Bentley has now begun construction of a “Launch Quality Center” and “Engineering Technical Center” at its main Crewe plant in preparation for its transition to an all-electric car brand. Meanwhile, Bentley announced the launch of its first BEV model for 2026 – a year later than initially planned.
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The British vintage EV conversion company Lunaz Design made the Bentley S2 Continental into an electric car. According to Lunaz, this specific model is one of only four examples built in 1961 and has now been given a second life.
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The Volkswagen brand is on the brink of announcing a new head of design. According to German media, head designer Jozef Kaban will be replaced by Andreas Mindt on the 01 February, back from his post at Bentley. This was indicated by the new board of directors.
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The Volkswagen Group handed over 366,400 fully electric vehicles to customers in the first nine months of this year, around 25 per cent more than in the same period last year (293,000).
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Bentley has given a preview of the future design of its battery-electric cars. However, under the bonnet of the Mulliner Batur two-door coupé model, which has now been unveiled and is limited to 18 units, there is still an internal combustion engine.
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Because Volkswagen’s software subsidiary Cariad is far behind schedule in its development, the model planning of the group’s premium brands is being thrown into disarray, according to a media report. At Bentley, even the timetable for the transformation to a pure electric vehicle brand by 2030 is said to be wobbling.
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Shortly after Bentley confirmed the production of its first electric car at its main plant in Crewe, the British VW subsidiary presented an update of its ‘Beyond100’ strategy. According to the update, the first model will be followed by another electric model every year from 2025 onwards – i.e. five model series by 2030.
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Bentley will produce its first BEV model at its plant in Crewe, England, from 2025, the luxury car manufacturer has now officially confirmed. Bentley plans to invest £2.5 billion in the site and in research and development over the next ten years, with a particular focus on sustainability.
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The contract to build the Artemis models of Audi, Porsche and Bentley at VW Commercial Vehicles’ Hanover plant was considered a great success for the future of the plant. But now, according to a report in German media, two of the three brands want changes.
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After the SUV Bentayga, Bentley has presented its second plug-in hybrid. The Flying Spur saloon has a total range of over 700 kilometres but manages a purely electric range of 40 kilometres.
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Half a year ago, Bentley announced their plans to offer only BEVs and PHEVs from 2026 and focus exclusively on all-electric cars from 2030. Now Bentley CEO Adrian Hallmark revealed more details about the first BEV model in an interview.
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The Volkswagen Group just missed the EU’s CO2 fleet targets for 2020. The CO2 pool formed with other manufacturers fell short by around 0.5 g/km last year. By contrast, the VW and Audi brands exceeded their CO2 fleet targets, primarily due to the ramp-up of the ID.3 and rising e-tron sales.
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According to a media report, the concept for the first Audi model of the Artemis electric showcase project will be presented at the IAA this fall. There is also further information on the start of series production planned for the end of 2024 and possible offshoots in the VW Group.
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After a few tense weeks of power poker at Volkswagen, it has now been announced that Herbert Diess will remain Group CEO with the Group’s unequivocal backing for his strategy and leadership.
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A British consortium looks to establish a circular end-of-life supply chain ending in the UK’s first recycling facility for automotive battery packs on a commercial scale. Granted support through the Advanced Propulsion Centre (APC), project RECOVAS collects most of Britain’s remaining automotive players and specialists.
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Bentley is finally making the switch with their latest decision to transform into an all-electric premium carmaker over the next ten years. The Volkswagen brand presents the transition as part of the ‘Beyond100’ strategy.
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Volkswagen reportedly wants to put Bentley under the control of its subsidiary Audi, headed by Markus Duesmann, from mid-2021. An important role in this is to be played by Audi’s flagship electric project Artemis, which could form the basis for a luxury e-SUV for the British brand.
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Details are now available on the Artemis task force for highly automated electric cars by Audi. The first project will be a luxury class electric sedan that is in development under the working title Landjet. Audi considers a positioning above the current top model A8, possibly as the A9.
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VW’s luxury subsidiary Bentley has announced a three-year research project to improve the drive train of electric cars by means of a fully integrated e-axle without rare earth magnets.
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The British research project RaRE has set itself the goal of setting up a continuous supply chain to integrate recycled rare earth magnets into electric vehicles. Bentley is one of the companies involved in the project, which is led by HyProMag, a spin-off from the University of Birmingham.
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Volkswagen has officially confirmed its plan to increase its stake in JAC Volkswagen, its joint venture for electric mobility, and to invest around one billion euros in this. The Wolfsburg-based company will invest another billion in a Chinese battery specialist.
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According to Sales Director Chris Craft, Bentley will offer hybrid versions of all its models by 2023 and launch its first all-electric model by 2025 at the latest. However, both the details of the models’ rollout and their technical basis is still unclear.
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The British manufacturer is considering launching its first fully electric vehicle to help reduce it’s fleet emissions, as it is deemed that PHEVs alone will not suffice. The decision will fall within the year but there is commitment.
