Bentley Boss Details Electrification Plans

Bentley CEO Adrian Hallmark has been at the head of the British automaker since February, but he has some big ideas. One thing Bentley has noticeably missed out on is the electrification push, but that’s about to end.

Autocar sat down with Hallmark recently, and what was discussed is pretty interesting. Hallmark admitted that five years ago he thought hybrids were wasteful and something Bentley owners didn’t want. After seeing Porsche make hybrids the top-tier models, Hallmark is a believer. There’s already the Bentayga Hybrid, with a Flying Spur Hybrid testing in the field. By 2025 Bentley will have a hybrid version of every model.

That’s not all. Hallmark discussed pure-electric vehicles as well, but he wasn’t quite as optimistic about them. While he admitted over a third of Bentley owners have considered getting an EV, he also said Bentley needs to be careful about how it designs them. Nothing about the Bentley experience can be lost with a purely electric vehicle, especially overall craftsmanship.

Hallmark also revealed that a smaller SUV that would be attractive to younger shoppers is in the development stage. He noted Millennials don’t want sports cars, but instead like the idea of something luxurious and utilitarian.