Bentley Batur: the thermal sports car that announces electrics

 If this model is equipped with a W12 gasoline, it lays the foundation for a new design that will be the electric models of Bentley.

The electric car will be an opportunity for Bentley to evolve its design. And to announce the look of its trendy models, the British firm has found better than the concept car: an unpublished production model produced in ultra-limited quantities. 

Only 18 examples of this Batur will be assembled, by hand if you please. Not surprisingly, as it is very rare, it is very expensive: nearly two million euros... without taxes. But Bentley had no trouble finding the 18 customers.

So let's quickly evacuate what is hidden in the bowels, because it is not very Automobile Propre! There's a 6.0-liter W12 with more than 740 hp, which makes it the most powerful Bentley ever. For the brand, this is also an opportunity to offer a last stand to this block, before the advent of the electric.

And with this type of engine, Bentley will dare to shake up its design. Even if there is no question of starting from a blank page, so as not to confuse the faithful customers. But the Batur promises a fresh approach, daring to dispense with the sacrosanct circular optics. While the headlights keep a rounded appearance at the bottom, they are then cut off cleanly at the top. At the rear, forget the oval lights! Instead, there are thin horizontal elements.

Bentley also highlights the layout of the grille. The grille is lower and wider, and a break is formed with the logo support. Another element to remember is the decorative elements that run along the hood and merge with the beltline. On the other hand, we can forget the very open side of the bumper for the electrics!

If the Batur shows something new on the outside, this is not the case on the inside, with a dashboard close to that of the current Continental. The screens for the instrumentation and infotainment bring the necessary touch of modernity, but the packaging is traditional. Is it more complicated to change this part?

The first 100% electric Bentley is expected in 2025. It will quickly be followed by others, as the brand aims to go fully electric by 2030.