The world of SUVs is getting bigger, and this time with a luxurious plug-in hybrid (PHEV) from Bentley.
Do We Need A Luxury PHEV?
We can’t help but wonder what BMW started with the Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV) trend in the 90s that finally won over staunchly opposed Ferrari, Maserati, Alfa Romeo, Porsche and more! And with the latest additions of unlikely SUVs, Bentley steps in with its own PHEV.
While we’ve heard the company talk about its Bentayga prototype for a few years, to date nothing has materialized. It finally announced it is working on a PHEV SUV and thus will keep up with the competition. So what exactly can the old British brand bring to the table with a PHEV these days? Part of the VW empire, Bentley has access to a lot of resources and is aiming high in a narrow market for its clientele.
We’re in another world here. Small efficient electric vehicles (EV) be gone! We’re talking people haulers here. The Bentley PHEV is an ultra-luxurious SUV based on the regular model. Instead of only the original 3.0L V6 powerplant, an electric motor lends a hand moving this hefty cruiser around. So far most of those first-time PHEV SUVs have roughly around 16 to 18 miles of pure electricity range, rarely going above 20. Although the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV review we did showed the PHEV could reach close to 40 miles, this Bentley claims 31 miles of pure electric driving. Still, all of this gives you 12 MPG in city driving and 19 MPG on highways. ‘Nuff said!
One noteworthy design comment according to Engadget is that famed French designer Philippe Starck designed the charging station’s look and feel.
Bentley adds a feature that will be appreciated by first time users, a GPS positioning system calculating the best routes for electric or hybrid mode, helping to make sure you won’t run out of electricity before you arrive at your destination. Of course, the cabin offers LTE and WiFi for the rest of the passengers.
Some People Need A Luxurious PHEV SUV
In the end we know one thing for sure. There is a seat for every posterior out there. Bentley hasn’t revealed yet the price of the Bentayga PHEV but plans to offer it for orders around the second half of 2018.
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