Bentley Mulliner Bacalar Is A Coachbuilt 200mph Drop-Top

Bentley has been making good looking cars lately, the Flying Spur is my current favourite. But it seems the Bentley Mulliner crew at Crewe has been busy playing Need For Speed games because this is their newest creation – the Bacalar.

The Bacalar is a two-seater, open-top, luxury muscle car which will feature an extensive degree of personalisation with the use of exquisite(and sustainable) materials. It’s a limited edition Bentley and only 12 units are to be made, each bespoke for their respective buyers. This unveiling spec features a flashy exterior paint called Yellow Flame that highlights all its sporty aspects. It marks Bentley Mulliner’s return to the coachbuilding side of automotive gems.

In case you were wondering, the name is inspired by a scenic lake in Mexico’s Yucatan peninsula, continuing Bentley’s strategy of naming all-new cars after ‘remarkable’ landmarks.

This roofless Barchetta doesn’t share any panels with the current line of production model Bentleys. It takes inspiration from the EXP 100 GT concept car (pictured above) that was showcased just last year, with front and rear light strips along with the iconic round headlamps flanking the massive grille.

Some of the sporty elements include the sharp front splitter integrated into the bumper with buttresses under the headlamps, the air vents on the bonnet and creases of the rear end design. The Bacalar has wider arches that increase its sporty stance and house the 22-inch rims. Its doors and wings are made from carbon fibre, the rear clamshell from aluminium and various parts have been 3D-printed too. In some ways, the Bentley tribute to its old open-cockpit cars seems similar to the idea that the 911 Speedster represents for Porsche. Or maybe its just the clam design behind the cockpit.

Speaking of the Bacalar’s cockpit, Bentley says its wraparound design emphasises the car’s two-seater character. Its got a sporty, flat-bottom steering wheel with a distinct design for the central AC vents. Other cabin elements like the digital instrument cluster, rotating central display and the central console around the gear selector look the same as the Continental GT. The trim of this show car is kitted out in a great mix of sporty black upholstery with yellow accents and exquisite wood veneers around the luxurious cabin. Some of its controls feature a unique knurling pattern while the main controls are finished in dark, anodised titanium with dark bronze detailing. There is also a semi-enclosed luggage compartment behind the seats which is purposely designed for bespoke Schedoni fitted luggage.

The Bacalar is powered by Bentley’s 6.0-litre twin-turbo W12 that sends 650bhp and 900Nm to all four wheels with an RWD bias. It also gets the brand’s 48-volt active suspension for an adaptive ride and impressive handling through the twisties. The chassis is the same as the Continental GT Convertible which gives the Bacalar solid credentials when it comes to driving dynamics.

There is no official word on the starting price of the Bentley Mulliner Bacalar or if all 12 units are already spoken for. It’s definitely a multi-million dollar indulgence and some will end up as garage queens for sure. But if you just want something more affordable, equally luxurious but not as exclusive, same performance and the option to put up the roof on a rainy day…maybe just consider the Continental GT Mulliner Convertible which would probably still be less than $500,000 with options.

What do you think of the Bentley Bacalar? Would you like to experience it in video games too? Let me know in the comments below the gallery and don’t forget to subscribe to The Auto Loons for more cool updates from the car world.