Bentley Bacalar Mulliner
The Bentley Bacalar, unveiled in 2020 and delivered from 2021, represents the most ambitious project from Bentley's Mulliner coachbuilding division in the modern era. Named after Mexico's Laguna Bacalar, renowned for its seven shades of blue, this two-seat barchetta was limited to just 12 examples, all sold before the car was publicly revealed.
Based on the Continental GT convertible platform, the Bacalar was comprehensively reimagined by Mulliner's designers and craftspeople. The car features no roof whatsoever — not even a folding soft-top — making it a true barchetta in the tradition of classic Italian open-top sports cars. The bodywork was extensively reworked, with a haunched rear deck flowing from the cabin, a new front fascia with wider air intakes, and unique 22-inch wheels.
Power comes from Bentley's 6.0-litre W12 engine, tuned to produce 650 bhp — 24 more than the standard Continental GT Speed of the same era. The engine drives all four wheels through an eight-speed dual-clutch gearbox, with the 48-volt active anti-roll system ensuring composed handling despite the car's considerable mass.
The interior is where the Bacalar truly distinguishes itself. Mulliner worked individually with each of the 12 customers to create bespoke specifications using materials never before offered by Bentley. These included 5,000-year-old Riverwood sourced from the naturally preserved remains of fenland trees, wool-blend fabric woven by a specialist Scottish mill, and paint colours mixed specifically for individual cars. Each Bacalar required approximately 750,000 virtual design iterations to reach its final specification.
Sustainability was a key theme in the Bacalar's creation. The rice-husk paint technology, Riverwood trim, and British-sourced wool fabric demonstrated Bentley's commitment to reducing environmental impact in its luxury materials. The Riverwood, retrieved from peat bogs in East Anglia, was stabilised and treated before being hand-finished for use in the cabin.
The Bacalar served as a design study for future Bentley products and demonstrated the potential of the Mulliner Coachbuilt programme, which Bentley planned to expand with further ultra-limited models. Each car took considerably longer to build than a standard Continental GT, with Mulliner's artisans spending thousands of hours on handcrafting details.
With just 12 built and each uniquely specified, the Bacalar is destined to become one of the most collectible modern Bentleys ever produced.
With only 12 built, Bacalar ownership is strictly for the ultra-high-net-worth collector. Any example appearing at auction or private sale would command a significant premium over the original price. Verify authenticity through Bentley Mulliner's records. Condition must be near-perfect given values. Barchetta design means weather protection is non-existent — check for any water damage if the car has been used in anything other than dry conditions. These are primarily investment-grade collectibles, with most examples likely to see very limited mileage.
All 12 examples sold before public reveal. Each car individually specified with unique colour combinations and interior materials. Built by Bentley's Mulliner Coachbuilt division in a dedicated workshop at Crewe. Featured sustainable materials including ancient Riverwood and wool fabric.