Bentley, renowned for its luxury vehicles, has taken a significant step forward in its mission to be the epitome of diversity among luxury car manufacturers worldwide. The company has revealed the ‘Belonging Bentayga,’ a bespoke Bentley Bentayga Hybrid hand-painted with intricate artistry, showcasing skylines and landmarks from iconic cities across the globe.
The Artistic Endeavor
The ‘Belonging Bentayga’ is adorned with various skylines and renowned buildings from cities such as New York, London, Paris, Rome, Milan, Venice, Tokyo, and Hong Kong, each side representing a different continent. This unique art piece, displaying 29 different landmarks, is a creation of Stephen Wiltshire MBE, a British architectural artist and autistic savant celebrated for his extraordinary ability to recreate landscapes from memory.
The Bentayga Extended Wheelbase Mulliner marks a new peak for Bentley, elevating the Bentayga lineup and the overall Bentley models. Bentley says this model enhances the existing blend of powerful supercar performance, all-terrain capability, dynamic driving, and limousine-like rear cabin found in the Bentayga EWB.
The flagship Bentley Bentayga EWB Mulliner surpasses competitors in cabin space and its unique enhancements transform each journey into a cherished experience. Whether you’re seated at the wheel or in the spacious rear cabin, this SUV represents the pinnacle of luxury in the SUV category.
When one spends over a million ringgit on a car, it can be taken for granted that it will be of the highest quality with the best materials. If it is a sports model, then it would be expected to deliver truly high performance. And where comfort is concerned, that’s a given – with emphasis on the rear accommodation taking precedence over the front (unless it’s a convertible which would usually be driven by the owner).
Bentley’s Azure range, introduced in May last year, goes beyond the realms of just being comfortable. With this range – available for all Bentley models – the wellbeing of the occupants is paramount and not only is there superlative comfort along the way but the occupants can also arrive at their destination in an even better shape, more relaxed than when they left home or office.
When production of Bentley’s W12 engine ends in April 2024, over 105,000 units of the iconic 12-cylinder engines will have been made in a 21-year period. The decision to end production has been made as part of Bentley’s acceleration towards a sustainable future through its Beyond100 strategy. This will see the company’s entire model line fully electrified by the start of the next decade
Once production of the W12 ceases next year, Bentley’s entire model line will be available with the option of a hybrid powertrain. In fact, even now, the journey of electrification has already begun with the Bentayga Hybrid and Flying Spur Hybrid.
A 70-year old Bentley with the registration JAS 949 has been a special car among Bentley models. It was one of only 208 units of the R Type Continental ever built – but the car had a greater impact than the limited numbers suggest. Quoted as ‘a modern magic carpet which annihilates great distances’, the R-Type Continental was the fastest 4-seat luxury sedan in the world when it debuted in 1952.
The first owner of JAS 949 was a Dr. Rowland Guenin in Switzerland, who received his car in December 1953. It was ordered in Ivory with a Red interior and a manual gearbox, a specification it retains today along with the original 4.6-litre engine.
In 2001, Bentley acquired JAS 949 and made it one of the models in the company’s 43-car Heritage Collection kept at the Heritage Garage in Crewe, where Bentley has its factory. It has been well maintained with the patina preserved and the car is driven on the road on a regular basis.
Since the first Bathurst 12-Hour race in 1991, the overall winning cars have been from many different brands and among them, in the 2020 event, was the Continental GT3. That year, with Bentley’s biggest ever motorsport programme, the Continental GT demonstrated its breadth of ability on the road and on the track.
That memorable victory inspired Mulliner and Bentley Sydney to create a special edition in conjunction with the recent launch in Australia of the new Continental GT S. Focused on driving performance and visual presence, the Continental GT S shares a number of characteristics with its track-based counterpart, thereby providing the perfect foundation for the pair of specially-commissioned road cars.
In August this year, Bentley unveiled the Batur coupe, a very exclusive model to be built by Bentley Mulliner and limited to only 18 units, each priced at from £1.65 million (about RM8.9 million). Named after a beautiful lake in Bali, the Batur is the second bespoke project by Bentley Mulliner after the Bacalar and the first customers (all units have already been booked) should start getting their cars in mid-2023..
With development work completed and two prototypes available, real-world testing is now underway to verify the performance after an extensive engineering program. The validation activities, with more than 120 individual tests, include durability for both the engine and whole vehicle, environmental compatibility and sunlight simulation, high speed stability, aerodynamics, noise & vibration, and driving dynamics.
The Speed badge on Bentley models, which goes back to the 1930s, signifies versions with an extra measure of performance. Typically, Speed versions have been at the top of their respective ranges and today, there are Speed versions for the Bentayga and the Continental. They are now joined by the new Flying Spur Speed, completing Bentley’s portfolio of Grand Tourers.
The Flying Spur Speed, which sits above the S model, has the familiar exterior Speed styling cues like dark tint finishes to the front grilles, headlamps and tail lamps, and of course, Speed badges on the lower wing. Also standard are jewelled fuel and oil filler caps, with the unique 22-inch Speed wheel as standard (a second optional 22-inch sports design is also available).
