Bentley Announces Expansion of Beyond100 Strategy and Delays Electrification Timeline

Bentley, the luxury automobile brand, has announced that it will be expanding its "Beyond100" commercial strategy to a new iteration called "Beyond100+." This move aims to accommodate changing market demands, particularly in the face of increasing demand for electric vehicles.

The company also revealed plans for its first-ever fully-electric SUV, which is expected to hit the market in 2026. The current timeline for Bentley's electrification has been pushed back to 2035, a move officials attributed to high demand for plug-in hybrid models worldwide, including China.

To further extend the lifespan of its plug-in hybrid vehicles, Bentley will offer all model variants with an engine choice between electric and plug-in hybrid configurations. This is in response to sustained market interest for these types of powertrains. Specifically, Bentley has noted that many global markets, including China, have shown a positive reception towards their plug-in hybrids.

The upcoming fully-electric SUV has been speculated upon through unofficial visuals shared by media outlets, which depict the vehicle sporting a sloping rear roofline associated with a sporty, muscular design profile. Additional unique aspects to note from these visuals include its bold wheel lines at both front and rear ends and an enhanced recognizability at its rear section with heightened visibility provided due to prominent tail lights.

In relation to its size, Bentley noted that the new vehicle would have a length not exceeding 5 meters. Its longer model siblings - the Bentayga and Continental GT Convertible - offer lengths of approximately 5.1 and 5.3 meters, respectively.

This latest development will include a range of exciting capabilities and powertrain innovations that are yet to be revealed publicly. Noteworthy among them is an all-new car application portal titled "My Bentley App Studio." Designed specifically for China’s fast-evolving tech landscape, this suite aims at delivering seamless integration with the digital ecosystem available there.

The app's purpose extends beyond the comfort of everyday life to a wider range of functionalities that may be employed to control vehicle settings or access third-party mobile applications directly from within the cabin. The system is designed so it can operate independently without needing a smartphone to do its work, thus ensuring safety and stability even while driving.

On another notable note, Bentley offered a glance at their existing Chinese client demographics in China where they possess one of the most youthful client bases, with an average age of just 39. This not only indicates that these clients are directly linked to the economic boom currently unfolding within countries like China but also serves as evidence for how Bentley is continually embracing and showcasing modern luxury as a core aspect of their branding.

Interestingly, it has also been noted that there’s considerable differentiation seen in demographics across different models at Bentley - notably, more women appear to be opting into front-seat drivers across various variants. Conversely, behind the scenes of this latest announcement, Bentley's fleet of SUVs are found to have an overwhelming proportion consisting of company executives from various industries.

Moving forward, we will continue to monitor details for further information regarding the release date and market positioning strategies surrounding Bentley’s most recent expansion into electric vehicles.