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Bentley has introduced a hybrid version of its first SUV called Bentayga. The model’s PHEV powertrain combines a V6 petrol engine with an electric motor, the latter enabling the common electric range of 50km.
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Bentley will present the plug-in hybrid version of its Bentayga SUV this March at the Geneva Auto Show. On sale is set for the second half of 2018.
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Volkswagen brands Audi and Bentley are looking to use Porsche’s Mission E technology to create their own luxury electric cars. Audi has named its variant e-tron GT, while Bentley gets in on the zero emission action under the working title Barnato.
Read moreHonda accelerates electrification: Each and every new Honda model launched in Europe will offer some form of electrification, be it it hybrid or all-electric. The hybrid Honda CR-V marks the start next year, followed by the Urban EV (we reported). The Japanese carmaker wants to make two thirds of its sales from electrified models by 2030 but aims to reach this target 5 years earlier in Europe.
carscoops.com, insideevs.com, hondanews.eu
Tesla decelerates for once and has rescheduled the presentation of its Semi truck. Initially due this month, it will now be shown on Onctober, 26 in Hawthorne, California. Taking a time out as well is Tesla VP Diarmuid O’Connell, who decided to depart after eleven years to spend more time with his family.
electrek.co, insideevs.com, teslarati.com (O’Connell)
Daimler’s all-electric truck however has just launched and the first four FUSO e-Canter have taken up their work at NGOs based in New York City. Serial production is on and 500 units shall be delivered to clients in the U.S., Europe and Japan over the next two years before production is to seriously scale up.
media.daimler.com
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Why would you name a racer Owl? Because you want to underscore its silent flight, well drive, as is the case with Aspark’s Owl that has seen the light of day at the IAA. With a carbon body it weighs just 850 kilos and is allegedly fast too, going from 0 – 100 in less than two seconds powered by a 320 kW two motor system and supercaps. Order on request from 2019.
autoblog.com, jalopnik.com
Bentley confirms plug-in plans: There is an electric sports car cooking that will utilise Porsche’s Mission E platform, Bentley CEO Wolfgang Dürheimer confirmed. A first concept appeared in Geneva this year where the EXP 12 Speed 6e wowed a crowd. Expect production to commence by the end of the decade but first there will be three Bentley PHEV, namely the Bentayga, Continental and Flying Spur.
autoexpress.co.uk
Luxury PHEV: Mercedes positions the S 560 e as the S 500 e’s successor at the IAA. The novel plug-in hybrid drive allows for electric cruising over 50 kilometres and offers 90 kW plus the 270 kW of the engine. It is the 8th model in Daimler’s plug-in line-up, only an on sale date is missing.
electriccarsreport.com, greencarcongress.com, media.daimler.com
UK sees more scrappage schemes: Five more carmakers have followed Ford, Mercedes and Hyundai by launching scrappage schemes in the UK. VW realises its plans and pays British drivers up to 6,000 pounds when they scrap older diesel cars and buy a new model of the VW group. Further schemes will be introduced by Nissan, Renault, Toyota and Kia – with saving potentials around 2,000 pounds. However, Nissan is the only carmaker to particularly encourage to buy EVs. While VW’s programme targets diesel cars the other schemes work with any car bought before 2010.
theguardian.com, autocar.co.uk, volkswagen.co.uk (VW), autocar.co.uk (Nissan), autocar.co.uk (Toyota), cardealermagazine.co.uk (Kia and Renault)
Toyota’s next hybrid generation: The Japanese carmaker shows its C-HR Hy-Power Concept at the Frankfurt Auto Show, developed by its European Design Centre in France. The first teaser photo hints to a sporty crossover version of the current C-HR, while the name promises higher performance. So far, the C-HR comes with a 1.8 litre combustion engine and a 122 PS electric motor.
carscoops.com, newsroom.toyota.eu
Showtime for the Project One: Ahead of Frankfurt’s IAA, Daimler presents a teaser of the Mercedes-AMG Project One, a hyper car full of Formula 1 hybrid tech, but created to conquer the road. Meanwhile also some vehicle specifications have been released: Thus, the two-seater’s output accumulates to more than 1000 hp, top speed is exceeding 350 km/h.
autocar.co.uk, carscoops.com, greencarcongress.com
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Alcraft promotes EV rendering: The British start-up has unveiled first pictures of its GT concept car and is about to show a 33-percent scale foam model at the Cenex LCV event at Millbrook this week. In order to create a full-size version, the company has launched a crowdfunding campaign, hoping to gather 600,000 pounds. The GT shall come with 3 motors, an output of 600 hp, a range of 480 km and be ready for production kick-off in 2019, according to the company’s plans.
