Before the V6 and V8 models of Bentley’s venerable W12 are also phased out in 2030, the ultra-exclusive Batur signals the beginning of that era. Indeed, Crewe will go simply electric in seven years’ time, starting things off with a first EV booked to turn out in 2026. CEO Adrian Hallmark provided some juicy preliminary information about the company’s upcoming zero-emission models in a lengthy interview with British publication Autocar.
The head of the company plans to use two battery specifications, and the sporty Speed-badged models will benefit from what he calls “the W12 of batteries.” He went on to say that the electric motors will have 50 to 100 times the power of the current generation of internal combustion engines.
The 6.0-liter twin-turbo engine in the Batur has been tuned to a staggering 740 horsepower and 737 lb-ft of torque (1,000 Nm). Hallmark did not rule out the possibility of introducing a 1,400-horsepower electric vehicle with a 0 to 60 mph time of as little as 1.5 seconds in an interview with Automotive News Europe last year.
Taking everything into account, Bentley’s big boss guaranteed the EVs will actually want to cover 350 to 450 miles (563 to 724 kilometres) on a solitary charge. It will take less than 20 minutes to get the battery pack back up to 80% after you run out of juice. Trademark says these future EVs will have pretty much similar driving reach as the inefficient ICE models at a bargain today.
The CEO stated that Bentleys will continue to be Bentleys in terms of size, indicating that they will be imposing automobiles: Bentleys are what we build, not BEVs with Bentley badges on them.” He added that efficiency will be improved by making some concessions for improved aerodynamics.
E-fuels were also discussed by Hallmark in the same interview. The production capacity required to completely replace fossil fuels is still a long way off, despite the fact that he believes they are “really exciting” and that the technology has matured. Porsche, likewise an individual from the Volkswagen Gathering, began creation of manufactured fuel in late 2022 at its plant in Chile.
In the words of its CEO, Thomas Schäfer, the VW core brand stated earlier this week that discussions of e-fuel are “unnecessary noise” and ICE is “old technology.”
