Bentley Motors CEO, Adrian Hallmark, recently shared exciting news regarding the future of the luxury car brand. In an interview with Autocar, Hallmark confirmed that all Bentleys will go electric by 2030, with five battery-powered models launching by then. The first electric Bentley is set to arrive by 2026 and will have twice the power of the current W12 models.
“They will happen to be electric, but all the traditional qualities will go up another notch. What’s more, our new powertrains will have between 50% and 100% more power than we currently offer, so the performance will be there,” explained Hallmark.
Despite some customers being apprehensive about the change, Hallmark shared that the company’s surveys show that around 70% of customers expect Bentley to produce an all-electric vehicle within the next five years. He believes that as many Bentley owners live in big cities and use their cars every day, customers are accepting of electric vehicles and see the various benefits they offer.
“The latest-generation Bentley Continental GT is an excellent example of how things will go. The Conti’s design, proportions, interior, and dynamics all set new standards – and the next-generation cars will do it again,” said Hallmark.
Bentley has experience with electrifying vehicles, having introduced the Flying Spur Hybrid and Bentayga Hybrid, which paired an electric motor with a V6 engine. These hybrid models have contributed to Bentley’s robust sales, and Hallmark believes that the fully-electric models will see the company reach even greater heights, with the CEO expecting production volume to grow closer to 20,000.
“We must enjoy the end of the non-BEV phase – I keep telling people we still have around 55,000 of those cars still to build – and then we must be ready for the big technology change,” said Hallmark.
Hallmark is focused on creating the world’s most successful luxury car company, and he believes that Bentley is getting closer to overtaking Ferrari as one of the strongest-performing luxury automotive brands. The company’s first fully-electric car was supposed to arrive in 2025 but has been pushed back by a year. This model will reportedly debut with incredible performance figures and is expected to hit 60 mph in a mere 1.5 seconds.
Bentley’s electric vehicles will have “two degrees of freedom” not enjoyed by regular vehicles, according to Hallmark. Sophisticated battery technology will provide cars with a range of 350 – 450 miles and a rapid-charging time from 10% to 80% in less than 20 minutes. The new pack will offer the same range as the current ICE-powered models.
“Our job is to build Bentleys, not BEVs with Bentley badges attached,” said Hallmark.
As for the future design of Bentleys, the range will be the same as it is now. The Bentayga, Continental GT and GTC, and Flying Spur will all form part of the future lineup. There’s no word yet on the fifth model, but fans of the EXP 100 GT concept introduced in 2019 are hoping that it will be the perfect rival for the Spectre, Rolls-Royce’s first-ever electric vehicle.
In conclusion, it is clear that Bentley is committed to embracing the electric era while retaining the traditional qualities that have made it a world-renowned luxury car brand. As Hallmark stated, “the new electric Bentley motorcars will rewrite the rule book in terms of the ownership experience.”
