Last August, we received a comprehensive download from Bentley chief Wolfgang Dürheimer about the brand and the technologies that will drive its cars well into the future. We sat down again with Herr Dürheimer at the 2012 Detroit auto show to get an update on the automaker’s plug-in hybrid system and the state of the SUV that it hopes to add in the next few years.
Plugging Into VW’s Parts Bin
First, the plug-in hybrid: Don’t expect to see it until the next generation of Bentleys lands, and don’t expect the luxury brand to take the lead in its development. Rather, it will use technology that is shared with other brands in the Volkswagen Group.
Such a hybrid system is not something that Bentley needs to do on its own as a “matter of differentiation,” said Dürheimer. “For us, differentiation is styling, appearance, prestige, craftsmanship, luxury. For us, hybrid tech is a ‘need-to-have’,” he said, and it is perfectly appropriate for other brands, such as Audi and Porsche, to take the development lead. But lacking a need for differentiation certainly isn’t the only reason for that strategy; those larger brands not only have the greater experience and engineers necessary to develop the tech, and they also can absorb the development costs into their larger budgets. This is similar to when VW funded the architecture for Bentley’s current Continental line via its Phaeton program, although it’s likely many more VW Group brands will make use of the result in this particular case.
Dürheimer suggested that Audi’s new twin-turbo 4.0-liter V-8—it’s also installed in the new, entry-level Continental GT—would be the likely gasoline-powered component of the hybrid system, which will sandwich a motor-generator between the engine and transmission. However, since the W-12 is relatively short for its cylinder count, the electric motor fits behind it, too, Dürheimer said. He previously told us that he considered an electric-only range of 16 to 19 miles to be acceptable for a Bentley.
SUV is “The Possibility for Bentley to Grow,” Especially Important for International Markets
Dürheimer suggested before that a final decision on the proposed SUV would be made by the end of 2011. But “there is no decision yet. The end of the year was . . . very crowded.” When will we finally know? “Just a matter of weeks,” he said.
It doesn’t appear, however, that Dürheimer is waiting for final board approval. “The design process is already quite advanced,” he said. “The more time I have to investigate the situation, the more feedback I get from the market and from customers, the more encouraged I am to fight for this product and the more convinced I am that this is the possibility for Bentley to grow.” He added that it would be a vital product for markets like Russia, China, and, yes, the U.S.
As for the vehicle itself, it will be no dainty petunia. “It will not be a Hummer . . . but it will be on the large side.” The SUV almost certainly will be highly customizable, including a wealth of interior materials and a choice of four- or five-passenger configurations. It will be something that will be equally suited to driving and being driven in, Dürheimer suggested. “We think we will need to have a lot of space in the back; we need to have a comfort zone, good air conditioning in the back, and everything you need to be transported in the back.” We previously reported that a W-12 engine is likely, but we wouldn’t be surprised to see a V-8–powered base model, as well as the additional option of the aforementioned plug-in hybrid system. We’ll have more information as soon as Bentley sees fit to render its (apparently foregone) decision.
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