Geneva gallery: new Bentley Bentayga hybrid

New plug-in hybrid offers up to 31 miles of electric range.

Rachel Burgess

by Rachel Burgess

6 March 2018

Follow @theburgeword

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Bentley has revealed its first ever plug-in hybrid, the Bentayga hybrid, at the Geneva motor show.

It's the brand’s first step towards electrification which will culminate in the launch of a pure electric mid-sized sports car by 2020.

The model, which is capable of up to 31 miles of electric-only range, uses an electric motor with a turbocharged 3.0-litre V6 petrol engine, the same set-up used in the Porsche Panamera E-Hybrid. The motor acts as both an electric motor and a generator. Performance figures have not yet been revealed but a total output of 450bhp is expected.
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Efficiency

It is the car maker’s most efficient model yet, emitting CO2 emissions of 75g/km on an NEDC cycle. Price is not confirmed either, but will sit below the current most expensive model, the Bentayga W12, which costs £162,700 in the UK and $232,800 in the US. Order books will open later this year.
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Modes

The standard Bentayga’s automatic start-stop switch is replaced with a control for three E Modes – EV Drive, Hybrid Mode and Hold Mode, all of which help manage battery usage.

There is also a revised infotainment screen and driver’s infotainment panel with information on performance, consumption and energy source.
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Tech

The navigation calculates the best usage of the electric motor and engine for each journey while a new mobile phone app enables remote battery charging, heating and cooling. On a standard household socket, full charge of the battery takes 7.5 hours. However those with a specific charging connection installed at home can reduce charge time to 2.5 hours.
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Badging

Bentley has collaborated with design Philippe Starck to create a recharging unit for Bentayga Hybrid customers, which is intended to keep cables “neat and safe” while acting as a “functional piece of art”.

The only visual differences to a combustion-engined Bentayga are copper-coloured ‘Hybrid’ badging on the lower front doors and tailgate and a copper finish to the wheel centres and Bentley badges. Inside, the tread plates will also read ‘Hybrid’.
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More models

Bentley confirmed last year that it will eventually offer plug-in hybrid variants of all its models. Its pure electric model, a mid-sized sports car, is expected to share a platform with the Porsche Mission E meaning it will be bigger than Bentley’s electric EXP12 Speed 6e concept shown at the 2017 Geneva show.
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Bentley has previously said that it intends to be the leader in electrification in the luxury segment.
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