Lastly, Bentley says it has discovered the successful system to giving an all-electric automobile the Bentley stamp of approval. It’ll scream luxurious and sure price a bloody fortune.
The British ultra-luxury model, owned by Volkswagen AG, is as soon as once more pushing again its goal to solely supply BEVs by 5 years to 2035, however says it’s launching a “luxurious city SUV” – its first all-electric automobile – in 2026.
Again in 2018, Bentley began making the transition with its Bentayga Hybrid, and now the model affords plug-in hybrid variations of the Continental GT and Flying spur.
Bentley, a model synonymous with lavish and highly effective automobiles with 12- and 8-cylinder engines that may price within the tens of millions for particular editions, additionally mentioned it plans to supply a brand new EV or plug-in hybrid electrical automobile every year till 2035 – the corporate had initially focused the top of this decade for going all electrical, nevertheless it has pushed that again by 5 years.
“To be trustworthy, there may be not loads of demand [for BEVs] from at the moment’s Bentley prospects,” CEO Frank-Steffen Walliser mentioned throughout a press convention yesterday, as reported by Reuters.
However he isn’t ruling out legislative adjustments and a brand new technology of shoppers who need a glossy, costly EV.
“However we see there are new prospects out that undoubtedly wish to have a really trendy automotive.”
“Laws, for certain, is driving electrification … but additionally competitors,” Walliser mentioned.
He did add the caveat that the 2035 goal may shift much more, as some international areas are electrifying extra slowly. “Some elements of the world could also be even slower than 2035,” he mentioned. “We hear rigorously to our prospects… and what they wish to purchase.”
The corporate ended manufacturing of its famed W12 engine this 12 months, and now it focuses on PHEVs with 8- or 6-cylinder engines. And it says it’ll maintain making PHEVs “so long as markets and prospects demand it,” mentioned Matthias Rabe, head of Bentley’s analysis and improvement. He additionally famous that Bentley could proceed to launch new ICE autos within the years to come back as nicely.
Bentley to launch its first all-electric automobile in 2026
Bentley’s first BEV was initially anticipated to be produced beginning subsequent 12 months. Former CEO Adrian Hallmark had mentioned prior that the plans to launch a brand new EV had been delayed as a result of software program points in addition to designing a automobile to Bentley’s exacting requirements, quite than market situations.
The corporate solely hinted on the form of the brand new EV with a sketch, which reveals the same profile to the Bentayga SUV – for reference, the 2025 mannequin of the Bentayga begins at round $208,000. But it surely’ll be extra compact, Walliser famous, at underneath 5,000 mm (16.4 toes) in size, so comparable in dimension to the Porsche Cayenne or Audi Q7, and it’ll be constructed on the identical platform because the upcoming Porsche Cayenne EV.
Whereas Bentley didn’t share any statistics concerning the new mannequin, it did word that vary and charging velocity will likely be prime priorities. And naturally, prospects can anticipate the Bentley signature craftsmanship which might be important to the model: “We don’t wish to make simply any electrical automotive; we wish to make a Bentley,” mentioned Walliser.
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