The Gentleman Magazine Issue 20 | April 2020 | Page 33

At the heart of the centre console is the now famous Bentley
Rotating Display. This digital MMI display has been elegantly
designed by Bentley with a customer-configurable home
screen. The system involves 40 moving parts and revolves the
Riverwood veneer when the engine is started to reveal the
high-resolution touchscreen.
Three configurable windows are able to display the driver’s
preferred functions, such as telephone, media and navigation.
The interface is designed to operate like a modern smartphone,
with menus that are structured and simple to follow. The third
side of the Bentley Rotating Display presents three, elegant
analogue dials that display outside temperature, a compass
and chronometer – providing an alternative to the touchscreen
when the driver wants to digitally detox.
Each car also features a unique clock face with individual one-
of-12 badging.
Owning a Bacalar is the start of a journey of discovery for the
owner. Every element has been carefully and meticulously
designed with a depth so great that over the course of time,
each customer will discover new and interesting details.
From the use of precious inlays and unique finishes to the
driver controls, to the 148,199 individual stitches needed to
embroider the unique Bacalar quilt on each seat, owners will
find details and parts not seen before on a Bentley.
Sustainable Craftsmanship And Ethically-Sourced Materials
Bentley has entered into collaborative relationships with
carefully selected industry experts to create the new Bacalar.
Each one uses sustainable and innovative techniques that
exemplify the best craftsmanship that the world has to offer,
in many cases fine-tuned over centuries, and using ethically-
sourced materials.
A focal point of the cabin is the wraparound dashboard cut
from rare Riverwood, a sustainable wood from naturally fallen
trees that has been preserved for 5,000 years in peat bogs, lakes
and rivers found in the Fenlands of East Anglia, England.
This exquisite wood was chosen for its striking black aesthetic,
the result of lying untouched in wet earth for thousands of
years. The wood has been air-dried in a controlled environment
over a long period of time to prevent damage and conserve its
unique, natural characteristics. The straight grain enhances the
Bacalar’s sweeping interior contours, giving it genuine soul and
drama.
Once veneered, the dashboard is literally sliced in two, creating
an upper and lower element divided by a 3mm chrome strip.
The upper Riverwood is finished as open pore – a semi-matt
finish that shows off the veneer’s grain and colour.
The lower panels are a high gloss finish but with a modern twist
to the traditional process. The Bacalar’s lower dashboard blends
seamlessly from veneer into a high gloss piano black, further
underlining the unique and bespoke finishes that are available.
Because the Bacalar has no roof, this stunning marquetry is
clearly visible from outside the car.
Bentley Mulliner has also collaborated with a traditional
British textile mill to produce bespoke natural wool cloth
akin to a fine tailor’s suit. Bentley Mulliner has embraced the
expertise and knowledge of these centuries-old methods to
create an exclusive and unique woven cloth especially for the
Bacalar, and customers will have the option to co-create their
own bespoke fabric blend.
This traditionally-produced textile is used in the seat inserts,
seat backs and the side of the head restraints. Following the
interior styling lines, it also flows from the side of the centre
console and lower instrument panel into the doors.
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