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Major car brand to release its first ever ‘pure’ EV with four models to follow… but it might be missing its iconic look
Bentley already has a plug-in hybrid version of their Flying Spur
A MAJOR car brand is set to release its first ever "pure" EV with four models to follow.
Popular manufacturer Bentley is gearing up to launch, in 2025, the first of five electric models that will make up its model range by 2030.
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But the Bentley EV's design may feature a new "distinctive" look in order to stand out from the pack.
Bentley's design director Robin Page told : "You have to be honest about the fact that an EV doesn’t need a full, open grille so there’s an opportunity for a new kind of front feature, a chance to play with lights perhaps.
"Then, of course, your car has to be distinctive from a distance: you want people to recognise the new full-electric Bentley for what it is.
"We’ll have failed if it just looks like a heritage car.”
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However, Page said that designers are still taking full account of Bentley heritage.
He continued: "There are iconic elements in every successful Bentley in history.
"Ignore those and people will say what you’ve built isn’t a Bentley – that it has lost its identity.”
Page was also asked what stage they have reached with the first of Bentley's pure-electric models.
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He added: "We’re finishing the last refinements on the first car right now, and for various reasons time has been quite tight.
"Most of the work was done well before my arrival, but there have been some opportunities to influence a few things.”
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Bentley already have a plug-in hybrid version of their Flying Spur.
It plans to offer only plug-in hybrid and electric cars by 2026.
And the manufacturer wants to switch its entire lineup to fully battery-powered vehicles by the end of the decade.
Page worked in Bentley’s Crewe HQ for 17 years of his early career, rising to become head of interior design between 2001 and 2013.
These were the crucial years that produced the seminal Continental GT and launched Bentley into the modern era.
It comes as a British car startup is hoping to give luxury EVs manufacturers like Jaguar, Rolls-Royce and Bentley a run for their money.
Audi is seen as a big hitter in the luxury EV market with its SQ8 e-tron but other manufacturers are set to enter the field.
Jaguar already has a presence in the top-of-the-range market with its i-Pace but intends to relaunch next year.
Rolls-Royce has its Spectre which will set you back at least £330,000.
Forseven is reportedly well on the way developing a range of electric cars with a launch date expected towards the end of the decade.
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The new firm is being bankrolled by investment company CYVN Holdings, which is owned by the Abu Dhabi government, and who also have an interest in Chinese EV brand Nio.
CYVN Holdings bought a controlling interest last year in Gordon Murray Technologies, part of the Gordon Murray Group which is launching the T.50 and T.33 supercars.
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