Liviu Marcus
In one of the major changes to its original roadmap of electrification, Bentley has reported that it will retain more internal combustion engines (ICE) in its high-end lineup than planned before. The luxury car maker belonging to the Volkswagen Group announced that all the following models, including Bentayga, Continental GT, and Flying Spur, will have an ICE variant and an electric motor variant.
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The Re-calibration of a Beyond 100 Vision
The Beyond 100 strategy, announced by Bentley several years ago, has an ambitious goal: to go fully ICE-free by 2035 and introduce a fully electric model line in 2025. Nevertheless, the last update made by the company suggests a slower change. CEO Frank-Steffen Walliser said that the move is informed by more significant changes in the Volkswagen Group, with other partner brands such as Audi and Porsche also delaying their electrification plans because of less demand than anticipated.
The demand for the luxury EVs has decreased, and customers are not high enough to prove a pure electric strategy yet, Walliser told a press briefing. The market of luxury cars nowadays is vastly different from that at the time of the Beyond 100 strategy. We are aiming at electrification, but we must get customers on our side as well.
Common Grounds and Common Forbearance
Bentley’s platform strategy closely aligns with its sister brands. A considerable number of its models have common high-performance powertrains, chassis, and engines with Porsche and Audi. This synergy means that the change made to the electrification plans on one side reflects on the other side. This has meant that the initial decision by Bentley to eliminate thermal engines by 2030 has been pushed by half a decade and now has a new deadline of 2035.
The models of the luxury brand are built on the same platform and main elements as Porsche, but poor sales have led Porsche to delay announcing electrification plans. We are unable to speed up the transition when our partners continue to lean on ICE.
The first Pure-Electric Model on the Horizon
Though the company is reassuring the customers that ICE options will not disappear, Bentley still plans to have an all-electric future. In 2026, the first pure electric vehicle to be introduced is the small urban SUV, which will serve the increasing need for sustainable luxury in urban settings. The new model will reflect the customary Bentley craftsmanship with the adoption of the latest battery technology.
Looking Ahead
We can view Bentley’s recalibration in the context of the delicate balance luxury automakers must strike between innovation and market reality. The brand plans to retain its customer base, maintain financial stability, extend the life of its ICE lineup, and continue investing heavily in electric mobility. The updated electrification roadmap of the company can also provide its partners, Porsche and Audi, with the time they require to develop their approaches.
In the end, the choice of Bentley is pragmatic: similarly, the company needs to move forward with electrification where demand is most evident, but it should not give up on the well-established performance and prestige of an internal combustion powertrain until the luxury market is, in fact, ready. The brand is likely to be one of the references of the continuous transformation of the industry; it is blending heritage with innovation.
