The Bentley Continental GT will be the next vehicle from the prestigious brand to gain a plug-in hybrid option.
Bentley plans to offer only plug-in hybrid (PHEV) and all-electric vehicles by 2026, as it gears up to go all-electric by 2030.
The Continental GT plug-in hybrid will join PHEV versions of the Bentayga SUV and Flying Spur sedan.
Although it looks like a regular Continental GT, you can tell it’s a PHEV from the round fuel filler cap on the right-hand side and squarer charging flap on the left-hand side.
Though there’s a 12 badge on the front fender between the front wheel arch and the door, typically indicating a car powered by Bentley’s W12 powertrain, it’s highly unlikely Bentley will produce a W12 PHEV.
For now it’s unclear what Bentley plans to put under the bonnet of the Continental GT exactly, though it could borrow a powertrain from the Bentayga or Flying Spur PHEVs.
The Bentley Bentayga Hybrid is powered by a 3.0-litre twin-turbo V6 petrol engine with an electric motor and a 17.3kWh lithium-ion battery pack. Total system outputs are 330kW of power and 700Nm of torque.
The Flying Spur Hybrid on the other hand is powered by a 2.9-litre twin-turbo V6 petrol engine with an electric motor and a 14.1kWh lithium-ion battery. Total system outputs are 400kW and 750Nm.
This PHEV powertrain in the Flying Spur Hybrid is very similar the Porsche Panamera 4 E-Hybrid‘s.
It’s worth noting the Bentley Continental GT is based on the Volkswagen Group MSB platform, which also underpins the Bentley Flying Spur and Porsche Panamera.
We could therefore see the Panamera Turbo S E-Hybrid’s 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 plug-in hybrid powertrain, which produces total outputs of 514kW and 870Nm.
Bentley engineering boss Matthias Rabe recently told Autocar in September 2021 that there’s demand from Bentley customers who want an electrified GT that can drive on all-electric power in metropolitan areas.
The current, third-generation of the Bentley Continental GT was first revealed in 2017 and went on sale locally in 2018.
The Continental GT is currently available in both coupe and convertible body styles, with a choice of a 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 or a 6.0-litre twin-turbo W12.
The convertible is only available with the V8.
In the last six months, Bentley has revealed three different versions of the Continental GT. These include the Continental GT Mulliner Blackline, Continental GT S, and the Continental GT Mulliner W12.
Bentley plans to go both all-electric and carbon neutral by 2030.
The British automaker has also previously pledged to reveal its first electric vehicle (EV) in 2025 and bring it to market in 2026.
Overseas reports indicate the first EV will be an SUV, potentially a version of the next Bentayga or perhaps an all-new nameplate.
It could even be built on the PPE platform which is planned to underpin the Porsche Macan EV, Audi Q6 e-tron, and the Audi A6 e-tron.
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