Photo: Bentley
Introduced with much pomp and circumstance, the Bentayga Hybrid is the most eco-friendly Bentley on sale today. The Crewe-based automaker phased out the Bentayga Diesel earlier this year, but doesn’t plan to push forward too much as far as electrification is concerned.
Even though Bentley is working on a plug-in hybrid V6 for the Continental GT and Mulsanne, chief executive officer Adrian Hallmark believes that battery technology isn’t up to snuff for the ultra-luxury automaker to introduce an electric vehicle.
Speaking to Automotive News Europe, he said the problmes comes in the guise of “current battery power.” More to the point, this factor “limits the size of the car you can offer with credible driving range" according to Hallmark.
We’re not too sure about that. After all, Tesla can squeeze out as much as 295 miles (EPA rating) from the Model X 100D. Despite this unconvincing excuse from Hallmark, Bentley looks forward to the timeframe between 2023 and 2025 to introduce an electric vehicle.
Aimed towards “a broad segment of the very rich who currently do not buy ultra-luxury cars from any brand,” the Bentley EV won’t come in the form of a sports car inspired by the EXP 12 Speed 6e concept from the 2017 Geneva Motor Show.
The CEO did mention the newcomer would “redefine grand touring," adding that the EV would be “a Bentley first and foremost, and it will be an electric Bentley second.” Reading between the lines, the automaker is waiting for Porsche and Audi to finish development of the Premium Platform Electric.
Due in 2021, the PPE “will enable three body styles, including an SUV and a limousine.” Being co-developed with Porsche, a coupe and convertible are also possible with the blessing of the higher-ups from the Volkswagen Group.
Chief financial officer Frank Witter said that Volkswagen hasn’t decided whether Bentley can use the platform or not, but we’re inclined to think that the beancounters will convince the higher-ups to do so. After all, cross-brand synergies are what made the Volkswagen Group so big and competitive in the first place.
Speaking to Automotive News Europe, he said the problmes comes in the guise of “current battery power.” More to the point, this factor “limits the size of the car you can offer with credible driving range" according to Hallmark.
We’re not too sure about that. After all, Tesla can squeeze out as much as 295 miles (EPA rating) from the Model X 100D. Despite this unconvincing excuse from Hallmark, Bentley looks forward to the timeframe between 2023 and 2025 to introduce an electric vehicle.
Aimed towards “a broad segment of the very rich who currently do not buy ultra-luxury cars from any brand,” the Bentley EV won’t come in the form of a sports car inspired by the EXP 12 Speed 6e concept from the 2017 Geneva Motor Show.
The CEO did mention the newcomer would “redefine grand touring," adding that the EV would be “a Bentley first and foremost, and it will be an electric Bentley second.” Reading between the lines, the automaker is waiting for Porsche and Audi to finish development of the Premium Platform Electric.
Due in 2021, the PPE “will enable three body styles, including an SUV and a limousine.” Being co-developed with Porsche, a coupe and convertible are also possible with the blessing of the higher-ups from the Volkswagen Group.
Chief financial officer Frank Witter said that Volkswagen hasn’t decided whether Bentley can use the platform or not, but we’re inclined to think that the beancounters will convince the higher-ups to do so. After all, cross-brand synergies are what made the Volkswagen Group so big and competitive in the first place.
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