The future of Bentley is electric. And powerful.
Perhaps too powerful for some drivers with a weak stomach.
The British luxury automaker has grabbed headlines with its stated intention of going “fully electric” by the year 2030.
In fact, Bentley CEO Adrian Hallmark says the marquee’s first EV, simply called the Bentley EV, could churn out as much as 1,400 horsepower when it hits showrooms in 2025.
That means near-effortless acceleration and a zero to 60 of just 1.5 seconds.
“If we’re 650 hp now with GT Speed, we will be double that with the BEV,” Hallmark told Automotive News Europe. “But from a zero to 60 mph point of view, there are diminishing returns. The problem is, it’s uncomfortable. And then it just becomes (nauseating).”
To mitigate that fact, drivers of the Bentley EV will be able to select a slower acceleration speed if such a lightning quick acceleration makes them feel sick to their stomach.
“You can have zero to 60 mph in 2.7 seconds. (For weaker stomachs). Or it can be switched to 1.5 seconds,” Hallmark explained.
The quiet, silky smooth power of the Bentley 12-cylinder engine will be replaced by an even smoother – and quieter – electric motor. The new Bentley will ride atop a PPE platform. That’s the same one that sits beneath the Audi Q6 E-Tron and Porsche Macan EV.
Bentley’s “Beyond100” strategy has the automaker committing to becoming a global pioneer in the sustainable auto industry. And it means becoming fully carbon-neutral, from the Bentley factory to the cars it creates – all by 2030.
Bentley’s suppliers are also expected to meet minimum sustainability standards – “and by 2025, our entire global retailer network will be carbon neutral too,” the company said in a recent statement.
Moreover, the strategy has accelerated in recent months with the announcement of the ‘Five-in-Five’ plan, which will envisions and plans out five all-electric Bentley vehicles launched – one each year from 2025 onward – at which point the entire Bentley product range will be electric
A growing number of vehicles across Bentley’s Flying Spur and Bentayga ranges are already available with hybrid powertrains.
And they are being joined by the Bentayga EWB, Continental GT and GTC.
In terms of styling of the new EV, little is known.
“What we will not do is try and make them look like electric cars,” Hallmark told the media recently.
Two years ago, Bentley previewed its fully electric future with the EXP 100 GT, a concept model whose sleek shape and scissor-like doors caused a stir.
The iconic British luxury automaker is investing $3.4 billion over the coming decade to build electric vehicles at its facility in Crewe, United Kingdom.
Before the arrival of its first EV, the brand intends to offer hybrid versions of every model in its lineup.
The luxury automaker plans to exclusively offer electrified models, including all-electric and plug-in hybrids, beginning in 2026.
You can currently purchase plug-in hybrid versions of its Bentayga SUV for $160,000 and Flying Spur sedan for $208,000.
The Bentayga already encompasses innovative technology and mind-blowing luxury to create a vehicle that outperforms everywhere you go.
Not only do you enjoy all the comfort of a leather- and tech-filled interior but you can choose from a variety of options to make this vehicle truly yours.
For the powertrain you choose from the 443-hp hybrid with a turbocharged 3.0-liter V-6 and an electric motor or the 542-hp twin-turbo V-8 that will get you from zero to 60 in just 3.8 sections.
All Bentay gas utilize an eight-speed automatic transmission and come standard with all-wheel drive.
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The British automaker is taking another impressive step toward its electric future with the Flying Spur Hybrid.
This new hybrid Bentley highlights the British automaker’s ability to combine sustainable design with exquisite and luxurious craftsmanship along with truly effortless performance.
It’s the most advanced Flying Spur ever built thanks to the latest technology that brings three driving modes via its combined gasoline-powered engine and electric power.
At your fingertips: EV Drive mode allows you to make short journeys on electric power alone. Hybrid mode enables the car to toggle between the petrol engine and electric power, to make your journey as simple as possible. The third option is Hold mode, where your car relies mainly on its petrol engine with some electric propulsion, balanced by regenerative braking to recoup battery power. The Flying Spur Hybrid is the second Bentley hybrid to be launched.
With a 2.9 liter twin-turbocharged petrol engine and a powerful 100kW electric motor, the Flying Spur Hybrid offers effortless power as you surge forward into your day. Thanks to the additional torque delivered by the electric motor, you can get from zero to 60 in just 4.1 seconds and reach a top speed of 177 mph. And when you are in electric mode, traveling within the lap of luxury is a near silent experience, making this the perfect car for quiet conversation or even reading a book while someone else does the driving.
In fact, for passengers, it’s a little like flying in your own private jet. But lest you forget it’s a Bentley, you can still make out the unmistakable exhaust note arising from the car’s quad oval tailpipes. It’s a beautiful sound.
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