Lastly, Bentley says it has discovered the profitable system to giving an all-electric automobile 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 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 provides 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 hundreds of thousands for particular editions, additionally mentioned it plans to supply a brand new EV or plug-in hybrid electrical automobile annually till 2035 – the corporate had initially focused the tip of this decade for going all electrical, nevertheless it has pushed that again by 5 years.
“To be trustworthy, there’s not a whole lot of demand [for BEVs] from immediately’s Bentley clients,” CEO Frank-Steffen Walliser mentioned throughout a press convention yesterday, as reported by Reuters.
However he’s not ruling out legislative modifications and a brand new era of shoppers who need a modern, costly EV.
“However we see there are new clients out that positively need to have a really fashionable automotive.”
“Laws, for certain, is driving electrification … but in addition competitors,” Walliser mentioned.
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 mentioned. “We pay attention rigorously to our clients… and what they need 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 hold making PHEVs “so long as markets and clients 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 properly.
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 on account of software program points in addition to designing a automobile to Bentley’s exacting requirements, quite than market circumstances.
The corporate solely hinted on the form of the brand new EV with a sketch, which reveals an analogous 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 beneath 5,000 mm (16.4 ft) in size, so related 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 pace can be prime priorities. And naturally, clients can anticipate the Bentley signature craftsmanship which might be important to the model: “We don’t need to make simply any electrical automotive; we need to make a Bentley,” mentioned Walliser.
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