NAMED AFTER A CRATER LAKE ON THE ISLAND Nof Bali, the Batur is a rebodied Continental GT Speed that follows on from the Bacalar (see evo 286), the run of 12 barchettas that if nothing else gave Bentley the increasing self-confidence to publicly undertake these more extreme projects.
Such endeavours fall under the remit of the company's in-house coachbuilder Mulliner - the oldest entity of its kind in the world - which offers, much like the exclusive operations of other high-end vehicle manufacturers, varying levels of 'bespoke', from unique colours through to complete cars. There will be 18 Baturs constructed, and yes, you guessed it, they're already pre-sold: at this level a company has a very good idea who will buy such cars before the designer's pen even touches the sketch pad.
Yet the Batur is more than just an ultra-exclusive Mulliner side project, it also heralds a new era for Bentley design that we'll see on its forthcoming EVs. Moreover, it signifies the final flourish of the Bentley W12 engine after 20 years of being a motoring oddity, and, if nothing else, it's an interesting commentary on the world of the luxury performance car. All of which and more you might expect given it costs nearly ten times the price of the car on which it's based: a cool £1.65m plus local taxes.
Bu hikaye Evo UK dergisinin September 2023 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Giriş Yap
Bu hikaye Evo UK dergisinin September 2023 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Giriş Yap
BMW M135 xDrive
The M135 has lost an and gained chassis revisions and a restyle. Is it enough to make it a benchmark hot hatch?
Audi S5
S5 by name, S4 by nature, is Audi's new mid-size petrol-powered saloon a step in the right direction?
Lamborghini Urus SE
Lambo's super-SUV gets a major mid-life overhaul, going hybrid in the process. Has it become any easier to like?
HALL evo OF FAME
The evo Hall of Fame was established to recognise the great and the good of our corner of the universe. Prepare to welcome this year's inductees
CIRCUIT DAY
After three days of assessing their behaviour on the road, it's time to head to the Circuito de Navarra to find out how our nine contenders respond when their handling limits are explored
EVO CAR OF THE YEAR 2024
Nine brilliant cars, from flyweight roadsters to bombastic supercars to a be-stickered estate(!), do battle on some of Europe's finest and most spectacular roads. Which will emerge victorious? Place your bets now.
Porsche Panamera GTS
It lacks the raw power of its hybrid rivals, but does the new GTS’s more traditional approach give it its USP?
Alpine A290 GTS
The new electric Renault 5 has won plenty of plaudits. Is the hotter Alpine version a car to win petrolheads' hearts too?
BEST BUYS BMW M CARS
THE PERFORMANCE CAR LANDSCAPE WOULD HAVE looked very different over the last five decades without BMW. Its M division, founded in 1972, has produced some of the best driver’s cars ever to hit the road, and in the process has provided a stream of benchmark models for its rivals to chase. In recent years, stricter emissions regulations, downsizing and electrification have seen some of those rival cars falter, yet by and large BMW’s M machines have remained strong. In fact, some rank among the greatest the department has made think of the eCoty-winning M2 CS and M5 CS while others are the only options worth recommending in their respective segments. Price tags have risen with performance, however, putting those latest offerings out of reach for many, but the marque’s popularity means there are numerous earlier M models available on the second-hand market for far more attainable figures. Here are four of our favourites.
TYRE 2024 TEST
Want to fit the very best tyres to your performance car? The annual evo Tyre Test identifies the cream of the current crop
