Lastly, Bentley says it has discovered the successful components to giving an all-electric car the Bentley stamp of approval. It’ll scream luxurious and certain price a bloody fortune.
The British ultra-luxury model, owned by Volkswagen AG, is as soon as once more pushing again its goal to completely provide BEVs by 5 years to 2035, however says it’s launching a “luxurious city SUV” – its first all-electric car – 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 thousands and thousands for particular editions, additionally stated it plans to supply a brand new EV or plug-in hybrid electrical car annually till 2035 – the corporate had initially focused the tip of this decade for going all electrical, but it surely has pushed that again by 5 years.
“To be trustworthy, there may be not numerous demand [for BEVs] from in the present day’s Bentley prospects,” CEO Frank-Steffen Walliser stated 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 desire a smooth, costly EV.
“However we see there are new prospects out that undoubtedly need to have a really trendy automobile.”
“Laws, for certain, is driving electrification … but in addition competitors,” Walliser stated.
He did add the caveat that the 2035 goal may shift much more, as some world areas are electrifying extra slowly. “Some elements of the world could also be even slower than 2035,” he stated. “We pay attention fastidiously to our prospects… and what they need to purchase.”
The corporate ended manufacturing of its famed W12 engine this yr, 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,” stated Matthias Rabe, head of Bentley’s analysis and improvement. He additionally famous that Bentley could proceed to launch new ICE automobiles within the years to return as nicely.
Bentley to launch its first all-electric car in 2026
Bentley’s first BEV was initially anticipated to be produced beginning subsequent yr. Former CEO Adrian Hallmark had stated prior that the plans to launch a brand new EV had been delayed resulting from software program points in addition to designing a car to Bentley’s exacting requirements, moderately than market circumstances.
The corporate solely hinted on the form of the brand new EV with a sketch, which exhibits an identical profile to the Bentayga SUV – for reference, the 2025 mannequin of the Bentayga begins at round $208,000. However it’ll be extra compact, Walliser famous, at beneath 5,000 mm (16.4 ft) in size, so comparable in measurement 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 be aware that vary and charging velocity will probably be high priorities. And naturally, prospects can count on the Bentley signature craftsmanship which can be important to the model: “We don’t need to make simply any electrical automobile; we need to make a Bentley,” stated Walliser.
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