The Bentley Mulliner – “a name for going beyond extraordinary,” says Tim Hannig, Bentley Mulliner director – takes a step further with its new debut. The Bentley Mulliner Bacalar, named after the natural, spectacularly blue lake in Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula, is said to be the British brand’s rarest two-door car in the modern era. It defines an open top, luxury interpretation of a Grand Tourer that is completely coachbuilt. Only 12 fully bespoke models will be hand-crafted, each powered by a 6.0-liter W12 engine with 650 hp and 900 nm torque.

Following the EXP 100 GT as the second car of their 100th anniversary, the Bentley Mulliner Bacalar revives the brand’s history of coachbuilding. “I am a strong believer in the benefits of coachbuilding,” admits Tim Hannig. “It is extremely personal, just as a Bentley should be.” as such, each model is individually handbuilt to the client’s bespoke specifications. First deliveries are expected in early 2021 for the car, which has a pre-tax starting price of £1.5 million GBP.
“We were briefed to create the ultimate open cockpit Grand Tourer for Bentley,” explains JP Gregory, head of exterior design at Bentley. As the first modern coachbuilt Mulliner, the model has an understandably contemporary gesture. Its Barchetta design might throw visual weight backwards but the front still helps define its muscular ...