Bentley coachbuilder Bensport has unveiled an electric version of its retro La Sarthe model.
Called the Le Sarthe E, the model replaces a 4.5-litre straight-six engine with an EV powertrain that has been sourced from Advanced Electric Machines.
Mated to a 54kWh battery, Bensport reckons the car should be able to travel up to 200 miles between recharges.
Like the petrol version, the La Sarthe E is built upon an original Bentley Mk6 or R-type chassis which is ‘meticulously reconditioned’. The bodyshell, meanwhile, is hand-crafted by the Somerset-based coachbuilder.
Bensport produces ‘two or three cars a year’, a spokesman told Motoring Research, and the firm could not provide a projection for how many vehicles it is hoping to build.
The petrol-powered La Sarthe costs £500,000, including the donor vehicle and it is likely that the electric vehicle will be similarly priced when it officially goes on sale next week.
“When we created the La Sarthe, we wanted it to optimise elegance, refinement and dynamism, said Bob Perry, managing director of Bensport.
“Our La Sarthe E takes this ethos to a new level, offering an almost silent drive, while also drawing our focus to sustainability.
“We’re delighted to be working with AEM to integrate what we believe to be the world’s most sustainable electric motor in the La Sarthe E as a statement of our intent.”
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