Bentley confirms future plug-in hybrid model
A plug-in hybrid Bentley will join the company's lineup in the coming years. Despite the interest in offering a green, more fuel-efficient variant, Bentley says it remains committed to offering 12-cylinder flagship models as well.
In a recent interview with Car and Driver, Bentley CEO Wolfgang Dürheimer said 12-cylinder engines would continue to make up the majority of Bentley models. He said 12-cylinder units would remain in Bentley's lineup for a long time to come, saying the layout
"will become one of the cornerstones in the brand profile. A 12-cylinder engine is a sexy engine."
But to reduce the company's overall average emissions, it needs to offer some kind of dramatic powertrain change. That's where the plug-in hybrid comes into play. Dürheimer says a plug-in version is on the cards for the future and confirmed it would use technology developed under the Volkswagen Group umbrella.
"We’re lucky we are involved in a group that has technology in every corner. Every single technology that is available in the group is available to us."
He also said the luxury brand wouldn't bother with a conventional hybrid, but target a plug-in hybrid with a full-electric range of around 30km.
"We will jump over the first generation of hybrids and start with the plug-in hybrids."
As for a possible diesel Bentley, Dürheimer said diesel engines would have to become more refined before the company was likely to adopt that style of engine.
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