Bentley Bentayga Hybrid Leaks Before Official Reveal

A production version of the EXP12 Speed 6e Concept will also follow.

We’ve known for some time Bentley planned a surprise for this year’s Geneva Motor Show. Now those plans have leaked out: a plug-in hybrid version of the Bentayga SUV will debut at the Swiss show. While Bentley has not yet officially announced its first-ever plug-in hybrid for the show, a report emerged on Autocar with details and images of the model. The British outlet swiftly took down the report, but not before Carscoops gathered all the details and photos.

According to CarScoops, the Bentayga will inherit the same setup as the Porsche Panamera E-Hybrid. This means we can expect a 3.0-liter turbocharged V6 engine paired with an electric motor, generating a combined output of around 450 horsepower. The report didn't detail any performance figures. It will also offer 31 miles of pure electric range and take 7.5 hours to fully charge. A quick-charger styled by renowned designer Philippe Starck will reduce that time to 2.5 hours, however. It’s designed to keep cables “neat and safe” while acting as a “functional piece of art.”

Three E Modes will be available in the Bentayga Hybrid to manage battery usage: EV Drive, Hybrid, and Hold. A dedicated infotainment system will also provide data on powertrain usage. Visually, the Bentayga Hybrid looks virtually identical to its combustion-engined counterparts and can only be distinguished by copper-colored “Hybrid” badges and wheel hubs. As part of its electrification plans, a fully electric Bentley sports car is also expected to launch in 2020 as a production version of the exquisite EXP12 Speed 6e concept that debuted at Geneva last year. It's expected to share the same platform as the Porsche Mission E.

No pricing details have been revealed, but the plug-in hybrid is expected to be priced below the range-topping W12 Bentayga. Bentley will be lifting the wraps off the Bentayga Hybrid at Geneva this week, but we suspect an online reveal is imminent now that the details have leaked.

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New BMW 3 Series Wagon Leaks In Patent Photos

Let’s hope it doesn’t remain forbidden fruit in America.

Last week, the brand-new 2019 BMW 3 Series made its triumphant debut at the 2018 Paris Motor Show. Currently, it’s only available as a sedan, but if its predecessor is anything to go by BMW will introduce alternative body styles. While a next-generation 3 Series Gran Turismo has already been ruled out, leaked patent images posted by BMWBlog seemingly reveal the design of the new G21 3 Series Touring, which is sold as the 3 Series Wagon in the US. While the sports wagon is slated to arrive next spring, it isn’t yet clear if it will be sold in the US.

Compared to the sedan, the 3 Series Wagon features a stretched roofline and an elongated Hofmeister kink, but the styling has otherwise been carried over as you would expect, including the new double-kidney grille that seamlessly merges with the full-LED headlights. Overall, the sedan’s design language applies well to the wagon body style as the new BMW 3 Series Wagon looks slick and sporty, despite being larger and wider than its predecessor. The model shown in the patent images also appears to be equipped with the Sport Line package, which is also available for the sedan.

Like the sedan, the 3 Series Wagon will ride on flexible CLAR architecture for vehicles with rear-wheel drive. The sedan’s interior is also a massive step up in quality and tech with more premium materials and the new BMW Live Cockpit consisting of 8.8-inch digital touchscreen and 5.7-inch digital instrument display, so we’re expecting to see the same improvements in the new wagon.

In terms of powertrains, the new 3 Series Wagon is expected to be offered with the same range of turbocharged engines as its sedan sibling, including a 2.0-liter inline-four with 255 hp and 295 lb-ft for the 330i model and a range of diesel engines in Europe. A range-topping M340i model will also arrive with a new version of the straight-six delivering 382 hp and 369 lb-ft of torque. We’re hoping the new BMW 3 Series Wagon doesn’t remain forbidden fruit in the US, but America's unrelenting appetite for SUVs and crossovers might make it difficult for BMW to make a business case.