Bentley’s first EV will have to wait: first a V8 and plug-in

According to Autocar, Bentley is reviewing its electrification plans. The original plan was to release the first fully electric Bentley in 2025, after which the brand would present a new EV every year.

This would mean that Bentley would have a fully electric version from 2030. However, those plans are delayed by at least a year; The first British EV will not be delivered until 2026 and Bentley is targeting 2033 as the target year for a full range of electric models.

The first electric Bentley 2026

Bentley is already working on electric successors to the Bentley Continental (and Continental GTC), Flying Spur and Bentayga, but the first English EV will be an entirely new model. This will be based on the Bentley EXP 100 GT research model (see image above). According to CEO Adrian Hallmark, this was chosen because the new model does not have a strong petrol heritage. According to the CEO, such a new SUV is less risky than starting with a fully electric successor to a best-selling car like the Bentley Bentayga.

Bentley’s first electric supercar will roll off the production line at the Crewe plant, where the brand is currently busy setting up a dedicated department dedicated entirely to EVs.

The electric Bentley is based on the PPE (Premium Performance Electric) platform, which was developed by Audi and Porsche. The recently announced Audi Q6 e-tron and the new electric Porsche Macan are also on this platform.

Why has the Bentley EV been postponed?

This platform is also the reason why Bentley’s first electric car has been postponed. There were too many development issues that needed to be resolved first. This initially caused the introduction of the Q6 and Macan to be postponed.

Popular Bentley plug-in hybrids

The delay really doesn’t suit Bentley too badly. Demand for electric cars is slowing in Europe and the US, prompting many brands to take a hard look at their plug-in plans.

The postponement of the first EV gives Bentley a chance to focus on plug-in hybrid technology (PHEV). The famous W12 disappears and makes way for a V8 and an electric motor.

Bentley initially thought that the demand for plug-in hybrids would decrease significantly in the next five years, but now the British have reversed this trend. The PHEV will actually play a bigger role in the bridging period, until we all eventually start driving electric. This is why Bentley is investing ‘hundreds of millions’ in the technology. This year, the Continental and Flying Spur will be presented with a new power train.