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2021 Bentley Bentayga Hybrid revealed, Australian launch confirmed

The 2021 Bentley Bentayga Hybrid has been officially unveiled.


  • 2021 Bentley Bentayga Hybrid officially unveiled
  • Facelifted SUV scores updated exterior styling, high-tech cabin
  • Carry-over V6 plug-in hybrid powertrain delivers 330kW, 50km electric range

The first of two plug-in hybrid Bentley models set for launch this year – the second expected to be a plug-in version of the brand's Flying Spur sedan – the updated Bentayga Hybrid benefits from the same roster of exterior and interior changes as the 'standard' facelifted Bentayga unveiled in July 2020.

Powering the luxury SUV is the same plug-in driveline fitted to its pre-facelift equivalent, pairing a 250kW 3.0-litre turbocharged V6 petrol engine with a 94kW/350Nm electric motor for combined outputs of 330kW of power and 700Nm of torque.

While performance and economy figures haven't been quoted for the updated model, the carry-over powertrain means it'll likely match the 5.2-second 0-100km/h sprint time and 3.5L/100km combined fuel consumption figures of its predecessor.

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Feeding the electric motor is a 17.9kWh lithium-ion battery, enabling an all-electric range of 50 kilometres on the NEDC test cycle, at speeds up to 135km/h. The pack can reportedly be charged from zero to 100 per cent in two and a half hours on a 7.2kW AC socket.

Research conducted by Bentley found 90 per cent Bentayga Hybrid customers drive their car "on a daily basis or several times a week", with around half of them completing journeys of less than 50 kilometres – a perfect fit for the SUV's all-electric capabilities.

A trio of Hybrid-specific drive modes are on offer: EV Drive locks the car in electric-only mode, Hold mode uses the engine to maintain the battery at a set state of charge for "later use", while Hybrid mode balances petrol and electric power to improve efficiency and maximise long-distance touring range.

Regenerative braking is on offer – allowing the battery to be charged by recuperating energy through deceleration – while the car's electronics can use data from the satellite navigation system to switch between internal-combustion and all-electric propulsion at different points along a route to maximise efficiency.

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The Bentayga Hybrid is all-but-identical to its facelifted, V8- and W12-engined counterparts in the visual department, sharing their restyled front end with a larger grille and new lower bumper, wider rear tailgate opening, Continental GT-inspired LED tail-lights and 20mm-wider rear track width.

Only a set of subtle 'Hybrid' badges on the front doors, and the second 'filler flap' for recharging the battery give the plug-in SUV's low-emissions identity away.

Inside, a new 10.9-inch infotainment touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay, wired Android Auto and hybrid-specific screens headlines the upgrades, joined by a new digital instrument cluster, a restyled steering wheel, USB-C charging ports, wireless smartphone charging and a head-up display.

An assortment of 'My Bentley' connected-car services also feature, accessible even when a smartphone is not connected thanks to an inbuilt SIM card, and compatible with the 'My Bentley' smartphone app.

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A range of premium interior materials and colours are on on offer, with Koa and Crown Cut Walnut wood trim inlay options new for MY21.

The 2021 Bentley Bentayga Hybrid will go on sale in Europe in the northern summer of 2021.

Bentley's local arm has confirmed the plug-in Bentayga will make its way Down Under, though exact arrival timing has yet to be confirmed.

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Alex Misoyannis

Alex Misoyannis has been writing about cars since 2017, when he started his own website, Redline. He contributed for Drive in 2018, before joining CarAdvice in 2019, becoming a regular contributing journalist within the news team in 2020. Cars have played a central role throughout Alex’s life, from flicking through car magazines at a young age, to growing up around performance vehicles in a car-loving family.

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