Bentley's first EV will be a high-riding crossover
British car-maker hopes its first EV, due in 2025, will help it stay relevant in a greener, cleaner futureBentley will enhance its eco credentials by launching its first pure-electric car in 2025, in an ambitious bid to become the world's most sustainable luxury car brand.
According to
, Bentley is working on something that looks more like a large jacked-up sedan or sleek crossover, in a radical departure from the car-maker's existing line-up.Beneath its striking body, the Bentley EV appearsprimed to debut the Volkswagen Group's latest pure-electric technology. But according to reports, it will just miss out on next-generation solid-state batteries and instead come equipped with traditional lithium-ion battery cells.
Engineers are reportedly struggling to bestow the large, heavy Bentley with the sort of performance, range and recharge times expected by its millionaire clientele.
Said to look more like an 'extreme Jaguar I-PACE' than the current Flying Spur, the plug-in Bentley will bring a raised ride height to house the thicker floor required to package the large battery packs.
A full-blown SUV has been ruled out, reportedly, because a bluff profile would ruin the car's aerodynamics and therefore battery range.
Speaking to the Brit mag, Bentley CEO Adrian Hallmark said if the car-maker was to launch an electric car in the mid-2020s it would have a range of up to 550km and be capable of cruising at 105km/h for five hours.
"If we’re to launch an electric car in the mid-2020s, then it either needs to be smaller than today’s cars or the same size but not as upright, and smaller isn’t an appealing solution, as it implies a lower price segment," he said.
"We need to be looking at how we can deliver slipperier cars with a profile that gets the most out of it aerodynamically in order to deliver on that promise," said the Bentley boss.
In the build-up to the car-maker's first zero-emission vehicle and its goal of becoming a sustainable brand, Bentley had its Crewe plant certified as carbon-neutral late last year.
There's no word on what will power the new Bentley crossover, although its advanced powertrain may have already been previewed by the EXP 100 GT concept that was shown off as part of the marque's centenary celebrations.
Revealed back in July 2019, the pure-electric EXP 100 GT coupe was driven by four electric motors – one for each wheel – that produced up to 1000kW and 1500Nm of torque.
That was enough to haul the big coupe to 100km/h in just 2.5 seconds and on to a top speed of 300km/h.
Inside, the new Bentley model is set to pick up where the ultra-limited run Bacalar left off, with the electric crossover's cabin featuring a strikingly contemporary design, plus lots of planet-friendly materials to help validate its new eco aspirations.
Until the electric Bentley arrives, the luxury car-maker says that by 2023 it will offer a hybrid version of every model it makes.
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