autocar.co.uk, motor1.com, alcraftmotor.com
Vietnam to produce domestic cars: The country’s largest real-estate company Vingroup JSC intends to invest up to 3.5 bn dollars to enter the car production business. Its plans include to set up a manufacturing as well as a R&D complex and to create EVs along with sedans and sports vehicles for millions of Vietnamese. In a first phase, the company installs a factory worth 1 to 1.5bn dollars. The first cars shall roll off the lines within 2 years.
bloomberg.com, reuters.com, en.vietnamplus.vn
Hybrid version of Bentley’s Continental GT: While Bentley is about to put its next-gen Continental GT on display at the IAA event in Frankfurt, it confirms that the car will also be available as petrol-electric version, equipped with the same tech as the Panamera 4 E-Hybrid. The Continental GT Hybrid’s electric range shall cover 31 miles, further details have not yet been given.
autocar.co.uk
First Model 3 is out and real and truly looks like the pre-production version. Elon Musk tweeted the premier picture from the production run that has just started on Friday. A colleague bought him the Model 3 no. 1 for his 46th birthday but the EV maker hopes to produce up to 20,000 units a day comes December and as always, the plan is ambitious and will ultimately influence the stock market. There, Tesla has lost its pole position to GM again, after slightly disappointing deliveries in Q2.
twitter.com (first pic), marketwatch.com (shares)
Micro mobility by BMW: Motorbikes and bicycles are nothing new for BMW but this electric kick scooter is. Developed together with ZEG and distributed via Kettler, both bike makers, the X2City is classed as pedelec level, that assists up to 25 kph with a 35 km range. Expect a price below 2,500 euros comes autumn. Naturally, the stand-up scooter folds but its almost 20 kilos won’t be ideal to carry.
carscoops.com, bmwgroup.com
Renault Brilliance: Renault-Nissan also ventures into old-new markets as it acquires 49 percent of Brilliance’s bus business to strengthen its position in China’s light commercial vehicle sector. The JV partners will invest a combined 1.5bn yuan (221m dollars) and most of the LCVs will be electrified.
forbes.com, renault.com
Poland on the offensiv-e? ‘Electromobility Poland’ is the government-led tender to make a small electric car in and for Poland. Projected start for serial production is by 2018/19 and the jury is currently looking into over 90 applicants. Meanwhile though, two more electric models have emerged. One local company is working on electrifying the Fiat 500, another on a van àla StreetScooter.
gtai.de (in German)
Audi FE takeover complete: As it takes over ABT entirely, Audi is now officially and fully involved in the Formula E. Team ABT Schaeffler Audi Sport is the current runner-up in the championship and the carmaker is working on new drivetrains too.
electricautosport.com
Hybrid Bentley caught: As the Brits work on their plug-in hybrid, it got banned on film – well, in pixels, that show the SUV Bentayga PHEV during testing.
autoblog.com, motor1.com
Tesla model update: Elon Musk has kept Twitter busy these days as he pronounced the Semi-Truck ready for presentation this September. Together with plans for a pick-up within the next 24 months and ideas like the Model Y or the mini-bus being kept afloat, the Tesla count has risen to eight EVs in total by now. While half are at concept stage at the most, the Tesla boss has confirmed the unveiling of the final production Model 3 this July.
Semi-Truck, Model 3 July, All 8 models, insideevs.com
Hyundai H2 lux SUV in NYC: Genesis has taken off the veil of its GV80 fuel cell concept at the New York International Auto Show. The Korean premium brand’s SUV carries Hyundai’s hydrogen technology under the hood but as part of a plug-in set-up.
insideevs.com, greencarcongress.com, electriccarsreport.com
Clarity: Honda has made its green car trio complete at the New York show, where it revealed its the plug-in hybrid and electric variants alongside the already available Clarity Fuel Cell. Together they shall bring Honda sales of 75,000 Clarity vehicles in the first four model years in the States alone.
electriccarsreport.com, greencarcongress.com
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Bentley to borrow from Porsche? It looks like the Mission E may not be exclusive to just one VW luxury brand but could make it into an electric Bentley, too. While the Brits have not made any definite announcement, they did eye the tech Porsche is currently developing for its electric model, Automotive News reports. After all, a sporty drive would suit the two-seater EXP 12 Speed 6e EV Concept Bentley just displayed in Geneva and Volkswagen is looking into synergies wherever it can.
autonews.com via carscoops.com
Sino-Swedish synergies are also what Volvo seeks for its first ever EV. The Geely-owned carmaker said it will utilise the same factory in Chinese Luqiao, that shall also make Lync’s 01 and the Volvo XC40. The Swedes aim for a price below 40,000 dollars, hence the production abroad that is to start by 2019. The outreach is global however and Shanghai will show if the electric model will indeed be build from the ground up as has been suggested.
autoblog.com, carscoops.com, hybridcars.com
Jeep teases electrification: In the run-up to Shanghai, Jeep has released first sketches of what may be called the Yuntu EV in both China and the rest of the world. The SUV is a plug-in hybrid and the first attempt by the off-road brand to go electric, at least a little bit.
carscoops.com, hybridcars.com
