Gone for more than three years, the arrival of the Bentley Continental GT Hybrid seems to be closer. The manufacturer is reconsidering the launch of the plug-in hybrid version after the interest shown by some customers in a low-emission version of the British coupe, and that at Motor.es we show you in scoop.
It has been no less than three years since we hunted the Bentley Continental GT Hybrid conducting tests in southern Europe. The British firm surprised everyone with a unit of the sports car devoid of camouflage and with a cap over the muscular left wheel arch, like all plug-in hybrids of the Volkswagen group.
From those spy photosLittle more was learned that the mechanical configuration would be shared with the Bentayga Hybrid. Now, Matthias Rabe, Bentley’s head of engineering, has pointed out in an interview with a well-known British media that “there is some interest in an electrified Continental GT from Bentley customers who live in metropolitan areas and will need a car capable of running with zero emissions in new areas.
Bentley studies the ideal mechanical set for the Continental GT Hybrid
The German, who has designed the electrification roadmap for the Crewe brand, is aware that the first electric model of the brand will not arrive until 2025 and that the emission standards are increasingly tough, so that a part of its models could not access the urban center of the big capitals, which requires an additional effort to expand the offer of low-emission models, beyond the Bentayga Hybrid and Flying Spur Hybrid, the first now on sale.
What’s more, Rabe pretends prioritize a Continental GT Hybrid over high-performance versions, dropping that the current Continental GT range you do not have a Supersport or a GT3-R planned in its product plan, adding that “We are investigating various options in the experimental prototype stage, talking to customers and testing the market’s appetite.” Words with great meaning, as it shows that that prototype sighted has not been put in a drawer indefinitely as it usually happens.
The question now is the mechanical configuration, and if the plug-in hybrid package of the Bentayga and Flying Spur is sufficient in terms of CO2 emissions. The 3.0-liter V6 biturbo engine and its associated electric motor perform a maximum power of 449 CV, having a maximum autonomy in electric mode of almost 50 kilometers thanks to a lithium-ion battery with 17.3 kWh capacity. Rabe and his team will have to fine tune to lower CO2 emissions to a maximum of 50 g / km, or slightly less, as in the SUV they amount to up to 79 g / km.