No Sports Car in Bentley Future

Volkswagen AG’s Bentley unit has no plans to add a sports car as part of its efforts to grow global sales.

The ultra-luxury marque flirted with making a sports car after it introduced the EXP 10 Speed 6 concept car in 2015. But new CEO Adrian Hallmark, who rejoined Bentley earlier this year, says the market for high-end, two-seat sports coupes is too small for Bentley to consider it.

The segment is too volatile and never recovered from the last recession, Hallmark tells Autocar. He notes that younger buyers are more interested in crossovers, SUVs, sedans and electrified models.

Bentley aims to increase its sales by more than one-third to about 15,000 vehicles worldwide over the next seven years. By 2025, every Bentley model is expected to offer an electrified powertrain.

The carmaker’s current four-model lineup consists of the Continental GT, Flying Spur and Mulsanne sedans, plus the Bentayga crossover that bowed in 2016. Additional models could include a smaller crossover with coupe-like styling.

Bentley’s first hybrid vehicle, a gasoline-electric variant of the Bentayga, is currently being launched. An all-electric vehicle is expected early next decade.