Bentley will enter the EV market with its fastest passenger electric vehicle.
British luxury automaker Bentley will finally enter the EV market with its first electric vehicle that is unbelievably fast and can accelerate from 0-60 mph (0-100 kph) in just 1.5 seconds.
Chief Executive of Bentley Adrian Hallmark teased some of the specifications for the new EV, and it will have 1,400 horsepower (1,044 kilowatts), allowing it for effortless acceleration.
However, Hallmark said that its acceleration is not its main selling point. According to Automotive News Europe, its main feature is the car’s “effortless overtaking performance from a huge amount of torque on demand,” adding that “Most people enjoy the 30 to 70 mph (50 to 113 kph) acceleration, or in Germany the 30 to 150 mph (50 to 240 kph) acceleration,”
Hallmark added, “But from a 0 to 60 mph point of view there are diminishing returns. The problem is, it’s uncomfortable. The thrill of 2.4 seconds to 60 mph (about 97 kph) is great about 10 times. Then it just becomes nauseous.”
Although the speed may be uncomfortable for some, Hallmark said that customers have the option to have a 0-60 mph in 2.7 seconds or switch to 1.5 seconds.
Additionally, the new Bentley EV variant will cost more than €250,000 ($262,250), and it will not be a sedan. It will be based on VW Group’s Premium Performance Electric Platform and produced at Bentley’s factory in Crewe, England, starting in 2025.
Bentley’s entry into the EV segment is part of the automaker’s Beyond100 Strategy, where they aim to be a pioneer in sustainable luxury mobility. They aim to be fully carbon neutral by 2030. The automaker also announced its ‘Five-in-Five’ plan, where they will launch five EV models each year from 2025.
