Electric Bentleys from Lunaz

Full production of the “world’s first electric Bentleys” will be undertaken by EV engineering company Lunaz in the UK.

That follows “overwhelming customer demand” and the electrification of a 1961 Bentley S3 Continental Flying Spur by HJ Mulliner, says the company which intends increasing its Silverstone-based global manufacturing headquarters by 500% shortly.

The electric classic car creator says its 743sqm facility will become a 3716sqm high-tech engineering, design and manufacturing centre adjacent to its current home in the next few months.

“Restoration, re-engineering and electrification responds to the global requirement for a clean-air future,” Lunaz founder David Lorenz says.

“The time is now right to establish a significantly expanded presence to answer the global need for much wider conversion applications.”

Lorenz says the Lunaz proprietary powertrain has been proven and will be applied to wider applications.

The company will double its number of highly skilled jobs this year to 100, Lunaz aiming to become a global leader in the conversion of passenger and industrial vehicles.

Lunaz says it enjoyed significant success in 2020 despite challenging market conditions.

“This growth follows the highly successful market introduction of the world’s first electric classic Rolls-Royce, Range Rover and Jaguar sportscars.”

A rapidly expanding global demand for sustainable luxury goods is helping drive Lunaz. “Governments in many major markets are also engaged in creating legislation that will ban the sale of new petrol, diesel and hybrid powertrains in the coming two decades,” the company says.

“This includes Lunaz’ home market of Britain, where prime minister Boris Johnson announced a ban on the sale of new cars with internal combustion powertrains will be brought forward to 2030.”

Meanwhile, prices for original factory steel-body cars like the Bentley start at 350,000 pounds, excluding local taxes.

Lunaz says it will announce growth to both its classic car model portfolio and wider applications in coming months.