Driving a multi-million-dollar automobile like Bentley’s Batur is bizarre. Not solely are you attempting unbelievably exhausting to not do something that may harm the automobile, however you’re additionally hyper-aware of all the pieces and everybody round you, attempting to make sure that nothing outdoors the automobile damages it both. Add in somebody from the corporate who made the automobile sitting within the passenger seat, and also you’ve received a usually uncomfortable state of affairs.
But it will get weirder from there. That particular person within the passenger seat, they’re in all probability speaking to you, extolling the virtues of this doubtless very uncommon and unique car, and also you’re then obligated (when you’re not an actual Grade A Asshole) to interact with them politely. There is an efficient motive that these drives are normally fairly brief, and such was the case with my latest drive of the Batur throughout Monterey Car Week. The Batur itself made the drive so much much less bizarre than it might have been.
The Bentley Batur is the ultimate type of the W12-powered Bentley Continental GT. This signifies that it shares the identical basic type issue, the identical fundamental inside format and largely the identical drivetrain (with just a few exceptions.) That similarity to your “garden variety” Conti is sweet as a result of I’ve spent loads of time with the Continental, similar to I believe anybody who has purchased a Batur may have. It’s about as approachable as a $1.95 million automobile will get, however as a result of the Batur is so customizable and has a bespoke carbon fiber physique, it nonetheless feels particular.
Bentley is barely making 18 examples of the Batur, and so they’re all offered. The automobile I drove isn’t a buyer automobile; as an alternative, it’s one in every of two improvement automobiles, which signifies that it’s not 100% constructed to the usual of the client automobiles. For instance, the perimeters of the specifically knurled organ pulls that management your local weather vents had been sharp, which is not going to be the case on the manufacturing automobile. That stated, the general vibe was fairly damned shut.
![Interior of Bentley Batur with gray and blue leather accents](https://i0.wp.com/i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/c_fit,f_auto,g_center,q_60,w_645/827813ac7050e1b6ce2b6118c5cc847e.jpg?w=788&ssl=1)
In addition to the tremendous good-looking carbon fiber physique, the Batur will get particular wheels, and homeowners can design their very own coloration, which a number of homeowners have achieved. The teal of the automobile I drove is beautiful and positively fits the automobile, however I’m curious what the owner-designed colours are like.
Inside, issues are additionally exceptionally customizable, effectively above and past even what’s potential on a “normal” Bentley, which is appreciable. The take a look at automobile had teal leather-based with an virtually dragon scale embossed sample, plus black leather-based and suede. Some controls get gold inserts to set them aside from the traditional automobiles, and our take a look at automobile has a pre-production model of the $75,000-plus “Super Naim” stereo system. That’s not what it’s actually known as, however being an enormous fan of the usual Naim stereo in Bentleys (it’s the most effective branded automobile stereo system, full-stop), the label is correct.
![Bentley Batur driving along 17-Mile Drive in Monterey, side view](https://i0.wp.com/i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/c_fit,f_auto,g_center,q_60,w_645/fb3db2fc2ba0d4caadcf99c9400b8426.jpg?w=788&ssl=1)
The Batur’s different foremost declare to fame is that it options the best output ever from a Bentley W12 engine. Thanks to a number of inside mechanical adjustments in addition to tons and plenty of tuning tweaks, the 6.0-liter W12 places out 740 horsepower and 738 pound-feet of torque. Now, these are some fairly thrilling numbers, I’ll grant you, however on my very restricted take a look at drive on Monterey’s 17-Mile Drive, it was fairly unattainable to inform if it was any quicker than the 650 hp Continental GTC Speed I drove as much as Car Week. Add in that the Batur – even with its carbon physique – nonetheless weighs simply shy of 5,000 lbs. This is sort of 2.5 ND-generation Miatas, and it’s virtually nonetheless 700 lbs lower than the GTC Speed. In the true world, I believe you’d by no means really feel a significant distinction, however what’s the purpose of getting a Bentley when you can’t brag to your mates about how swift it’s?
In the tip, the just about two-million-dollar Bentley Batur is a powerful factor. It’s exceptional in the way it seems to be and due to its efficiency bonafides, however finally, it’s most spectacular to me due to how regular it feels. It seems like a Bentley, and on a automobile like this, that’s actually essential as a result of, hopefully, it’ll encourage homeowners to drive them as an alternative of hoarding them away in collections. It’s additionally spectacular as a result of I didn’t have a panic assault driving it, which is unquestionably one thing that’s virtually occurred earlier than with these sorts of drives, and for that, I’m fairly grateful, so let’s take a minute to understand approachable unobtanium.
![Rear three-quarter view of blue Bentley Batur under gray clouds](https://i0.wp.com/i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/c_fit,f_auto,g_center,q_60,w_645/99cd12e39cd601757ff3406cab8222fa.jpg?w=788&ssl=1)
Source: jalopnik.com