The new Bentley Bentayga Hybrid has been revealed in Geneva, it’s an important car for the British manufacturer and marks its first step towards full electrification.
Bentley has decided to go with a plug-in hybrid drivetrain that uses a new turbocharged 3.0-litre V6 petrol engine combined with an electric motor and generator. Bentley is claiming an electric-only range of 50 kilometres and the battery can be recharged in as little as 2.5 hrs.
The brand is quick to point out the Bentayga Hybrid is the most efficient Bentley ever with CO2 emissions of 75g/km.
Surprisingly, Bentley hasn’t announced the Bentayga Hybrid’s performance credentials or output numbers, however, it’s highly likely the figures will be very close to the Porsche Panamera 4 e-Hybrid’s digits of 340Nm/700kW with a 14.1kWh lithium-ion battery. Volkswagen owned brands regularly share powertrains and the Bentayga has borrowed from the Porsche parts bin before.
The Bentagya Hybrid looks virtually indistinguishable from the petrol and diesel models. There’s a copper finish to the wheel centres and Bentley badges, hybrid badging and the car’s charge point is located on the opposite side to the fuel filler, meaning an extra flap is required – that’s it.
To keep things extra classy, renowned designer, Philippe Starck was commissioned to design the optional Power Dock to recharge the Bentayga’s battery. The Dock is formed from pressed eco-linen with bio-sourced thermosetting resin, while the domed frontage is fashioned using a hot-pressure aluminium casting.
There are a few differentiators found in the interior, the start-stop switch has been replaced with a control for the three E Modes – EV Drive, Hybrid Mode and Hold Mode. These will enable the driver to manage battery usage during a journey.
The driver’s information panel has been revised to incorporate the EV driving information. There’s also a revised infotainment screen that provides data about the performance of the battery.
In a Tesla-esque move, the Bentayga Hybrid will use satellite navigation information to calculate the best usage of electric motor and engine for ‘every journey’.
Interestingly, the Bentayga Hybrid will only be available in four- or five-seat configurations, unlike other Bentagya models there’s no seven-seat option.
The Bentley Bentayga Hybrid will be available to order in selected markets from the second half of 2018. We have contacted Bentley’s Australian representative to confirm if the Bentayga Hybrid is coming Down Under. Stay tuned.
Update: Bentley has confirmed the Bentayga Hybrid will not reach Australia in 2018.
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