Skip to main content

Bentley Hybrid Concept previews plug-in powertrain for 2017 SUV

There are big changes in store at Bentley. The prominent British carmaker is set to launch its first SUV, which will feature a plug-in hybrid powertrain.

That powertrain is previewed by the aptly-named Bentley Hybrid Concept, a plug-in version of the Mulsanne sedan set to debut at the 2014 Beijing Motor Show.

Bentley was mum on specifics, but the “6 3/4 Litre” badge in the concept’s engine bay indicates that it uses the same 6.75-liter V8 as the stock Mulsanne.

Hybridization increases power by 25 percent (presumably over the standalone V8) according to the carmaker, and a 70-percent decrease in CO2 emissions, although this is probably on the more optimistic European test cycle. The Hybrid Concept can also travel up to 31 miles on electric power alone.

Visually, the Hybrid Concept is distinguished from its less-green siblings by copper exterior and interior trim. It’s unclear what the connection between copper and zero-emission motoring is, but the stuff looks good on the grille bezel, headlights, brake calipers, and various other parts of this massive sedan.

Bentley says it is the first luxury brand to present a plug-in hybrid. The Porsche Panamera S E-Hybrid apparently doesn’t count, nor does the upcoming Mercedes-Benz S500 Plug-In Hybrid.

While it may not be the first, Bentley probably won’t be the last luxury brand to offer a plug-in hybrid.

As global emissions standards become more strict, even small-volume carmakers will have to have greener models in their fleets. That’s why Rolls-Royce is considering a plug-in hybrid of its own, and why Mercedes may one-up itself with an all-electric S-Class.

It’s also why Bentley may soon offer a plug-in version of every model it makes. Bentley Motors chairman and chief executive Dr. Wolfgang Schreiber says that “by the end of the decade, at least 90 percent of our production will be available as a plug-in hybrid.”

That’s good news for the buyer who can afford a Bentley, but can’t afford to keep its massive fuel tank brimmed with premium.

Stephen Edelstein
Stephen is a freelance automotive journalist covering all things cars. He likes anything with four wheels, from classic cars…
2024 Mercedes-AMG S63 E Performance first drive review: high-performance plug-in
Front three quarter view of the 2024 Mercedes-AMG S63 E Performance.

It's a time of transition at Mercedes-Benz. The venerable automaker is looking toward an electric future with EVs like the EQS, while introducing updated versions of its traditional internal-combustion models like the S-Class. The 2024 Mercedes-AMG S63 E Performance bridges the gap.

For those not fluent in Mercedes-speak, AMG is the automaker's performance version, and the S63 is a hot-rodded version of the S-Class. This 2024 model is the latest in a long line of big, powerful Mercedes sedans that combine limousine-like luxury with sports-car thrust. But this time, there's a twist.

Read more
Lamborghini is reinventing itself with the Revuelto plug-in hybrid
The Lamborghini Revuelto plug-in hybrid supercar.

The auto industry in a time of transition centered around electrification and connectivity. Even Lamborghini, long the wild child of the auto industry, has to take these trends into consideration. But Lamborghini always does things its own way.
The Lamborghini Revuelto is the replacement for the Aventador supercar, and the latest in a long line of V12-engined dream machines that includes the legendary Miura, Countach, Diablo, and Murciélago. But the Revuelto is a plug-in hybrid — Lamborghini's first — and includes more tech than ever, marking a big step for the brand in the same direction the rest of the industry is taking.
The Revuelto carries on the Lamborghini tradition of stunning supercars, but under the skin, it's more than just a collection of tech buzzwords, Lamborghini CTO Rouven Mohr emphasized in an interview during the car's North American debut in New York City. From the design of the plug-in hybrid powertrain to the hidden aerodynamic elements in the Revuelto's Instagram-worthy styling, Mohr explained how engineers are preserving the essence of Lamborghini in this high-tech age.

Fashionably late
Lamborghini was a trendsetter with the Miura and Countach, but this time it's fashionably late to the party. Plug-in hybrid supercars arrived in a big way roughly a decade ago when the Ferrari LaFerrari, McLaren P1, and Porsche 918 Spyder all appeared virtually simultaneously. McLaren recently returned to plug-in hybrid technology with its Artura, while the all-electric Rimac Nevera and Pininfarina Battista have completely abandoned combustion engines.
Lamborghini isn't ready to go all-electric, but after dabbling in electrification with the Sián FKP-37 and Countach LPI 800-4 hybrids, company brass did feel the time was right for a plug-in hybrid. Three electric motors — one powering each front wheel, and a third attached to the eight-speed dual-clutch transmission — enable limited electric driving, with energy stored in a 3.8-kilowatt-hour battery pack. It's all in keeping with the times.
"The social environment has changed," Mohr said, noting stricter emissions regulations and the persistent concern that European customers will eventually need some form of electric mode to access city centers. Technological improvements, such as more energy-dense batteries, as well as Lamborghini's schedule for replacing models also made this the right time to launch a plug-in hybrid, Mohr added.
It keeps the sound that makes Lamborghinis as dramatic to hear as they are to look at.

Read more
9 longest-range plug-in hybrids: get the best of both worlds
2020 Polestar 1

All-electric cars are here and becoming increasingly available, but not everyone is ready to make the jump to an EV. After all, while EVs are cheaper to run and maintain, they also require you spend the time and effort to charge them — and on longer drives, that can be a bit of a pain. That’s exactly where plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) come in.

Plug-in hybrids offer the best of both worlds. They have an electric motor and a battery to allow you to drive without using any gas, and they have an engine and gas tank to allow you to drive using gas. The result? Often, you can get around town and to work and back without using any gasoline — only engaging the gas engine when you’re driving longer distances. That means that you don’t have to stop and charge when you don’t want to.

Read more