-First Batur Coupe development vehicle begins testing across Europe
-Extensive full vehicle development programme, including 120 individual tests over 58 weeks
-More than 100 weeks of powertrain development already completed, the most in Bentley history A powerful car is born
– Batur includes 800+ unique parts, no customer options for materials and finishes
– Luminous version of Batur No. 0 car with “Purple Sector”
– Batur’s Advanced materials and construction look to Bentley’s sustainable future
(Crewe, December 2, 2022) Bentley Batur has started real road testing in Europe. After debuting at Monterey Car Week in August 2022 and attending numerous events for Bentley customers, the global media and the public, the two Batur developers are now embarking on a rigorous testing program to ensure the highest standards of vehicle performance and ensure quality. An 18-piece limited edition is scheduled to begin deliveries in mid-2023 after an extensive engineering program has been completed and signed off on.
Testing activities include both engine and vehicle durability, environmental and sunlight simulation, high-speed stability, aerodynamics, noise and vibration, and vehicle dynamics. Over 120 separate tests cover everything from the finish of the gold vent controls to the hardware and software of the new W12 engine. More than 58 weeks of vehicle testing were planned for the two pre-production vehicles, in addition to the more than 100 weeks of vehicle development that had already been completed to test the increased engine performance and make the Batur the most powerful Bentley ever with at least 740 ps.
The first session for one of Batur’s designs, Car #0, is an extended 2,500-kilometer drive across Europe to simulate real-world conditions. The route leaves Germany and travels through Italy, France and Spain before high-speed testing takes place at the proving ground.
Paul Williams, Chief Technical Officer for Mulliner, comments:
“At the start of the project it was clear that this car had to be the ultimate GT and so every element from the exterior design, engine power and hand-crafted interior has been created without compromise.
“There are a number of unique features that bring new challenges. For example, the exterior headlamps are very compact LED units and made to our styling teams challenging proportions, which transforms the exterior appearance of the car but are complex to produce. We’re also working with the most powerful development of the W12 in its 20-year history, which brings an enormous validation programme.
“Even small details such as the angle of the diamond in the front grille representing the cylinder angle in the W12 engine have had to be considered. And even though there will only be 18 Baturs produced, the level of quality has to be identical to every one of the 15,000 cars Bentley is currently producing each year.”
At the proving ground, Batur Car #0 will begin a seven-week run to ensure durability on tracks, mixed road conditions, high-speed testing and adverse surface conditions. All of these activities gather data and feedback to ensure technical goals are met.
After completion of the test site, there are still 7,500 kilometers in the real world until the start of the environmental testing. In less than four weeks, the car will withstand 600 hours of sunlight exposure, the equivalent of five years in the Arizona desert. This is particularly important for new eco-friendly materials used in exterior components as an alternative to carbon fiber.
Over 810 unique parts will be tested and developed over 160 weeks to create the perfect coach before customer deliveries begin.
The Pinnacle W12 Grand Tourer
The Batur can also be the maximum effective Bentley yet, with a 729+ Bhp (740+ PS) model of the iconic, hand-assembled 6.0-litre twin-turbocharged W12 engine that has metaphorically and actually powered Bentley’s achievement for the closing decades.
Over 100+ weeks of powertrain improvement have already been finished to verify the brand new air consumption system, changed turbochargers, revised intercoolers and new calibrations for the engine gearbox and digital balance manipulate for the top W12.
As the engine enters its twilight years as a part of Bentley’s Beyond100 transformation adventure to being absolutely electrified, the Batur bureaucracy the primary a part of a party of the W12’s superb power, torque and refinement. Engine overall performance can be matched to the maximum superior Bentley chassis ever, with Speed-tuned air suspension, electric powered energetic anti-roll manipulate, eLSD, four-wheel steerage and torque vectoring.
Batur Car #0
All 18 customer batteries are already reserved. Each one is developed in collaboration with each customer under the direction of Mulliner’s own design team.
Customers can specify the color and finish of virtually any Batur finish to create their own vehicle. From the base coat of paint on the body to the finish of the air vents and literally everything in between, every customer dictates even the smallest details.
Engineering Development Vehicle – Batur Car #0 – paid the same attention to detail as the customer’s own specification. The exterior paint finish is a special color, Purple Sector, which gives curved surfaces a deep, vibrant colour. The body is accentuated by front splitters, side skirts and a rear diffuser with high-gloss natural fiber trim.
The front of the car features an exceptionally ornate grille featuring a Gloss Dark Titanium main matrix with contrasting chevrons in a horizontal ombré pattern that flows from the Purple Sector in the center and transitions to Black Crystal on the sides. The Infinity hood line is finished in Satin Titanium, as are the 22-inch wheels with Gloss and Satin Black Crystal spokes to match the grille.
A small supplement that buyers do not receive. It can be seen on the Batur Car #0 – these are small white arrowheads on the edges of the body panels. These marks help provide feedback on plate movement and any form of relaxation while testing the vehicle for durability.
Looking To The Future Of Coachbuilding
The Mulliner Bacalar was the first bodybuilding project in years to better understand Bentley customers and their choices. An even wider range of options has been developed for Batur, including not only colours, materials and finishes, but also new technologies such as Naim’s Mulliner audio system. It takes the Continental GT’s Naim audio system and transforms it with 20 new Focal speakers, specially configured for Batur and tuned for truly immersive, premium sound.
The design team has given Batur a unique character through the combination of high quality materials and finishes. This is an important step towards sustainable materials and construction methods, from additive gold manufacturing to sustainable leather and natural fiber veneers.
Using advanced manufacturing techniques it is possible for tooling investment to be kept to a minimum which drives lower material and energy usage in the manufacturing processes. Pending successful testing, Mulliner also plan to use natural fibres as an alternative to carbon fibre is some areas of the car. This is a significant reduction in carbon required to produce the materials in these parts.
Sustainability plays a key role in the Batur to help drive the development of sustainable features for future generations of coachbuilt Bentley’s, using Mulliner’s coachbuilding experience as the platform for innovation in line with Bentley’s sustainability goals.