Bentley CEO Adrian Hallmark has revealed the company’s customers are becoming increasingly concerned about sustainability and their environmental impact.
Speaking with Bloomberg, Hallmark said “There is a new dimension long-term in the purchase decision – the ethical value.” He went on to say the desire to be eco-friendly has been so strong among the brand’s customers that it is already influencing the company’s product planning for the next 20 years.
While Bentley just introduced their first plug-in hybrid last month, more are coming as Hallmark said all of the company’s models will offer some form of electrification by 2025. Many will likely use the Bentayga Hybrid’s powertrain which consists of a turbocharged 3.0-liter V6 petrol engine, an electric motor and a battery which enables the crossover to travel more than 31 miles (50 km) on electricity alone.
Electric concepts
Bentley has also shown an openness to electric vehicles as the company introduced the EXP 12 Speed 6e concept in 2017. Hallmark suggested Bentley might not introduce an electric version of the Continental GT for up to decade but he reportedly confirmed the next-generation model will be available with an electric powertain. As he explained, “We already know that the [next version] will be a battery electric vehicle.”
Bentley EXP 12 Speed 6e concept
Hallmark declined to elaborate but said the model will have “moral and ethical benefits.” He also stated if the company didn’t offer electric vehicles then they would be “massively underperforming in terms of customer potential.”
If the report is correct, then it would be a big change for Bentley as the latest Continental GT is powered by a massive 6.0-liter W12 engine that produces 635 PS (467 kW) and 900 Nm (664 lb-ft) of torque.
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