Both companies – Bentley and Audi – are a part of the German concern Volkswagen. The novelty is expected to hit the market in 2025.
Like many European automakers, Bentley’s sales also declined: last year dealers were able to sell 2,999 cars on the old world market (10.8% less than a year earlier). The decline can probably be attributed to the fallout from the coronavirus pandemic. However, in the future, the indicators will continue to fall if the company continues to produce cars with internal combustion engines, because in Europe they continue to tighten economic standards. To prevent this from happening, Bentley made a decision: in November 2020, it became known about plans to completely switch to electric vehicles. Bentley’s first electric car will reach the height of the Aurus and will be offered to women
It is assumed that the manufacturer of luxury cars will produce only “battery” vehicles as early as 2030. Recall that from the same year the UK plans to ban the sale of cars with traditional internal combustion engines in the country. Until 2035, it will still be possible to trade in hybrids, and after that date, only electric cars will remain.
As Bentley said earlier, the brand’s first all-electric model will hit the market in 2025. Now there are new details about the future novelty. According to the general director of the brand, Adrian Hallmark, to whom the British magazine Car refers, the first “green” model of Bentley will be based on the developments of the Audi – Artemis project (named after Artemis, the ancient Greek goddess of the hunt), its leader is Alex Hitzinger.
Adrian Hallmark noted that Bentley will be involved in the development of the platform through the Artemis project, and explained that the two manufacturers will have “closer synergies.” In addition, Bentley expects that the temporary grace period will allow them to subsequently take advantage of the latest developments in battery technology. It is about developing a capacious but lightweight traction battery. Bentley will completely phase out ICE models by 2030
The head of Bentley has hinted that the brand’s first electric car will be a crossover. There is nothing surprising in this: today it is the most demanded segment, including in Europe. By the way, the first SUV of the brand – Bentayga – sold 975 copies last year, which is only 1.6% less than a year earlier. It accounted for almost a third of the total number of sold models of the brand (32.5%).
As it was previously reported that the electric concept Bentley EXP 100 GT, presented in 2019 for the centenary of the brand, will have practically nothing to do with the serial electric car, although it is possible that some individual design elements will still survive to the conveyor. It is known that the design will continue to trace the signature recognizable style of the luxury brand.
The name of the future electric novelty has not yet been determined, as the company is not sure if the names from the history of Bentley associated with gasoline cars should be used for the “green” models. The company is not afraid that when switching to electric cars, sales will fall: according to the results of their survey, already now 39% of the current owners of the brand’s vehicles are ready to get behind the wheel of “battery” cars.