Bentley heritage. For a moment I thought I saw bacalao, which would be far worse. Lambo likes naming their cars after fearsome fighting bulls, I thought Bentley was going down the route of naming their cars after fish suitable for deep frying...

dried salted Cod. Can be stored for many years before use. Like most of these cars will!

[can't remember]

Well I won't be on the list of lucky buyers but well done Bentley. Will be nice to see another addition to the list of super exclusive low volume cars.

Caveat: So long as it's elegant and discreet and not shouty and vulgar.

[Macboy]

Bushi said:

"Hand-built in collaboration with Bentley's Mulliner coach-building department"

Shouldn't repeat this utter nonsense.

Erm...why? In what way is this nonsense? Genuinely interested in why you think Bentley and Mulliner won't be hand building a very limited series car? They did with the Mulsanne based Drop-head coupe.

[Gemaeden]

Surely not just the one two seat Bentley since 1930. 2 Speed 8's came first and second at Le Mans in 2003.

[pie2k1]

Gemaeden said:

Surely not just the one two seat Bentley since 1930. 2 Speed 8's came first and second at Le Mans in 2003.

And did eveyone forget the original Continental GT Supersports coupe??? (just 2 carbon buckets in the front courtesy of Bugatti).