The early days of the automobile were about bespoke cars and with technology slowly stamping its authority, the coach-built era lost its charm. However, in the modern-day luxury cars have embraced this wholeheartedly and we are seeing more and more bespoke cars. For Bentley, its Batur remains one of its most striking designs while now the convertible version takes it a notch further. Just like the earlier two bespoke cars, the Batur Convertible is also built by Mulliner, Bentley’s in-house bespoke division.
Open-top two-seaters are also not new for Bentley with the very first Bentley of 1919 being one. Peer closer and the sharp-edged lines are lovely with the aggression of the coupe being mixed with the softer tones of a convertible. The gloss black grille, tapered lines, and aggressive grille blend in well while the soft-top roof is more in sync with the bespoke nature of the car. Just like the modern-day soft tops, the roof can be deployed or stowed in just 19 seconds, with the car traveling at speeds of up to 30 mph (50 km/h). Of course, with Mulliner, every surface or design element is customizable with an infinite choice of colors plus materials to hand-painted graphics.
The Batur Convertible also offers a personalized Airbridge design, tonneau cover, and roof materials being able to be specified to complement the rest of the cabin and exterior.
In the cabin, you even get 3D printed rose gold includes key driver touch points, such as the Bentley Drive Mode Selector, encircling the start/stop button and used to change chassis modes. Rose gold can also apply to Bentley’s Organ Stop vent controls in the dashboard, as well as a rose gold insert marker on the steering wheel itself.
Bentley Mulliner has collaborated with expert goldsmiths based in the historic Jewellery Quarter of Birmingham, England to design unique parts.
Each Batur Convertible will also be handcrafted over the course of several months in Mulliner’s workshop at Bentley’s carbon-neutral factory in Crewe, England while production will be limited to just 16 pieces, each among the last ever Bentleys to be powered by the company’s W12 engine.
For the W12 powertrain that the Batur Convertible shares with its coupe counterpart, a revised intake system, upgraded turbochargers, new intercoolers, and extensive recalibration means it now develops 750 PS and 1,000 Nm of torque. The W12 is paired with Bentley’s eight-speed double-clutch transmission and a sports exhaust with the finishers being 3D-printed in titanium.
