It will therefore fill the void left after Bentley pulled the plug on its traditional flagship car, the Mulsanne, back in 2020. Adrian Hallmark’s told Autocar that with the first EV, they can go up or down in terms of pricing. Being an electric car brimming with the latest tech from the VW Group, it’s certainly going to cost more than the current crop of gasoline-fueled models.

Bentley’s head honcho went on to mention testing out on the road will commence later this year and the styling for all five EVs has mostly been done already. He refused to go into details about the shape of the first electric model, so we don’t know whether it will be a sedan like the old Mulsanne or an SUV. Even if it will be the former, chances are it will ride higher to fit those batteries underneath.

The CEO promises Bentley’s first foray into the EV segment will combine unique styling with a new formula of packaging all the hardware. In other words, the design is going to represent an important departure from existing models with their high-displacement combustion engines. However, Adrian Hallmark was quick to reassure traditionalists it will still look like a model born in Crewe, but in a more progressive way.

The firm’s halo model is expected to have next-level aerodynamics to maximize efficiency for better range and to compensate for a jump in weight caused by the heavy batteries. These future Bentley EVs won’t be shorter than today’s cars, but the engineers are making them a tad narrower to squeeze more range.

Interestingly, the ultra-luxurious electric car could benefit from wireless charging as Adrian Hallmark said Bentley is keeping its options open as far as juicing up the battery. Another possibility is using a hands-free automated system, meaning the owner would not have to manually plug it in. As for the interior, more sophisticated cabins with plush materials are in the pipeline for the new wave of EVs.

Source: Autocar

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All designed and developed at home, the EVs will be produced at the so-called Dream Factory in Crewe. To make it happen, Bentley will invest £2.5 billion ($3.3B at current exchange rates) to transform the plant to accommodate the launch of a new EV each year from 2025. At the end of the decade, the company will wave goodbye to gasoline-fueled vehicles by switching entirely to electric propulsion.

Not only that, but Bentley wants to become carbon neutral by 2030 across the entire production process and non-factory operations. As for the five upcoming EVs, all will ride on the same common platform shared by the VW Group. Some of the vehicles will sit higher while others will be lower, which means there will be a mix between SUVs and traditional cars.

Interestingly, Bentley CEO Adrian Hallmark explains the first couple of EVs will largely share the same battery tech while the rest of them will adopt next-generation batteries. Further down the line, the initial electric vehicles will inherit the more sophisticated technology by retrofitting the upgraded hardware.

The company’s head honcho went on to explain the first EV due in 2025 will have a maximum range of well over 300 miles (483 kilometers) between charging cycles. Before that happens, 2022 will mark the launch of no fewer than five plug-in hybrids based on the already electrified Flying Spur sedan and Bentayga SUV. Both will get a V8 PHEV setup adapted from the Porsche Panamera Turbo S E-Hybrid.

This year, Bentley estimates more than 20% of its sales will be represented by hybrid cars.

Source: Bentley

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The plan to produce an EV in the United Kingdom comes as good news for the factory where about 4,000 people are employed and where all the current vehicles are produced. While the company’s first foray into the EV segment will be assembled in Crewe, the unpainted bodies will be sourced from the Hanover plant in Germany owned by Volkswagen Commercial Services. At the same facility where the ID. Buzz will enter production in the coming months, Audi will build its equivalent of the electric Bentley.

In related news, a “Dream Factory” will include the existing plant and a future expansion. The goal is to entirely eliminate water waste and other environmental impacts by 2030. Bentley aims to become carbon neutral in just eight years’ time as part of the VW Group’s greater plan to have zero CO2 emissions by 2050 across all of its brands.

Meanwhile, Bentley has already partially embraced electrification by giving the Flying Spur and Bentayga a hybrid powertrain. The British brand previously announced it would sell only hybrids and EVs from 2026, meaning the days of the pure combustion engine are numbered. Downsizing will also come into effect sooner or later, so the mighty W12 engine is living on borrowed time. Audi has already retired the twelve-cylinder powerhouse, and Bentley will follow suit in the coming years.

Much like the other automakers sitting underneath the VW Group’s corporate umbrella, Bentley is preparing for the inevitable all-electric future. Regulators are pushing for stricter emissions regulations, and there’s a proposal to end new car sales of gasoline/diesel cars in the European Union. If approved, you won’t be able to buy a conventionally powered new vehicle in EU countries from 2025.

Source: Bentley

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Bentley’s second electrified model after the Bentayga Hybrid, the new Flying Spur Hybrid traveled through Iceland and used biofuels without having to receive any changes to the internal combustion engine. That’s because the green fuel meets the same EN228 standards as the gasoline you will find at a regular pump. The biofuel used for the unusual trip came from waste biomass such as straws without negatively impacting the natural ecosystem.