For customers who want to increase the performance-focused image even further, Bentley also offers its Styling Specification (carbonfibre front splitter, side skirts, rear diffuser and subtle bootlid spoiler) and Blackline Specification which can be included at the time of purchase.
Crafted by hand in high gloss carbonfibre to exact tolerances following an extensive development programme, the Blackline Specification provides a contemporary alternative where most of the brightwork on the exterior of the car is replaced with Blackware.
The Flying Spur Speed’s 6-litre W12 powertrain produces an extra 85 ps/130 Nm for a total output of 635 ps/900 Nm. The improved output enables the car to go from 0 to 100 km/h in a claimed 3.8 seconds, and on to a top speed of 333 km/h. Maximum speed is reached in sixth gear with the same 8-speed ZF dual-clutch transmission as the Continental GT, the overdrive gears (seventh and eighth) being used to reduce fuel consumption when cruising.
The mighty Bentley W12 engine will be retired after 2026.
The clutched system delivers drive to the rear axle and depending on the road conditions and wheel slip, it will then automatically send drive to the front axle as required, as an active all-wheel drive system. With turn-in response also improved, the understeer effect experienced with fixed all-wheel drive is virtually eliminated, making the car feel more balanced overall.
Torque distribution varies according to the selected Drive Dynamics Mode. In Comfort and Bentley modes, the system will send up to 480 Nm of torque to the front axle to offer greater grip and driveability. In Sport, the system limits the available torque to the front axle to 280 Nm, maintaining a higher torque level at the rear for a more dynamic feel.
Electronic All-Wheel Steering is standard, and during low-speed manoeuvres, the system steers the rear wheels in the opposite direction to the front wheels. This has the effect of shortening the wheelbase, reducing the turning circle, increasing agility and making parking noticeably easier too. During high-speed manoeuvres, the system steers the rear wheels in the same direction as the front wheels, increasing stability and making overtaking and lane-changes more assured.
Needless to say, a Bentley cabin has a luxurious environment and for the Flying Spur Speed, there is a new unique colour way including the use of Dinamica to all of the occupant touch points. Bentley uses Dinamica Pure which, compared to regular Dinamica, is made from 73% recycled polyester. There are more Interior colour choices as well.
The dashboard is the same as the other Flying Speed versions but in the driver’s information panel, new performance infotainment graphics can be seen. These take inspiration from luxury chronographs. The luxury theme continues with front and rear seat comfort specification as standard.
One thing about living in a high-rise apartment is that your car has to be parked some distance away. If you are very rich and live in a place like the Hamilton Scotts condo near Newton Circus in Singapore, then your car can be parked adjacent to your apartment unit as there is a ‘Sky Garage’ where the car is brought up by a lift.
Bentley Residences in Miami, USA, also has a similar idea and offers its residents a 4-car garage at whatever level their apartment is on. The ‘Dezervator’ lift, named after the development partner Dezer Development, will transport the car and passengers from road level to apartment.
There will be four ‘Dezervators’ which have a unique elevator design, conceived by Bentley’s partners. Each lift has a hydraulic system which pinches a car by its tyres to pull it on top of a robotic shuttle system which, in turn, transports a car up or down to the desired level.
The passengers need not get out and use a separate lift and can remain inside as it goes up to the apartment. On the way up, they will have a unique experience with the lower floors of the elevator shaft enclosed by glass offering a full panoramic view of the various areas of the building.
Each resident, right up to the 61st floor, will have a personal 3 or 4-car garage within their apartment offering private, convenient and secure storage for their car collections. RFID tags on each car will identify the vehicle and once verified, a sophisticated lighting system will guide the driver to the correct Dezervator to reach their own floor. The garages will also have a wallbox for charging electric vehicles.
Bentley Motors and Dezer Development announced their partnership in 2021, detailing plans for the first ever Bentley-branded residences, which will be 61 storeys high and offer bay and ocean views from each luxury apartment. There will be 216 apartments in total with prices ranging from US$6.35 million to US$12.95 million.
Bentley Residences in Miami, USA, will be completed by 2026.
Visitors to the Bentley Residences will be able to make use of the additional parking facilities beneath the building. The garage will also include fast-charging stations for EVs and plug-in hybrids.
The Bentley design team collaborated with Dezer on the exterior and interior of the building, translating Bentley’s luxury design to the residential experience. The design of the Bentley Residences offers unique ocean and bayside views, thanks to the building’s cylindrical form and floor-to-ceiling windows. The tower is designed to inspire new ways to embrace space and connect to the stunning surrounding environment.
Hamilton Scotts condominium in Singapore, opened in 2012, also has car elevators which takes owners’ cars up to their ‘Sky Garage’ in the apartment.
The Bentley Batur coupe represents the end of one era, as well as the beginning of another. While giving a glimpse of the new design language for the British luxury brand, it also marks the end of the iconic W12 engine which has evolved to become the most powerful powertrain in its history.
