Revealed in 2020, the Bacalar was crafted using the Barchetta’ design principles to deliver the ultimate expression of open-top, driver-focused grand touring. Just 12 of these distinctive masterpieces were designed, engineered and handcrafted by the expert craftspeople within the oldest coachbuilding company in the world – Bentley Mulliner. 

The rarest two-door Bentley of the modern era, and the ultimate expression of two-seat, open-air luxury. This definitive Grand Tourer spearheaded a return to the ultimate in exclusivity with each being tailored to, pre-allocated, customers’ tastes – marking a return to bespoke coachbuilding.

Sustainable, ethically sourced materials previewed in the EXP 100 GT concept car were prominently featured in the Bacalar. These include paint containing ash from rice husks, which provides a sustainable way of delivering a rich metallic finish, natural British wool and 5,000-year-old Riverwood sourced from the ancient Fenlands of East Anglia.

The Bacalar featured an enhanced version of Bentley’s peerless 6.0-litre, W12 TSI engine. The most advanced 12-cylinder engine in the world, it produced 659 PS (650 bhp) and 900 Nm (667 lb.ft) of torque. It also showcased advanced Active All-Wheel-Drive System which varied the torque split between front and rear wheels. It allowed the Bacalar to use rear-wheel drive as much as possible during normal driving for optimum efficiency and dynamic performance

Engineering Prototype
The particular Bacalar within Bentley’s heritage collection in Scarab Green is the car that undertook an intense 20 weeks of real-world road trials before sign off from the Bentley test engineers. It completed a rigorous programme of tests to ensure the highest standards of vehicle performance and quality. The validation activities include durability for both the engine and whole vehicle, environmental compatibility & sunlight simulation, high speed stability, aerodynamics, noise & vibration, and driving dynamics. All of which passed with the gold standard.