The $1.9 million Bacalar is an exceptional piece of automotive engineering.
There are dozens of Bentleys driving around the world, but there is only one Bentley Bacalar. It is a beautiful $1.9 million car that was hand built by Bentley Mulliner and only 12 of these will be made. And this is extremely rare.
In the summer of 2019, Bentley showed the world its vision of the future with the stunning EXP 100 GT concept car. They weren’t meant to be seen on the roads anytime soon, but simply to be admired as an apparition from a distant future. The bespoke division of Bentley, Mulliner, decided to use it as a partial inspiration for one of the most magnificent cars of modern times, the Bentley Bacalar.Design revealed by Bentley by Bacalar Building
Premiered at the start of March 2020, the Bentley Bacalar represents, at least for the time being, the culmination of car building from a company that likes to say it’s been in the business for centuries, and that Mulliner claims traces its roots back to a 15th-century constructor of luxury custom coaches. horse-drawn.
Bentley themselves regard the Bacalar as the most exclusive and custom car ever built, and it is the car that put Mulliner back on the track. Named after the Mexican Laguna Bacalar , the car would also be one of the most exclusive cars ever produced in Britain, with just 12 examples hand-built to customer specification.
The cars are all already customized for customers, and each of them will be unique. Predominantly a creation of Mulliner, the 2022 Bentley Bacalar is highly customizable, and each will be hand-built.
This specific Bacalar is just one of these. It’s the prototype, and it was painted white before donning this gorgeous green. This car has seen some very tough miles, from indoor testing, and spent many hours inside shipping containers traveling around the world. And it’s hard to resist falling in love with the 2022 Bentley Bacalar, it’s as irresistible as any other Continental GT, and it’s actually better in many ways.
The exterior design of the 2022 Bentley Bacalar
The styling of the 2022 Bentley Bacalar is unlike anything currently available in the Bentley range. This is not necessarily due only to the overall design, but also to the fact that the car shares no chassis with any of the other Bentleys now being built.
In fact, the only design elements to be found on other models are the door handles, which were carried over from the Continental GT because they incorporate the keyless entry system.
The overall shape of the 2022 Bentley Bacalar is Barchetta, which means it has an open roof without the option of a roof over your head. This shape was chosen because it “offers the best expression of a driver-focused, open-top grand tourer”.
Overall, the car takes a lot of inspiration from the EXP 100 GT concept, at least in terms of some of the lines and materials used. The roof of the car is made of aluminum, the doors and wings are made of carbon fiber, and the rear cover is made of aluminum. Some of these body parts are made in the traditional way, while others were created using 3D printing.
Boasting the Bacalar name written on the rear panel in place of the usual Bentley badge, the car certainly looks more aggressive than the Conti GT. This is partly due to the wider rear track (+20 mm), as well as the design of the headlights, also inspired by those on the EXP 100 GT.
As this car is not part of a large production operation, each of the 12 cars to be built will be unique and built to customer specifications. As with any such exclusive design, there are countless paint options, exterior treatments, and design themes to choose from.
Engine and transmission of the 2022 Bentley Bacalar
Bentley and Bugatti are the only manufacturers still using engines in the W configuration. On the plus side, this means that the engine can be more compact and lighter while still providing the same type of power as a V12. On the downside, it lacks personality. You get huge chunks of torque but no noticeable engine noise. At its Flying Spur best, the W12 is meant to be a sensory deprivation tank that can move very quickly.
Whichever driving mode you choose, the changes are fast, efficient and almost imperceptible. When it comes to supercars, we like a little kick in the back when downshifting, but because Bentley has always been a luxury brand, the quiet, efficient nature of the gearbox is perfect.
Driving impressions of the 2022 Bentley Bacalar
The Continental GT isn’t a bad place to start when crafting the Bentley Bacalar. The original formula dating back to 2003 wasn’t as polished, but Bentley has nearly 20 years to refine every little detail. Handling-wise, the most significant changes Bentley has made to its grand tourers over the years has been the AWD upgrade including adaptive damping.
The first-generation Continental had a 50:50 torque split, and the result was an understatement. Bentley then worked on a more dynamic torque split for the SuperSport. It proved much better, so it became the default choice for all future Bentleys.
Thanks to adaptive damping, Bentley has been able to make these 5,000-plus-pound beasts handle even better. And we’re not talking Ferrari sports-car levels of finesse, but the state-of-the-art adaptive damping is an engineering marvel. It keeps body roll to a minimum, which increases driver confidence in the vehicle.
The AWD system also makes the massive power assist much easier. Most supercars these days have between 650 and 750 horsepower, and delivering that much power through two connection points is simply impossible in bad weather. And you may not be able to use all of the Bentley’s power all the time, but the AWD system certainly helps.
2022 Bentley Bacalar performance
At the heart of the 2022 Bentley Bacalar beast is the iconic 6.0-liter twin-turbocharged W12 engine, producing 650 horsepower and 667 lb-ft of torque. It’s mated to an eight-speed dual-clutch transmission that sends power to an active four-wheel drive system. The latter can split power between the two axles, but its default setting delivers as much power as possible to the rear wheels. At the time of the car’s unveiling, Bentley did not mention any numbers to shed light on the car’s capabilities such as acceleration time or top speed.
