Bentley was once bullish on electrification, unveiling the EXP 100 concept in 2019 and pledging to go fully electric by the end of the decade. Recently, however, as global enthusiasm for EVs wanes, the brand has slowed its plans—now targeting 2035 and beyond. In fact, Bentley is even preparing to launch new combustion-powered models in the near future.
During a recent virtual press conference, CEO Frank-Steffen Walliser confirmed that the company is developing a new combustion vehicle. He emphasized that while electric models—such as the upcoming Urban SUV—are still in the pipeline, traditional gas engines will continue to play a role for the foreseeable future.
'We would like to continue to satisfy customers with the choice of powertrains… We will see another ICE Bentley before the end of the year.'
This aligns with reports from September, when Walliser stated that Bentley would continue investing in combustion-powered vehicles for the next several years. Current models—such as the Continental GT, Flying Spur, and Bentayga SUV—will retain their gasoline engines alongside plug-in hybrid (PHEV) and, eventually, fully electric (BEV) options for select variants.
We’ve already seen teasers of the upcoming Continental GT Supersports, which may be the combustion model Walliser referenced. Rumors suggest that this high-performance version of the Continental GT will abandon its hybrid setup in favor of a pure gasoline engine driving only the rear wheels.
We should learn more about Bentley’s future plans in the coming months.
