Bentley Mulliner Bacalar Is a Continental GT Coach-Built into a New Car

If we take a look at the recent history of the Volkswagen Group, we notice that the company has been working towards reviving the mostly lost art of coachbuilding since the 2000s. However, after through and through projects such as the Lamborghini Sesto Elemento didn't live up to the financial expectations of the Group, multiple projects were put on the back burner, including the recently-presented trio of Bugatti concepts.

As such, instead of trying to completely redefine an automobile like the Raging Bull did with the under-one-ton Sesto Elemento, the company is now focusing on putting different bodies, along with the mandatory oily bits tweaking on already-stratospheric models, which is how we ended up with Chiron derivatives like the Divo, the La Voiture Noire and the Centodieci.

Well, the time has come for Bentley to deliver such a machine. Unlike in the case of the Chiron Pur Sport that also debuted at Geneva-at-home today and which feels more like a special edition that splits opinions, since its updates are limited, the Bentley Mulliner Bacalar is an object of fascination.

Sure, only 12 lucky aficionados will get to own the newcomer, but its transformation runs so deep that we all need to talk about it.

This toy started out as a Bentley Continental GT Convertible, with itw twin-turbo V12 massaged to delivered 650 hp and 667 lb-ft of twist, which makes for a modest muscle increase. However, the exterior and the interior of the creation have received so many changes that one gets the feeling of a brand new car.

The styling is influenced by last year's EXP 100 GT Concept, which showcased the latest styling direction of the Woking automaker. And while we've already established that the show car's electric powertrain and scissor door coupe profile are gone, elements such as the horizontal lighting signature at both ends of the car still link the two.

With all the body panels being new (the same goes for the wheels), we also have to talk about the Yellow Flame paint covering them, which features ash from burned rice husks - together with the cabin wood decoration, which comes from 5,000-year-old trees harvested from rivers and lakes, this is the vehicle's eco-friendly face.

From the lack of rear seats (sure, this is the only the second two-seater the Big B has built since 1930s, but the rear accommodation removal still doesn't feel natural), that of a roof and the 20mm wider rear track, the real estate feels so fresh. The fenders and doors are carbon fiber, as opposed to the aluminum rear compartment cover.

The cabin mixes a bespoke digital instrument cluster that truly deserves this description, custom-made bags supplied by Italian luggage specialist Shedoni and, of course, a mix of leather and wool.

Mulliner is the oldest coachbuilder in the world and you can consider the Bacalar a renewal of its oath to set owners apart from the rest of the world.

Seeing Mulliner's potential being exploited past the "usual" cabin finish or exterior decoration is refreshing and the good news is that Bentley has promised this is just the beginning. Who knows? Perhaps they'll even create a locomotive-themed project. And if you're wondering what that is all about, you can check out the short movie below, which shows the retiring Mulsanne manifesting its lavish nature... on railroad tracks.