If purists were reaching for the smelling salts when Bentley unveiled the Bentayga all those years ago, they’ll have a coronary upon learning the brand’s first all-electric vehicle will also be an SUV. As part of a presentation earlier this week, top Bentley boss Frank-Steffen Walliser (you know you’re appropriately tony to lead Bentley when you have a hyphenated first name) confirmed the model, saying it will shorter than the existing Bentayga, which spans about 5.2 metres (204 inches) from tip to tail. How much shorter is up for some debate, though Walliser mentioned it will be less than five metres, putting it potentially in league with compact sport-utes like the Porsche Macan.
Further details are scarce as hen’s teeth, though the company did elaborate that this as-yet unnamed EV will be an “urban SUV.” Paring back the marketing, this likely just means the vehicle will trade off-road chops for a buttery-smooth ride or 24-inch alloy wheels. Attracting new customers will be one goal of the model, suggesting its sticker price will be friendlier than a Bentayga’s, which currently starts around a quarter-million (though it is not difficult to massively inflate that price with options).
The car will also apparently have its own unique sound, in a nod to customers who feel that part of the sensory experience is very important. Don’t expect the pops and bangs of a Hyundai Ioniq 5 N, but some sort of strong V8-like soundtrack is likely. There is some irony in the fact that, for years, luxury automakers spent untold millions chasing extra noise out of their vehicles only to now be adding it back in. In fact, it used to be said the loudest thing in a British Bentley was the ticking of its dashboard clock — yet it seems the brand will be adding auditory theatre to the experience after it starts building EVs.
In the same wheelhouse, Mercedes-AMG also teased an electric SUV-esque machine this week, one which will likely compete with this new Bentley. Engineers at Merc promise over 1,000 horsepower from their creation; no word on what sort of output the Bentley will boast.
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