Bentley’s W12 is a mixed bag. As the new Bentley Bacalar is supposed to be the ultimate convertible super-touring car, it gets its most powerful engine, and those 650 horsepower propel it to accelerate from 0-60 mph in 3.6 seconds. The top speed has yet to be confirmed, but at the time of writing, Bentley predicted it would be able to crack 200mph.
However, Bentley’s W12 isn’t a particularly attractive power plant. It has plenty of power, but the noise it produces is part of the appeal of a bare-top car. Its noise is nothing more than a car soundtrack. And of course we’d gladly sacrifice a few seconds and a top speed of 200 mph for a more engaging exhaust sound.
And Bentley’s 4.0-liter V8 certainly would have been a better choice given the application. However, we understand the thinking behind it. Any customer who spends $1.9 million on a Bacalar will accept nothing but the best Bentley has to offer.
The interior of the 2022 Bentley Bacalar
The Barchetta design for the 2022 Bentley Bacalar means there is no roof to protect occupants from the elements. Then again, this is the reason to go after this type of car. Even without the roof, the driver and passenger – each in their own cocoon, separated by the center console – are protected from the elements (especially the wind) by a carefully designed cabin that surrounds them with a windshield and enclosed rear cabin.
The dashboard of the 2022 Bentley Bacalar resembles something we rarely see in modern-day cars. It is shown in two sections, divided by a 3mm chrome bar. The top is made of open-pore riverwood—a type of wood supposedly 5,000 years old from somewhere in England—while the bottom half is high-gloss. The dashboard contains mirrored air vents elsewhere in the car, and climate control media.
And in terms of materials, Bentley didn’t cut any corners. The D-shaped steering wheel is in Alcantara, as is the shifter, Beluga leather with wool is used on the seats, and cedar veneers add a metallic touch to the interior.
When it comes to luggage space, the 2022 Bentley Bacalar is of course not a car that is taken to a shopping mall, there is only a very small amount of space behind each seat, and this space is designed in such a way as to match the bespoke luggage, especially designed for the Bacalar.
Features and tools of the 2022 Bentley Bacalar
Just like the rest of the car, the Bacalar’s intelligent instruments are uniquely designed, securing every digital instrument right down to the key that starts the engine.
At the center of the infotainment system is the Bentley Rotating Display which springs into action by rotating from the Riverwood veneer when the engine is started. That’s when the touchscreen is revealed, a touchscreen that’s designed to “work like a modern smartphone.”
The screen is customer configurable and displays 3 configurable windows showing things like phone, media, and navigation data. The other side of the rotating display reveals three analog dials that convey information about the outside temperature and feature a compass and chronometer.
Information and entertainment in the 2022 Bentley Bacalar
The third interface on the rotary screen is a touch interface with a customer configurable home screen. Bentley says it was designed to mimic a modern smartphone, with simple menus and swiping. Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Bluetooth connectivity, navigation, and HD Radio are all standard. Bentley didn’t tell us about the standard audio system, but we’d expect a bespoke system from one of Bentley’s favorite partners like Bang & Olufsen or Naim.
The drivetrain of the 2022 Bentley Bacalar
The Bacalar is an SUV with a system that changes torque between the front and rear wheels. This capability allows mostly rear-wheel drive during normal operation, a feature that allows for maximum efficiency and performance.
An adaptive chassis, 48-volt Dynamic Ride System, and air suspension control for ride comfort and lateral roll help help the car stay on the road.
Fuel economy in the 2022 Bentley Bacalar
It should come as no surprise that there aren’t any claimed gas mileage figures. The owner of a $1.9 million car wouldn’t care about gas mileage and gas mileage. At this level, buyers own an average of 100 cars, and at least one person works full time to take care of them all.
2022 Bentley Bacalar Reliability
The best thing about being one of the 12 customers is that you have a direct line of communication with the people who made the car. In terms of Bentley, these 12 people are likely their wealthiest customer base. And we’d be willing to bet a full year’s wages that every component in these 12 cars will be inspected three times before leaving their premises.
Safety rating for the 2022 Bentley Bacalar
With only 12 units in operation, there was no way Bentley would turn over any of the units it produced to NHTSA or IIHS; This means that there is no official safety review for the Bentley Bacalar. But even the standard Continental GT Convertible exists without a safety review, and it’s unlikely that any Bentley could be unsafe. Where Bacalar has such a sparse customer base, it’s in Bentley’s best interest to keep them alive and happy.
Key safety features of the 2022 Bentley Bacalar
Bentley didn’t mention safety features, but did mention ABS, traction and stability control, a rearview camera, and driver assistance features mean nothing in a car like this. It’s not something you use for the daily grind. When you drive it, your focus is entirely on the experience.
Features of the 2022 Bentley Bacalar
- It is a unique, customized and rare car
- Delivers epic performance
- Very elegant exterior and interior design
- It is a sound investment as this car will increase in price over time
Disadvantages of the 2022 Bentley Bacalar
- Building a single car is expensive
- Only 12 cars were made
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