Bentley demonstrated what Mulliner, its in-house coachbuilding division, is able to when it unveiled the limited-edition Bacalar in 2020. The convertible was effectively obtained, so the British agency is reportedly planning a follow-up mannequin to have a good time (and ship off) the W12 engine.
Citing an nameless inside supply, British journal Autocar wrote that Mulliner’s subsequent automobile will arrive as a coupe based mostly on the Continental GT. That does not imply it is going to seem like the Continental GT; the Bacalar is an evolution of the convertible Continental but it wears a unique design. As a substitute, the mannequin will allegedly borrow styling cues from the EXP 100 GT idea (pictured) that Bentley launched in 2019.
Whereas the EXP 100 GT was electrical, Mulliner’s subsequent automobile will obtain the identical 6.0-liter, twin-turbocharged W12 that powers the Bacalar. The mighty engine will probably be tuned to ship about 650 horsepower and 667 pound-feet of torque to the 4 wheels by way of an eight-speed automated transmission, and it’ll pelt the coupe from 0-60 mph in effectively underneath 4 seconds and on to a high velocity of over 200 mph. A number of enhancements, like a firmer suspension system and big carbon ceramic brakes, will let drivers benefit from the W12’s energy.
Hand-built, the coupe will carry a base worth of at the very least $2 million earlier than consumers start personalizing it; almost each visible a part of the automobile, together with the upholstery and the paint, will probably be customizable. That determine will make it the costliest automobile Bentley has ever launched. The report provides that manufacturing will probably be restricted to 25 items, and we would not be stunned if the complete batch is spoken for earlier than the mannequin is unveiled — even when, just like the Bacalar, it is solely granted “present and show” standing in America. If the rumor is correct, we’ll study extra concerning the automobile in 2022 and deliveries will start the next yr. This challenge might transfer quick; it took Bentley 9 months to make the Bacalar a actuality.
Few-off tasks serve a number of functions: they generate revenue and so they assist luxurious carmakers elevate and solidify their picture. This coupe may also symbolize Bentley’s approach of sending off the venerable W12 engine and provides the world of a preview of the agency’s subsequent design language.
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