Bentley Beyond100, the ten-year roadmap that will transform the British firm

The first electric car from Bentley already has a presentation deadline: it will be unveiled at some point in 2025. And this seems set to be the backbone of the roadmap in its Beyond100 strategy, the Crewe-based firm’s bid to position itself as the most sustainable luxury brand.

To achieve this, the British manufacturer will go from being the largest builder of V12 engines to phasing out petrol-powered engines entirely, exclusively equipping its models with electric systems for propulsion and for storing the energy needed to run every one of the Bentley systems from 2030. From that year onwards, all Bentley models will be electric and petrol will be a thing of the past.

Before, but shortly after, the unveiling of the first electric Bentley, by 2026 all models must be either plug-in hybrids or 100 percent electric, meaning the firm’s lineup will offer either Bentley PHEVs or Bentley BEVs.

Closer to the present, in fact announced for next year, 2021, the portfolio of the firm, which is part of the Group led and named by Volkswagen, has scheduled the debut of two new releases: two plug-in hybrid variants of already known models. Given that the Bentley SUV, the Bentayga, was the first to adopt a hybrid electric configuration, it seems to point to the arrival of the Bentley Continental GT PHEV and the new Bentley Flying Spur, but as plug-in hybrids.

In search of a balance between luxury and sustainability

We mention its status as a brand belonging to the consortium headed and named by Volkswagen because, as such, the Beyond100 challenge also represents a complete shift in the line of work and, therefore, in how Bentley builds its products.

In fact, from the outset, its commitment to accelerating compliance with the agreements of the Paris climate summit is already announced, and Volkswagen, as a brand, has already accepted and sought to implement this by taking steps to accelerate the reduction of carbon dioxide production and emissions in favour of achieving a neutral balance over the lifetime of the cars manufactured.

Furthermore, Bentley assures that, from now on, it will pursue the inclusion of sustainable materials which, without in any way detracting from the quality and luxury of those currently used, among which noble or high-end materials stand out, will turn to products of another nature, capable of replacing traditional ones while offering greater respect for the environment.