Introducing
the very latest on-board technology and an even more cosseting cabin, the new
Bentayga is significantly revised both inside and out from the previous
generation. Subtle exterior badging complements the new Bentayga’s exterior
design now prevalent across the entire model range, giving Bentley the freshest
and most modern product family of any luxury car company.
Chairman
and Chief Executive of Bentley Motors, Adrian Hallmark, commented,“The Bentayga
Hybrid is the next step on our journey to becoming the world’s leading
sustainable luxury mobility company. Bentley will transform from a 100-year-old
luxury car company to a new, sustainable, wholly ethical role model for luxury,
and the Bentayga Hybrid is the first model to pioneer our company’s recently
announced Beyond100 strategy.”
Bentley’s
research shows over 90 per cent of customers use their first generation Bentayga
Hybrid on a daily basis or several times a week, and nearly 100 per cent of
customers use EV mode, with half of them consistently undertaking journeys of
less than 30 miles.
The
Bentayga Hybrid’s electrified powertrain consists of 12 main components in
three key areas. Firstly the distribution of electricity; the charge point is located
on the left-hand side of the car, opposite the fuel flap and is specific to the
region of the vehicle. An LED provides a visual indicator showing the state of
charge of the battery, which can be charged at a rate of 7.2kW/h. The 17.3 kWh
lithium battery consist of 168 individual cells with an expected life of
100,000 miles or eight years, and can be charged to 100 per cent in as little
as two and a half hours (region specific).
The
power electronics convert the energy stored from the high voltage battery to
supply the E Motor or
supplement
the existing 12v vehicles electrical infrastructure. Conversion of stored
energy into smooth, effortless performance is via the 94 kW (126 bhp) E Motor
which can produce up to 258 lb.ft (350 Nm) of torque. The E Motor is housed
within the transmission between the gearbox and internal combustion engine and
can deliver full torque instantaneously from stationary, providing silent and
rapid vehicle acceleration.
A
3.0 litre twin turbocharged V6 engine supplements the E Motor when additional
torque is required or when speeds above 84 mph are requested. To warn
pedestrians of the vehicle’s near silent movement, a dedicated speaker emits an
exterior sound at low speeds.
The
Bentayga Hybrid not only has different drive modes but can also use the information
stored via the Bentley Hybrid Efficiency Navigation system to achieve the very
best efficiency, via feedback through the throttle pedal. The Bentley Hybrid
Efficiency Accelerator Pedal provides a pressure point when in EV Drive to
denote the boundary between pure electric and hybrid power. This encourages the
driver to stay in EV Drive for as long as possible but can also be disabled if
required.
Bentley
Hybrid Efficiency Braking blends seamless integration of braking between the E
Motor and conventional hydraulic braking, to provide a conventional feel to the
brake pedal for comfort and the driving experience while maximising
recuperation of energy. A dedicated button allows control over the three E
Modes – EV Drive, Hybrid Mode and Hold Mode. These will enable the driver to
manually manage battery usage during a journey – though this can also be
managed automatically by the car.
EV
Drive mode is engaged as soon as the car is switched on, and maximises the
electric driving experience. This is ideal for city driving and for shorter journeys.
The Bentley Hybrid Efficiency Accelerator Pedal provides feedback to the driver
using a pressure point to denote the boundary between pure electric and hybrid
power. Using predictive data from the Bentley Hybrid Efficiency Navigation
database, the pedal will vibrate when approaching a junction or speed limit
decrease, advising the driver to lift off the throttle, saving energy whilst
also giving the maximum opportunity for regeneration.
Haptic
feedback through the throttle pedal of the transition between the E Motor
disengaging and the internal combustion engine starting encourages the driver
to stay in EV Drive for as long as possible, maximising efficiency. In pure electric
drive, the E Motor continues to function up to speeds of up to 84mph. Hybrid
Mode maximises vehicle efficiency and range using data from the intelligent
navigation system. This mode is suited for longer journeys and uses predictive
E-Mode and engine coasting whilst following directions from the navigation
system. Inputting a destination, the car will automatically engage the correct
Drive Mode for each part of the journey, constantly calculating the most
efficient use of battery charge and storing electrical energy for sections of
the journey where it is most useful – such as when arriving in the city. The system
will reduce on-board charge to zero just as the vehicle reaches its destination,
maximising overall efficiency.
Hold
Mode balances engine and electric power to hold high voltage battery charge for
later use. This is the default mode when in Sport is to provide consistent
boost and recuperation.