Bentley is hard at
work expanding their all-new Continental GT lineup, looking to add a
convertible, a high-powered Speed version and this, an electrified plug-in
hybrid model. The Conti GT PHEV looks pretty much just like the
regular model, except for a few minor tweaks and the presence of a secondary
fuel cap/charge port, positioned on the opposite rear fender, as seen on this
prototype.
Most signs point to
Bentley utilizing the same plug-in hybrid power unit that’s currently in the
Bentayga PHEV, for the electrified Continental GT. It’s a 3.0-liter
turbocharged V6 petrol, working alongside an electric motor and a still
undisclosed battery pack. If the specs are anything like in the Bentayga, then
the Conti should also be able to offer an all-electric range in excess of 50 km and CO2 emissions as low as 75g/km.
What’s interesting
is that this is actually a reworked version of the Porsche Panamera 4
E-Hybrid’s power unit, which means that we can actually fall back on some
numbers here. The Porsche puts down a total of 462 PS, can hit 100 km/h in 4.6 seconds, can hit 140 km/h in pure electric mode, and
will top out at 278 km/h.
Now, it’s worth
mentioning that Bentley could give their Continental GT PHEV a bigger power
train, specifically the 680 PS one in the Panamera Turbo S E-Hybrid,
but at this point it’s pure speculation. Still, it would definitely result in
improved straight line performance, worthy of a large luxury performance coupe.
The Continental GT PHEV should feature the same
interior goodies as its ICE-powered siblings, meaning natural leather surfaces,
hand-polished chrome inserts, hand-fitted wooden inlays, plus that gorgeous
12.3-inch “retina-quality” infotainment display.
Bentley isn’t
likely to begin customer deliveries for the Continental GT PHEV until 2020,
meaning that the unveiling should take place next year.
Cr : Carscoops