As for the electricity used to feed the 14.1-kWh battery pack, it was obtained straight from the Icelandic power grid, which together with the biofuel, helped slash CO2 emissions by 45%. Despite its environmentally friendly nature, the Flying Spur Hybrid is still a force to be reckoned with as it offers a massive 536 horsepower and 553 pound-feet (750 Newton-meters) of torque from its 2.9-liter V6 engine combined with an electric motor.

It’s also the most efficient production car the folks from Crewe have ever built in their illustrious 102-year history and can cover over 435 miles (700 kilometers) with a full gasoline tank and the battery charged to the maximum. The instant punch delivered by the electric motor gives the Hybrid version an acceleration similar to that of the beefier V8 version by hitting 62 mph (100 km/h) from a standstill in a mere 4.3 seconds. Needless to say, it’s much more efficient than the eight-cylinder model and it’ll still do 177 mph (285 km/h).

Despite its sporty credentials, it even offers a pure electric mode by covering approximately 25 miles (40 kilometers) without sipping any gasoline. The Flying Spur Hybrid is Bentley’s next step towards electrification as the British luxury marque will offer only PHEVs and EVs by 2026 before dropping the combustion engine altogether at the end of the decade. Meanwhile, the first zero-emissions model is due to arrive in 2025.

Source: Bentley

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The powertrain is carried over from the original Bentayga Hybrid, so it combines the same twin-turbo 3.0-liter V6 engine with an electric motor. It has a combined output of 443 horsepower and an ample 700 Newton-meters (516 pound-feet) of torque, while the battery pack soldiers on with an identical 17.3-kWh capacity.

Curiously, Bentley is still using the outdated New European Driving Cycle figure when talking about the electric range of the 2021 Bentayga Hybrid.  Per NEDC, the high-end SUV can travel for 31 miles (50 kilometers) without sipping any fuel. A more accurate WLTP figure would significantly lower that number and bring it closer to reality, but we’ll have to settle for the NEDC number for the time being.

With the battery fully charged and the fuel tank brimming with gasoline, Bentley mentions the Bentayga Hybrid can cover as much as 536 miles (863 kilometers) according to the same NEDC test cycle. Internal studies conducted by the Crewe-based marque showed virtually all owners of the pre-facelift model used the EV mode and the company is confident most journeys can be done without sipping any gasoline.

Once the battery is depleted, it can be charged in as little as two and a half hours, and Bentley says it has a life expectancy of 100,000 miles or eight years, whichever comes first. To make the most out of the hybrid powertrain, the greener Bentayga comes with self-explanatory EV and Hybrid modes, plus a Hold mode that balances the power of the combustion engine and electric motor to hold a high voltage battery charge to be used at a later date.

Another party trick is a so-called Bentley Hybrid Efficiency Accelerator Pedal, which refers to a pressure point to denote the boundary between EV and Hybrid propulsion. It’s available when the Bentayga is driven in pure electric mode and can be disabled by the driver. Another system, dubbed Bentley Hybrid Efficiency Braking, blends conventional braking with regenerative braking for a smooth experience while maximizing the amount of energy recovered.

Aside from the electrified Bentayga, Bentley says it will unveil a second hybrid model later in 2021.

Source: Bentley

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The British company says that 55 percent of Bentley customers say they’d consider buying an electric car from them in the next decade.

Adrian Hallmark, Bentley’s chief executive, said: “Since 1919, Bentley has defined luxury grand touring. Being at the forefront of progress is part of our DNA – the original Bentley boys were pioneers and leaders. Now, as we look Beyond100, we will continue to lead by reinventing the company and becoming the world’s benchmark luxury car business.”

“Driving this change includes, and also goes beyond our products, delivering a paradigm shift throughout our business, with credibility, authenticity, and integrity,” he said. “Within a decade, Bentley will transform from a 100-year-old luxury car company to a new, sustainable, wholly ethical role model for luxury.”

In July 2019, Bentley had turned 100, and to celebrate its centenary, they showcased the future of luxury grand touring. The Bentley EXP 100 GT is a concept that showcases Bentley’s plan for future grand tourers. The EXP 100 GT has four electric motors, each for every wheel, and has a maximum of 1,100 lb-ft. Power figures are not disclosed.

The Bentley EXP 100 GT can go from 0-60 mph in 2.5 seconds and has a top speed of 186 mph. The highlight, however, is its driving range, which Bentley states to be at 435 miles. It is also capable of charging from 0-80% in just 15 minutes via fast-charging.

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