Bentley's Exclusive EV Strategy Just Collapsed, and the Timing is Significant | Carscoops

      The upcoming Bentayga, Continental, and Flying Spur will be sophisticated yet powered by gasoline.

      Bentley has renounced its previous target of solely electric sales by 2035.

      Future flagship models will again include gasoline options.

      The brand's first electric vehicle is set to debut in 2026, followed by yearly plug-in models.

      Bentley’s future direction has taken an unforeseen turn. Recently, spy photographers captured the brand’s electric crossover undergoing tests, yet the company is retracting its electric-only ambitions. This marks yet another shift for Bentley, which initially planned to transition to exclusively selling electric vehicles by 2030, later postponing that goal to 2035, and now it remains uncertain.

      In an interview with Autocar, Bentley CEO Frank-Steffen Walliser suggested that the change was influenced by Audi and Porsche. The three brands are interconnected through shared platforms, powertrains, and parts. Consequently, their choice to keep internal combustion engines available has affected Bentley.

      Gasoline Options Remain Available

      Thus, we can anticipate gasoline-powered variants of the next-gen Bentayga, Continental, and Flying Spur. This decision seems to cater to North American and Middle Eastern markets, where ultra-luxury electric vehicles are less favored. Walliser noted, “There is a decrease in demand for luxury electric vehicles, and consumer interest is not yet robust enough to justify an all-electric approach.”

      Despite this shift, Bentley is still committed to electrification and aims to introduce a new plug-in hybrid or electric vehicle annually, beginning in 2026. This will commence with their electric Urban SUV and is likely to place more emphasis on plug-in hybrids in the future.

      Performance with Electrification

      While the outlook remains unclear, photographers have already spotted a high-performance version of the Continental GT Speed. It is expected to revive the Supersports name and will likely feature a powerful plug-in hybrid setup, which includes a twin-turbo 4.0-liter V8, an electric motor, and a 25.9 kWh battery pack. This configuration is anticipated to result in a total output exceeding 771 hp (575 kW / 782 PS).