Bentley: All models available as hybrid by 2023
According to Sales Director Chris Craft, Bentley will offer hybrid versions of all its models by 2023 and launch its first all-electric model by 2025 at the latest. However, both the details of the models’ rollout and their technical basis is still unclear.
In the interview with Roadshow, however, Craft left things open as to whether Bentley would use the plug-in hybrid drive of the Bentayga for the new hybrid models. For the Bentayga model, the British company utilised the group platform and adapted the drive train of the Porsche Panamera e-Hybrid with a 3.0-litre V6 petrol engine. According to the report, it is also still unclear which models will be electrified first.
As far as the first purely electric Bentley is concerned, the British brand could, as reported, use the Premium Platform Electric (PPE) currently under development of the other Volkswagen brands, Porsche and Audi. This would greatly reduce development costs and help the financially troubled Bentley brand enter the electric world. In November, Bentley CEO Adrian Hallmark said they were considering launching the brand’s first fully electric vehicle to help reduce it’s fleet emissions since they expect that PHEVs alone will not suffice.
Craft believes the hybrid and electric models will fit well into the Bentley portfolio. “Over 30 per cent of luxury buyers are interested in electric cars,” he said. “That will be a big part of our future.”
0 Comments