Bentley Teases All with Exclusive W12-Powered Model, Unveiling Set for May 7

Apr 27, 2024 01:04 AM EDT

ORANGE BENTLEY CONTINENTAL GT — (Photo : PEXELS/Jeffrey Paa Kwesi Opare)

On May 7, Bentley will introduce a new coach-built vehicle featuring a W-12 engine. This marks the third addition to Bentley's lineup of modern coach-built models, succeeding the meticulously crafted Bacalar barchetta and Batur coupe.

Teaser Revealed

As reported by The Torque Report, Bentley has unveiled two teaser images of their upcoming model, one of which hints at a convertible configuration with the presence of a tonneau cover. Moreover, this unnamed model will continue the lineage of the exclusive Bacalar speedster and Batur coupe, and similar to its predecessors, it will be crafted by Bentley's Mulliner customization division.

Production will be highly limited, with only 16 units planned, differing from the 12-unit Bacalar and 18-unit Batur production runs. As reported by Autoblog, the preview images shared by the British brand deliberately maintain an air of mystery.

One image appears to depict a tonneau cover, strongly implying that the next limited-production Bentley will indeed be a convertible, while the other showcases a rear end boasting a ducktail-like spoiler and horizontal lights.

Additionally, the company has unveiled a brief teaser video hinting at a connection between the upcoming vehicle and the Batur, which served as a precursor to a new design direction when it was introduced in 2022. Notably, there seems to be a resemblance in the front-end design as well.

W-12 Engine for Latest Bentley

MotorAuthority also shared details about the latest unnamed model's engine. The upcoming coach-built Bentley model marks the final phase for Bentley's 6.0-liter twin-turbo W-12 engine, slated for discontinuation this year. Last year, Bentley unveiled Speed Edition 12 variants of the Bentayga, Flying Spur, and Continental GT to honor this iconic engine.

Initially, Bentley hinted that the Batur would receive the most potent iteration of this engine, suggesting that the new coach-built model might not reach the same power levels as the coupe, potentially falling closer to the 650 hp of the Speed Edition 12 model.

Since its debut in 2003 with the first-gen Continental GT, Bentley has produced over 105,000 units equipped with the W-12 engine. While Bentley has not disclosed the replacement powertrain, speculation points towards a plug-in hybrid system featuring a turbocharged V-8.

As reported by CarScoops, the grand tourer is set to unveil on May 7, bearing a striking resemblance to the Continental-derived Batur, albeit in a convertible form. This "third coachbuilt Bentley of the modern era" seems to borrow design elements such as the front bumper, headlights, and taillights from the Batur coupe introduced in 2022.

About Bentley Batur

As per a review by Car and Driver, The Batur's exclusive production will elevate it above other high-end vehicles like the 99 Pagani Utopias, 130 Lotus Evijas, and the 300-unit Koenigsegg Gemera, making them appear almost ordinary in comparison. Unfortunately, the Batur won't meet street-legal requirements in the U.S.

Nonetheless, its rarity doesn't equate to absolute uniqueness. Beneath its custom Mulliner design, it shares most of its mechanical components with more accessible Bentleys, primarily the Continental GT Speed.