Category Archives: Hybrid

2025 Bentley Flying Spur Speed

September 23, 2024 Francis Mitterrand

In 2005, Bentley began production of its full-size car, the Flying Spur. Almost two decades later, the fourth generation of this model arrived on the market as the ultra-luxury sedan Bentley Flying Spur Speed.

At first glance, many will say that this generation is identical to the previous one. However, the Speed is still different from the previous model. It is equipped with Bentley Performance Active chassis, four-wheel steering system, Bentley Dynamic Ride suspension, active torque distribution system and electronically controlled limited slip differential. All this allows for better handling in aggressive driving, but also significantly improved comfort when cruising, and the driver can choose between Comfort, Bentley or Sport mode.

Bentley offers many different configurations, colors and shade combinations, 700 leather combinations, wood choices and much more. Passengers can now enjoy front seats with an integrated Active Bat Transducers system, Wellness Seating Specification for all four seats, which ensures passengers stay relaxed and refreshed. This function together with body position adjustment and automatic seat climate ensures maximum comfort by optimizing body temperature and also adjusts the pressure on the muscles to eliminate fatigue during long drives. There is also a Naim system with 19 speakers and a power of 2,200W, an air conditioning system with air ionizers, a particle filter and smart integration with the navigation system. Over-the-air upgrades will bring new features including a “green light prediction” system to help the driver navigate urban environments more easily.

When it comes to the powertrain, Bentley ditched the 600 hp 6.0-liter W12 engine and replaced it with a new plug-in hybrid 4.0-L V8 twin-turbo engine with 600 hp (441 kW) and a single electric motor (190 hp/140 kW) with a total output of 782 hp (575 kW) and 737 lb-ft (1,000 Nm) of torque. That’s enough to accelerate the Speed from 0 to 100 km/h in 3.5 seconds, which is 0.3 seconds slower than the old model. It is equipped with a 25.9 kWh battery that enables a range of 76 kilometers. The battery can be fully charged in 2 hours and 45 minutes.

Source: Bentley

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Hybrid

2025 Kaiyi Kunlun X7 iHD

September 22, 2024 Francis Mitterrand

The new Chinese car manufacturer Kaiyi Auto is coming to the European market and at the beginning of September they presented their three cars e-Qute 02, X3 Pro EV and Kunlun X7 iHD, from which the company has the highest expectations.

The story of Kaiyi Auto began four years ago as a brand of the Cowin Auto company, with a focus on two markets, Asia and Europe, but with a plan to expand to other markets as well. Cowin Auto was founded in 2014, focused on young people, with a 51 percent ownership share of the company Yibin Automobile Industry and a 49 percent share of the Chinese and global giant Chery Automobile.

The more luxurious Kaiyi Kunlun X7 iHD is a modern design SUV with a Chinese style interior. 4.74 meters long with a wheelbase of 2.82 meters and comes with 5 and 7 seats. The car’s cabin is equipped with a 12.3-inch full LCD instrument panel and a 14.6-inch central control screen, as well as ambient lighting.

When it comes to the powertrain, the X7 iHD is powered by a 1.5T gasoline engine combined with two electric motors for a total output of 338 hp (248 kW) and 386 lb-ft (523 Nm) of torque, mated to a DHT dual-clutch transmission. It goes from 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 7.7 seconds, and the 22.48 kWh CATL lithium-iron-phosphate battery provides an electric range of 150 km, or a total range of 1,200 km according to the Chinese CLTC standard.

Kaiyi Auto hopes that the car will attract a large number of buyers with its price, which should be less than 20,000 euros. On the Chinese market, the X7 iHD costs 99,000 yuan (about 12,900 euros).

Source: Cowin Auto

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Hybrid

The new Bentley Continental GT Speed is powered by a Hybrid V8

June 29, 2024 Francis Mitterrand

After Bentley recently stopped offering its most powerful 6.0-L W12 engine, and replaced it with a plug-in hybrid system with a 4.0-L V8 engine that powers the Continental GT Speed.

The redesigned Continental GT is the first Bentley model that, in the Speed version, is powered by a 4.0-L biturbo V8 engine in combination with an electric motor supported by 25.9 kWh batteries that, due to the distribution of mass by axles (49:51), are located in the rear of the luxurious four-seater. The car is available as a Coupé and Cabrio version, and Bentley says that the batteries ensure an electric range of up to 80 kilometers (WLTP) and a speed of 130 km/h.

Talking about the design, the new Continental GT is inspired by the Bacalar and Batur models, but this time there are no twin headlight housings that have graced Bentley cars for years.

When it comes to the powertrain, the new 4.0-L biturbo V8 engine combined with an electric motor delivers a total of 790 hp (589 kW) and 737 lb-ft (1,000 Nm) of torque. Power is sent to all wheels via an 8-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. The GT Speed Coupé reaches 100 km/h (62 mph) in 3.4 seconds with a top speed of 335 km/h (208 mph). The GTC Speed has an electronically limited top speed of 285 km/h (177 mph).

Production will begin in Q4 2024, and the first deliveries are expected by the end of the year.

Source: Bentley

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