British luxury vehicles major Bentley Motors Limited is trying to make a shift from internal combustion engines (ICEs) to electric powertrains in order to reduce its carbon footprints. The company offers high-end models with customer comfort and exceptional performance in mind. Confirming the transition, Bentley’s CEO Adrian Hallmark has now revealed that the luxury brand’s first all-electric vehicle will come loaded with hands-off self-driving technology. The company is owned by Volkswagen AG since 1998 and Volkswagen Group is heavily involved in developing electric vehicles segment.

In a recent interview, Mr. Hallmark revealed that the company is working on a zero emissions vehicle that will be brand’s first battery-powered electric vehicle (BEV). Initially, the BEV will come with the capability of offering partial hands-off driving technology on motorways, while fully autonomous driving (self-driving) will be available sometime later, possibly through over-the-air (OTA) software updates.

The top executive of the British luxury car brand also confirmed that the company has plans to make use of Mobileye’s SuperVision technology, a supervision technology that will features around a dozen (to be exact 11 cameras). The same technology will also make its presence felt on the upcoming battery-electric Porsche Macan EV.

Initially, it was believed that the luxury car maker’s upcoming BEV would be a high-riding sedan, crossover, or a sportier two-door coupe. However, Mr. Hallmark revealed last year that the brand’s first fully-electric vehicle’s powertrain would be capable of churning out up to 1,400 horsepower (hp), which would be enough to enable the vehicle to sprint from 0 to 60 miles per hour (mph) in merely 1.5 seconds.

The aforementioned stats are just improbable for an electric crossover. However, it is still a possibility in the advancing electric age. The top executive of Bentley also hinted at a "slower version" of the brand’s first BEV aimed at customers who might think that the 1,400-hp variant would be unnervingly quick.

Bentley has plans to launch at least one new battery-powered electric vehicle every year from 2025 through the end of current decade (2030). The British car maker is also making a huge investment of more than $3 billion into its Crewe-based production plant to transform the facility for the electric era.

Britain is not the first luxury car brand that is trying to switch from ICEs to EVs. Famed luxury car manufacturer Rolls-Royce is ahead of Bentley in the EV race as it is all set to launch its first battery-powered car this fall. Interestingly, the Rolls-Royce Spectre, a luxury coupe, will be based on the same platform as the ICE-powered Phantom. However, unlike the Phantom, the Spectre’s dual-motor system will be powered by a 120-kWh battery pack.

The company has still to provide specifications of the vehicles that will be launched in EV segment. Bentley manufactures the following high-end models…

Bentley Continental GT: A luxurious grand tourer available in coupe and convertible versions.
Bentley Flying Spur: A luxury sedan known for its opulence and powerful performance.
Bentley Bentayga: A high-end luxury SUV offering comfort, craftsmanship, and impressive capabilities.
Bentley Mulsanne: A flagship luxury sedan known for its exquisite design and handcrafted interior.