The leaders of the British executive car manufacturer Bentley Motors fear that the next generation of their cars, according to the characteristics of the gross weight, will legally leave the category of cars and move into the class of trucks, that is, drivers will need “cargo” rights to drive them.
This applies to Europe, where the categories of driving licenses are tied to the classification of vehicles according to UNECE rules. Recall that starting fr om a gross weight of 3500 kg in European countries, including Russia, a cargo category of rights ("C") is required.
“Identity rules… Breaking changes are needed here. With current technology, the gross weight [of our cars] will hit the lim it [for passenger cars] across Europe. We need an active conversation with certification authorities to make a difference, ”Chris Cole, director of Bentayga products at Bentley Motors, is quoted by CarSales.
An example is the extended version of the Bentley Bentayga crossover that debuted on May 9, which is indicated by the prefix EWB in the title (extended wheelbase, that is, an increased wheelbase).
The distance between the axles of the wheels of the Bentayga EWB is 183 mm larger than that of the original crossover, and is 3175 mm. The total overall length of the new version is 5322 mm. The entire increase is in favor of the rear passengers: the legroom has been increased, and the doorways have also been expanded.
The curb weight of the Bentayga EWB is 2514 kg, the gross weight is 3250 kg. The car is equipped with a 4.0-liter petrol V8 with a capacity of 542 hp. and a torque of 770 Nm.
Bentley says that with the transition to hybrid and purely electric power plants, the gross weight of their cars will inevitably increase and may step over the critical mark of 3.5 tons. EVs are heavier than ICE vehicles due to their heavy traction batteries—it's impossible to change that with the current level of technology. Bentley plans to begin mass production of electric vehicles starting in 2025.
The Bentley Bentayga EWB is heavier than the standard version of the crossover, not only because of the elongated body, but also for other reasons - it uses a rear wheel swivel mechanism (to improve maneuverability), electric doors, and especially comfortable Airline Seat rear seats.
Bentley fears their cars will soon weigh like trucks
