There is no denying that no matter how wonderful an internal combustion engine is in terms of giving the car some character and providing for a great driving experience, a hybrid or an electric power plant is more efficient and more environment-friendly. Therefore, electric vehicles (EVs) are the future and are the reason behind the shift to electric power by the majority of automotive giants around the globe. One of the legendary automakers to announce their complete transition to electric power is the British automaker Bentley.
Bentley is globally renowned for its perfect blend of sportiness with super-opulent luxury and for its exploits in the world of motorsports. It is also one of the automakers that have always remained true to their heritage of offering a thrilling performance with a veneer of class and sophistication, along with an emphasis on its ‘no compromise’ philosophy in terms of pure driving pleasure.
It is well known in the automotive community that the induction sound and the character of an internal combustion engine enhances ‘driving pleasure’, but with the world now shifting to electric power, it seems that it is time for purist automakers like Bentley to evolve. To this effect, Bentley has announced that they shall eliminate their internal combustion engines by 2026 and will only sell electric vehicles by 2030.
The news has taken the entire automotive community by surprise as a lot of the automakers have hinted at their plans to transition to electric power but unlike Bentley, none of them have announced deadlines for their transitions.
Bentley’s announcement was made at an event, where the company executives shared their ‘Beyond100 strategy’ for becoming an ‘end-to-end carbon neutral car brand’.
Roadmap
Speaking to Car And Driver, Bentley’s representatives said that the transition was underway and that all Bentleys will have the option of a hybrid powertrain by 2023.
Furthermore, the automaker said that it will launch its first full EV model in 2025 and that it will offer only plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) and full EVs by 2026.
Bentley is owned by the Volkswagen Group (VWG) which is on the fast-track to becoming a fully electric automotive group in the near future. Cars such as the Audi e-Tron, the Porsche Taycan, and Volkswagen’s own e-Golf among other hybrids and EVs in the entire group’s lineup signify their fast-approaching transition to EV-only production and sales.
This is sad in the case of Bentley. Its glorious twin-turbo W-12 powerhouses are still loved and regarded as the best engines in the industry. The company has revealed that the W-12 engines will be retired within the next year or two and that they will only offer mild or plugin-hybrid V8s for all their cars.
The company has also announced that the plugin-hybrid V6 which was launched last year will be incorporated into the Bentayga SUV and the Flying Spur Sedan from next year.
New Bentley Concept
On a positive note, Bentley has revealed the photos of its concept for the upcoming EV called the ‘EXP 100 GT’. Although no technical details have been shared by the automaker, the looks of the car suggest that it will be of the same Bentley excellence that everyone knows, loves, and envies.
Bentley also told Car And Driver that the targeted performance is a sub-2.5-second zero-to-100-KM/H time, has a top speed of 300 KM/H, and weighs just under 2 tons to enable the car to be light and fast. The automaker disclosed that the car will be debuted in 2025. Until then, all we can do is wait for Bentley’s offering to the world of EVs.