The Batur, named after a beautiful lake in Bali, is the second bespoke project by Bentley Mulliner after the Bacalar and only 18 units will be produced, priced from £1.65 million each ex-factory. (about RM8.74 million). The 18 customers who have already reserved a unit will receive their cars within 11 months.
Final version of the mighty W12 Although riding on a similar chassis as the Continental GT, the Batur has a more powerful 6-litre twin-turbo W12 engine, producing 740+ ps and 1,000 Nm. This final version is the most powerful of the mightY W12 engines that first appeared in the Continental GT in 2002. Although its power output is risen nearly 40% in 20 years, fuel economy has improved by 25%.
For the Batur’s W12 engine, a new intake system, upgraded turbochargers, new intercoolers and extensive recalibration was done to deliver exceptional. It is paired with Bentley’s 8-speed double-clutch transmission, and a sports exhaust to provide a soundtrack in keeping with the level of performance. The entire exhaust system is in titanium, while the finishers are 3D-printed in titanium in a first for Bentley.
As well as being the most power and most exclusive Bentley coupe to date, the Batur will also be the most dynamic with Speed-tuned air suspension, it is claimed. Adaptive 3-chamber air springs each have 3 switchable chambers, changing the volume of the air spring and varying effective stiffness. The driver can select the balance between ride comfort and body control using the 4-mode Drive Dynamics, choosing between Sport, Bentley, Comfort and Custom.
The Drive Dynamics Control also changes the behaviour of the 48V electric active anti-roll control system, which can provide up to 1,300 Nm of anti-roll torque in just 3/10ths of a second or completely decouple the wheels at either end of each axle. The anti-roll control system can also be used to adjust the roll stiffness front-to-rear, giving the Batur sharper turn-in and greater ability to balance the car on the throttle when in Sport mode.
Overall traction and cornering grip is maximised through the use of an electronic Limited Slip Differential that actively vectors drive torque across the chassis. This is complemented by torque vectoring by brake, whereby the car can lightly brake the inside rear wheel on turn-in for greater front-axle response, and also lightly brake both inside wheels on corner exit to move power across to the outside, loaded wheels for better traction.
New chapter in Bentley design The Bentley design DNA that has driven the creation of the Continental GT, Flying Spur and Bentayga families has been revolutionised for the Batur, introducing new themes, approaches and details. The new form language defines a new chapter for Bentley design, as part of Bentley’s Beyond100 transformational journey.
“For any design team, the chance to redefine our own rules is the most exciting challenge. We have reimagined the Bentley design language, keeping some continuity to the past and present while also drastically changing key elements,” said Bentley’s Director of Design, Andreas Mindt.
“A mark of power and prestige has always been a long bonnet. Our new design cues include a line that stretches from the bonnet along the whole length of the car, connecting the bonnet into the body, making the car long and lean and giving an elongated proportion to the front end. We call this feature the ‘endless bonnet’, and it’s the only accent highlight to the cleaner shape,” he said.
“At the very front of the car, we’ve modernised the famous Bentley grille and made it lower and more upright, to give a stronger face and a more dominant stance. This upright elegance brings self-confidence with a luxury stance. The grille is flanked by a new headlight shape and design, an evolution of the design used on Bacalar and maintaining the single large headlight either side. These are matched with all-new tail-lamps at the rear, that sit either side of a deployable spoiler,” explained Mindt.
Meanwhile, the visual mass of the car is moved rearwards, giving the impression that the car is sat on the rear axle, which adds further depth to the haunches. Overall, the form is cleaner and simplified, relying more on curvaceous surfaces bisected in the right places to reflect light and dark and bring more muscle to the design.
Ultimate personalisation The interior space of the Batur for two persons is designed for ultimate personalisation and long-distance grand touring. Inspired by the interior design of the Bacalar, the Batur builds on the core elements of the Bacalar’s cabin design and adds new sustainable luxury features.
Every element of the cabin is tailored to the customer’s specifications. Each car will be unique, designed collaboratively with the customer with guidance from Mulliner’s in-house design team. Customers will be able to specify the colour and finish of practically every surface of the Batur, to create a car as individual as they are.
There’s variety of sustainable interior materials to choose from, while the passenger fascia panel is finished with a unique etching of the audio signature of the W12 engine (but bespoke etching is also available). Bright or dark treatments to the interior brightware and titanium options are also available. Certain controls – like the organ stops for ventilation – can be in 3D-printed 18K gold, if desired.
“With Bacalar, we proved the appetite of our clients for truly bespoke and individual Bentleys. We’re building on that story with the Batur, and the fact that all 18 cars are already reserved is testament to the fact that our design team is creating cars that our clients want to buy. Batur is not only a beautiful handcrafted Bentley – it is the next member of a distinguished line of cars coachbuilt by Mulliner, which include the W.O. Bentley’s favourite car in the 8 Litre and the now truly-iconic R-Type Continental,” said Paul Williams Director of Bentley Mulliner.
What if the Batur became a convertible? Here’s what our friend Theottle, the master at reimagining car designs, has come up with today.
