Skip advert
Advertisement

New Bentley Batur 2023 review

The million-pound Bentley Batur limited edition marks a crossroads in the British firm’s history

Overall Auto Express rating

4.0

How we review cars
Find your next car here
Compare deals from trusted partners on this car and previous models.
Or are you looking to sell your car?
Value my car
Fast, no-nonsense car selling
Value my car

Verdict

Bentley’s ultra-exclusive Batur takes everything that’s good about the Continental GT and clothes it in a stunning new body that also demonstrates the future of the British brand’s design language. That combines with a dizzying array of personalisation options and a true GT-like driving experience, with simply superb straight-line performance. The price is fairly outrageous, but then all are sold, so Bentley certainly knows its market.

Advertisement - Article continues below

You’re looking at Bentley’s future, but it’s one with at least one foot reassuringly anchored in the past. The Batur coupé – successor to the open-roofed one-of-12 Bacalar – is the work of Bentley’s internal coachbuilders, Mulliner, the oldest company of its kind in the world, with an illustrious history dating back more than 250 years.

Just 18 Baturs will be made, each costing £1.65million plus taxes. The model also marks the ultimate evolution of Bentley’s mighty 6.0-litre twin-turbocharged W12 petrol engine before it goes out of production early next year.

Yet, at the same time, it also hints strongly at the styling we can expect from the next generation of electric-powered Bentleys.

Underneath its striking new skin, the Batur is essentially a Continental GT Speed, complete with the W12 engine, four-wheel drive system, three-chamber air suspension and a range of chassis technology Bentley deploys to make 2.2 tonnes of leather-lined luxury handle in a suitably sporting manner.

But the body is unique, crafted in the main from carbon-fibre panels, which has allowed the designers to incorporate far more intricate and challenging shapes than would be possible on a vehicle built on the standard production line.

Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement - Article continues below

Used - available now

Qashqai

2018 Nissan

Qashqai

52,849 milesManualDiesel1.5L

Cash £10,900
View Qashqai
5008

2022 Peugeot

5008

46,225 milesManualDiesel1.5L

Cash £18,506
View 5008
Puma

2023 Ford

Puma

67,042 milesManualPetrol1.0L

Cash £12,506
View Puma
EQC

2023 Mercedes

EQC

21,307 milesAutomaticElectric

Cash £26,000
View EQC

This new design language is visible in three key areas. Firstly, there’s the grille, which is low and upright. Then there’s what Bentley likes to call the ‘endless bonnet’, a physical line that runs from the front, down the side of the car and finally kicks up around the end of the side glass. It’s meant to give the car that long-nose, pre-war look. Finally, there’s the ‘resting beast stance’, like a big cat ready to pounce, demonstrated by the haunches over the rear wheels.

Advertisement - Article continues below

To drive, the Batur is predictable, but not a disappointment. Unsurprisingly, it feels very much like the GT on which it’s based – far from a revelation when you consider that, apart from a 40kg weight saving and some suspension tweaks, it’s essentially the same. But that’s no bad thing: the Batur is as smooth as newborn skin, hushed and deeply sumptuous, but with a simply massive punch in the back when you command the engine to work.

The W12 now produces a huge 740bhp and 1,000Nm of torque (up from 650bhp and 900Nm in the GT Speed), thanks to alterations to the turbos and other detail changes, and when it’s on full song it makes this large, heavy car fly. However, the usual criticisms of the W12 remain: it doesn’t sound particularly special, and the weight penalty compared with the V8 Continental GT means it’s not as agile as its sibling. There’s no V8 available here and the Batur is no sports car, but then it isn’t intended to be. Instead, it offers fast, secure transport that’s comfortable everyday or over long distances.

However, the real appeal to would-be Batur owners is the vast, almost unlimited customisation available from Mulliner: any shade of any colour you can think of; an interior with a bewildering array of materials, some sustainable; etchings, finishes, leathers and even an 18K gold control wheel for the infotainment system if you so desire. The average spend on options on each Batur is £100,000, something that reflects the rising trend for personalisation with Bentley’s regular models, too.

Model:Bentley Batur
Price:£1.65million (plus tax)
Engine:6.0-litre twin-turbo W12
Power/torque:740bhp/1,000Nm
Transmission:Eight-speed dual-clutch auto, four-wheel drive 
0-62mph:Less than 3.3 seconds
Top speed:209mph
Economy:20mpg (est.)
CO2:311g/km (est.)
On sale:Sold out
Skip advert
Advertisement

New & used car deals

Volkswagen Polo

Volkswagen Polo

RRP £15,255Avg. savings £1,848 off RRP*Used from £7,649
Toyota Yaris Cross

Toyota Yaris Cross

RRP £26,495Avg. savings £1,831 off RRP*Used from £15,519
Nissan Juke

Nissan Juke

RRP £19,785Avg. savings £3,331 off RRP*Used from £9,600
Dacia Spring

Dacia Spring

RRP £14,995Avg. savings £1,676 off RRP*
* Average savings are calculated daily based on the best dealer prices on Auto Express vs manufacturer RRP
Skip advert
Advertisement

Most Popular

New Kia PV5 Passenger MPV undercuts the VW ID.Buzz by a huge £25k
Kia PV5 Passenger - show front

New Kia PV5 Passenger MPV undercuts the VW ID.Buzz by a huge £25k

New entry into the electric people carrier market undercuts the VW ID. Buzz by a significant margin
News
29 Apr 2025
Car Deal of the Day: BMW’s ultimate luxury SUV at an unusually low price
BMW X7 - front

Car Deal of the Day: BMW’s ultimate luxury SUV at an unusually low price

German firm’s flagship SUV could never be called cheap but it is exceptional value at £735 a month – making it our Deal of the Day for Sunday 27 April
News
27 Apr 2025
New 2025 Kia PV5 van starts from a tempting £22,645
Kia PV5 Cargo on display at Commercial Vehicle Show - front 3/4

New 2025 Kia PV5 van starts from a tempting £22,645

All-new entry into the van market promises competitive pricing and comes with a range of up to 247 miles
News
30 Apr 2025