San Diego Union-Tribune (Sunday)
LIMITED-RUN BENTLEY BACALAR ALL ABOUT EXCLUSIVITY
Bentley, in a move that follows the footsteps of fellow Volkswagen Group brands Bugatti and Lamborghini, has brought out a limited-run, highly bespoke model of its own in the Bacalar.
The striking open-top model is all about exclusivity and personalization inside and out. Bentley said just 12 vehicles are scheduled for production.
In terms of exterior design, the Bacalar borrows much of its style from the EXP 100 GT concept that Bentley brought out last year for its 100th anniversary year. This is especially apparent in the front and rear of the Bacalar.
But unlike the EXP 100 GT, the Bacalar does not have an electric powertrain. Instead, under the hood is a 650-horsepower 6.0-liter W-12 engine with 667 foot-pounds of torque. Putting power to all wheels is an eight-speed automatic transmission.
Inside, Bentley included sustainable materials such as wool on the seat inserts, seatbacks and the side of the head restraints. There’s also a wraparound dashboard cut from 5,000year-old wood with a veneer finish.
While Bentley said that the Bacalar does not share a body panel with any model in its lineup, it is based on the Continental
GT convertible.
Bentley says the model is named after Laguna Bacalar, a lake in Mexica
The Bacalar was scheduled to debut at the Geneva Motor Show (March 717), which was canceled over concerns about the coronavirus. Instead, Bentley debuted the car live via a streamed press conference at the brand’s headquarters in Crewe, England, on March 3.
Pricing starts at about $1.9 million before taxes, and Bentley noted that all 12 copies are already sold. Deliveries will begin within 12 months.
The Bacalar marks the latest VW Group product to be made in a minuscule batch. Last year, Lamborghini unveiled the Sian FKP 37 hybrid supercar, which has a production run of 63 cars (all sold), at the Frankfurt show.
The Sian’s 785-hp V-12 engine is boosted by 34 hp from an electric motor to deliver a total 819 hp, making it Lamborghini’s most powerful model to date. The car’s low front, with integrated carbon-fiber splitter, is dominated by Yshaped headlights.
The car originally was called just the Sian, but at the Frankfurt auto show, Lamborghini altered the name to Sian FKP 37 in honor of former Volkswagen Group Chairman Ferdinand Piech, who died in late August. FKP 37 is a reference to his initials and birth year, 1937.
Meanwhile, Bugatti unveiled the Centodieci, with a run of eight vehicles, during the 2019 Monterey Car Week. The Centodieci is a tribute to the EB110, Bugatti’s sports car from the 1990s, before Volkswagen Group acquired the exclusive French brand. Based on the Chiron, the Centodieci is powered by a 1,600-hp, 8.0-liter, W-16 engine. Bugatti said the car can hit 62 mph in 2.4 seconds.
The Bacalar also signals a new strategy for Bentley’s bespoke division, Mulliner, which now will offer new, bespoke models under its Coachbuilt portfolio. Bentley says the Bacalar is the first Coachbuilt model, but others will follow.