Bentley Could Use Porsche Platform for Future Electric Car

Sean Szymkowski
by Sean Szymkowski
bentley could use porsche platform for future electric car

Bentley is reportedly mulling a new model with an electric powertrain to help shrink its carbon footprint — and it will likely borrow a Porsche platform.

Automotive News reported Bentley could tap Porsche’s forthcoming PPE electric car platform for the vehicle. PPE will underpin a new generation of performance-oriented electric cars and is slated for production in 2021. It’s also a separate platform from Porsche’s J1 architecture, which will form the basis of the upcoming Taycan electric sedan.

Audi has also joined forces with Porsche to develop the PPE platform to help reduce costs on the new architecture. According to Porsche, development costs will be 30 percent less with Audi on board.

ALSO SEE: Porsche Taycan Will Have 600 HP and 310 Miles of Range

Should Bentley forge ahead with a new electric vehicle, it will likely be ready by 2025, per CEO Adrian Hallmark. A final decision hasn’t been made, but the opulent luxury brand will give the model a thumbs up or down in the next year, he said.

“Our target is definitely before 2025,” he said.

A Bentley electric car would help the brand reduce its carbon footprint drastically, especially as many countries implement more stringent emissions regulations. Bentley relies heavily on large sedans and the Bentayga SUV, most of which employ large internal-combustion engines. Thus far, Bentley has only focused on plug-in hybrids to reduce its environmental impact.

Bentley first hinted at an all-electric model this year when it revealed the EXP 12 Speed 6e at the Geneva Motor Show. The electric concept previewed an electric sports car, but it’s unclear if the brand will forge ahead with a two-seater model. Rather, a sedan or coupe seems more likely.

This article originally appeared on HybridCars.com

Sean Szymkowski
Sean Szymkowski

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