Bentley Batur Convertible Debuts with 740hp W12
WilliamAug 11, 2025, 06:43 PM
【PCauto】Bentley has rolled out the first Batur Convertible at its Crewe factory, making a bold statement in the ultra-luxury segment. Built by Mulliner, this bespoke grand tourer is limited to just 16 units worldwide. It also serves as the final chapter for Bentley’s legendary W12 engine.
Batur Convertible Is Bentley’s Most Powerful Drop-Top Ever
The Batur Convertible comes with a 6.0-liter twin-turbo W12, making it the “last samurai” in the age of electrification. Hand-built and tuned for maximum output, it delivers 740 hp and 1,000 Nm of torque.
Bentley engineers have reworked the turbo and cooling systems to cut performance loss in extreme heat by 37%. That means the W12 can stay at its peak, whether you’re cruising through the Dubai desert or along the Monterey coast.
“One plus One” Two-Tone Interior Shakes Up Ultra-Luxury Design
The first production Batur features a striking Beluga Black and Linen White combo. The driver’s cockpit feels like its own capsule, visually set apart from the passenger area.
This design extends to millimeter-level details—the surface texture of the titanium shift paddles aligns precisely with the angle of the steering wheel stitching, and even the two-piece luggage set provided with the car strictly follows the color zoning principle.
The most eye-catching feature in the interior is the rose-gold 3D-printed driving mode knob, with each knob requiring 48 hours of hand polishing by Birmingham jewelry artisans. The instrument panel adopts an “engine turning” finish inspired by 19th-century pocket watches, which produces a unique metallic flow effect under changing light conditions.
Mulliner’s design director says they’ve created a bespoke 3D visualization system for each owner, with more than 2,000 possible combinations for the interior materials alone.
Convertible, But With Even Stronger Body Rigidity
Although it’s a convertible, the Batur’s body is actually 15% stiffer than the hardtop version. That’s thanks to aerospace-grade aluminum and carbon fiber composites. The active rear wing has also been redesigned to add 120 kg of downforce at 250 km/h.
Built for Collectors
Bentley hasn’t revealed the official price yet, but insiders expect it to top £2 million. The first prototype, known as “Car Zero,” made its dynamic debut at the Goodwood Festival of Speed. Its custom Vermilion two-tone paint shifts from deep crimson to copper when caught in sunlight.
Bentley insiders say among the 16 owners are three royals and five Forbes regulars. One passionate collector even went as far as commissioning a temperature-controlled showroom just for their Batur.
The arrival of this ultimate convertible GT completes Mulliner’s trilogy, which includes the Bacalar and Batur coupe. It also marks a perfect farewell to the era of internal combustion in luxury GTs.
Bentley’s CEO said, “When electric vehicles become the norm someday, the Batur Convertible will stand as a reminder of the artistry and craftsmanship that mechanical engineering once reached.”
All 16 production cars are expected to be delivered by Q1 2026. Of these, three will be permanently kept at Bentley’s Heritage Center.
Lexus Drops Full EV Plan, Will Push Hybrids and EVs Together
RobertAug 11, 2025, 12:38 PM
【PCauto】In Q3 2025, Lexus announced a major shift in its electrification strategy. The brand will no longer aim for an all-electric lineup by 2035. Instead, it will take a more flexible path, rolling out hybrids and EVs side by side.
Lexus Developing Electric Coupe as LFA Successor
Insiders say the design takes cues from the Lexus Electrified Sport concept shown in 2021. The car is expected to make its debut in late 2026. The concept promised solid-state batteries, a 700 km range, and 0-100 km/h in under three seconds, turning plenty of heads in the industry. Whether the production model will match those numbers is still unclear.
The timing lines up with the planned end of production for the V8-powered LC 500.
Lexus Shakes Up Sedan Lineup
The next-generation ES sedan, one of the brand’s best-sellers, is already on sale in China and Europe. It will reach the US in the second half of 2026 with both hybrid and all-electric options.
The IS 500 with its V8 is set to end production in 2025, though the hybrid version will stay on sale in North America.
In a bigger surprise, the RC and RC F sports cars will be dropped entirely with no replacements planned. Lexus has yet to share any plans for the future of its flagship LS sedan.
Lexus Plans Major SUV Updates
The entry-level UX will get a full redesign in 2026, but its all-electric version will be dropped. The mid-size NX and RX are set for mid-cycle refreshes in 2028. The rugged GX and LX will be updated around the same time.
Lexus will launch its first three-row electric SUV in 2027, likely based on the Electrified SUV concept shown in 2021.
This year, the current RZ EV will get a major update, adding simulated gear shifts and a steer-by-wire system. An F Sport high-performance model is already set for a 2026 debut.
Lexus Keeps Hybrids as BEV Adoption Varies Worldwide
Lexus global product planning chief Takahiro Fujimoto told reporters in Tokyo that EV adoption varies greatly by region, so the brand must stay flexible. In Europe, fully electric models make up 35% of Lexus sales, but hybrids still hold more than 60% of the market in North America and Southeast Asia.
A new report from the Toyota Research Institute says EV infrastructure will remain uneven globally through 2030, with Southeast Asia lagging the most.
The latest product shuffle will see about 20 billion yen (around 703 million MYR) in R&D funds reallocated.
While technical details of the 2026 LFA electric successor remain under wraps, President Akio Toyoda has confirmed he will personally oversee its tuning to preserve Lexus’ signature craftsmanship.
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